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A Message of Gratitude and Hope: The Power of Labor Unions
I want to thank the Coast Guard, they’re deployed more places around the world than any other branch. You know, going from the Coast Guard to the plumbers and pipe fitters is a good move because they know how to build, not sit down if you have seats. I said that about eight months ago, I said sit down, they didn’t, the seats were taken, and they said, "See, