Video of President Obama’s remarks:
Video of Vice President Biden’s remarks:
This morning, in one of the first actions of his still-young Administration, President Barack Obama moved boldly to put the American government back on the side of America’s workers by signing four new pro-worker executive orders.
The highest-profile of the four established a new office, the White House Middle Class Working Families Task Force, headed by Vice President Joe Biden. Here is how the Vice President described the Task Force’s mission in his remarks at the signing ceremony:
You know, one of the things that all of us in this room know is those very leaders, Mr. President, of organized labor have dedicated their lives to the thing that this task force is about — making the lives of working people better. I would argue there would be no middle class were there not a organized labor movement that started 150 years ago.
And I’m proud that this administration, with your leadership, Mr. President, will be allied in that effort…
With this task force, we have a single, highly visible group with one single goal: to raise the living standards of the people who are the backbone of this country — the middle class. Because when they, in fact — their standard is raised, the poor do better. Every — and by the way, the wealthy do better, as well. Everyone does better.
And in his remarks, President Obama spoke emphatically about the need to re-empower America’s working men and women:
We have to reverse many of the policies towards organized labor that we’ve seen these last eight years, policies with which I’ve sharply disagreed. I do not view the labor movement as part of the problem, to me it’s part of the solution. We need to level the playing field for workers and the unions that represent their interests, because we know that you cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement. We know that strong, vibrant, growing unions can exist side by side with strong, vibrant and growing businesses. This isn’t a either/or proposition between the interests of workers and the interests of shareholders. That’s the old argument. The new argument is that the American economy is not and has never been a zero-sum game. When workers are prospering, they buy products that make businesses prosper. We can be competitive and lean and mean and still create a situation where workers are thriving in this country.
(Emphasis mine)
They also announced that the first meeting of the Task Force will be in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 27, focusing on the subject of green jobs.
Along with the order establishing the Task Force, President Obama signed three more pro-worker orders: one preventing Federal contractors from spending taxpayers’ money on union-busting efforts, one requiring Federal contractors to post notices informing their workers of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act, and one ensuring that workers on Federal contracts keep their jobs even if the contract changes from one company to another.
Change to Win Chair Anna Burger applauded the Administration’s initiatives:
Today, the Obama administration reaffirmed its commitment to America’s workers. Taken together, these orders show that the administration recognizes the federal government’s responsibility, as the nation’s largest purchaser of goods and services, to set model employment standards for private sector workers, as well as for the direct federal workforce…
The mandate of the Middle Class Working Families Task Force sends a clear signal of a new government. A government that makes sure working Americans are treated with the dignity and respect at the work place that everyone deserves. A government that understands that rebuilding the American Dream and fixing the economy means creating more than just jobs, it means creating good jobs with a wage that can support a family, benefits that can keep them healthy, and a secure and dignified retirement.
These orders send an unmistakable message to workers all across America: the Obama Administration is on your side — and they’re backing that up with deeds, not just words.
Comments (9)
Comments posted to CtW Connect are the sole property of the individual posting them, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of Change to Win, its affiliated unions, or its leadership.
I'm really busy this Saturday morning but I think it is my duty to comment on the creation of the President's "Strong Middle Class Task Force." What a great idea! For a long time the Bush administration has abandoned the nation's middle and lower class. Their earnings and living standard have dropped while high income earners get richer and richer daily. Thanks to the Bush administration's trickle down economics that didn't work. Why didn't the administration give tax break to only businesses that showed evidence that they created jobs here in the USA. During Bush era, many businesses given tax break also took their jobs overseas for more profit. What a plan! No wonder he failed in most of his endeavors and also lost the election. There should always be a follow up and accountability in strategy. To add insult to injury, the administration destroyed the nations economy through a variety of schemes such as the stock market crises, banking and insurance fraud, the fiasco creative Iraq war etc. The result is the numerous hardships the ordinary American is facing today. Recession and job loss. I think the new President is doing the right thing. Whether or not Republicans back President Obama, he shouldn't give up doing the "right thing" for the great majority of Americans. Enough is enough for the rich and it is about time somebody stood up for the middle and lower class citizens. It is not only human and right, it is also intelligent and Godly. May God bless President Obama and vice-President Biden for coming up with such a brilliant idea.
Very Best,
Awuah
Posted by Awuah Nkrumah on January 31, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Posted on January 31, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Dear/ Vice President Dr Joe Biden
subject: middle class
what is middle hopping form Government to do for them. there are three Group
college
traninig health care Jobs
small business capital assest
it has been long years when middle class suffer economic
I will suggest high come should pay off the programs by pay $100 per month to fund these for programs it should be pay by Government. the payment should be pay by high income. you and mr.president Obama cabonet I amstronger believe we are american.Ihope you should have spirit of love your counrty.and senator, house CEO that way we shall believe the change we can believe in
Posted by Machuei Thogkow (James) on February 1, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Posted on February 1, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Such a change - for the President to listen to the voices of the working people of this country.
Now the country can be great again. We need to end so much reliance on armed might and use diplomacy; end foreign interventions, and recognize the sovereignty of other nations.
We need to help working people flourish with the right to unlimited free public education, the right to adequate health care, the right to decent jobs and decent housing,and decent pensions.
Thank you President Obama and Vice President Biden.
Maxwell Aley
Paonia, CO 81428
Posted by Maxwell Aley on February 2, 2009 at 1:10 AM
Posted on February 2, 2009 at 1:10 AM
I am so tired of watching Republicans continuning down the same road of distruction of the 2 party system with their continued basis opinions. We the People voted for a Demacartic President based on bring resolve the continue spiraling down of our ecomemy and what this County stands for, "The American Dream". I think that a law needs to be passed that the menbers of Congress and the Senator can only serve 2 Terms. Because they have money to pay for a campagin, we have them for life. We change alright and it needs to start with how long a person can hold office. Even the President is restricted to 2 terms. Yes, based on what I have seen and heard for the past several days is a good example of people in power, thinking they are repsresenting all of the people and sorry but they are totally wrong. All they represent is old ideas, same old thing, the same old way. Don't Vote, make it fail, for the President is a Democate. I would like to cut their salaries and see them live on minimum wage. It is time they had a tast of their own medicene and no health care, or day care. Their tunes would change.
If we are going to remain a strong and powerful Country, this split between parties must end and we must become a Unit Party, working towards common goals for all the people, not just special interest or the wealthy or the so called "Party".
Posted by Ms. Willow myers on February 2, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Posted on February 2, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Dear Mr. President,
This is the best idea i have ever seen by a President and vice President.
Their as so many things that need to be done, and to ask the help of the American worker is great.The frist item to adress should be to get free choice passed, so workers can organize without being intemadated.
I think that is why deasil cost is so high, from my under standing it is a byproduct of making gasoline. Thats just two things that i belive would help in turning the economy around
Paul
Posted by Paul Hoffman on February 2, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Posted on February 2, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Without the middle class there is no America the beautiful...The middle class make up the body of tax payments that support America as we know it! Boo to Bush (thank God he is done) and the bipartisan baby bull! We are all Americans first! And we are poor (without the middle class,frozen now) until all of us are full! This system is a big mess now!Thanks Bush (^*&^*^*&). Bush may be sober but his talent for management is like a drunkard!
God bless these states. Go Obama we have hope into hope for this nation now! Let every American do something now. Get busy. Let's make the next eight years Rock and Roll better!
Posted by Robert on February 3, 2009 at 9:16 PM
Posted on February 3, 2009 at 9:16 PM
We are small business applied for strong middleclass to safe our company and help the econamy and the enargy.
we send our idea more than one time and this project can hire moree than 2000 empolyee.
we hope to get an answer for our idea as soon as posible to help all of us.
Posted by Aziz M. Aziz on March 18, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Posted on March 18, 2009 at 1:54 PM
GET RID OF ALL UNIONS
Posted by ED on April 9, 2009 at 3:53 AM
Posted on April 9, 2009 at 3:53 AM
I was advocate for middle class vioce it seems to poor is going more poorest as demand of Rich people even in congress or senators no one will support middle specially in difficulties time in our the way health care be reform it become law of land the government shall creative hospitals under federal government will hire doctors staff after extention programs of traninig doctors and government will reun hospitals that will creative competition profit socter will regulation theirs hospitals to competive and FDA shall be undesr federal government will have commiment to keep american people more healthly the profit companies will find other way they will do business now we need government will take over healh care in which has been broken system turn into posstive system will teratment boths patient the rich and poor
thank you
Posted by James M.Thogkow on June 29, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Posted on June 29, 2009 at 12:47 PM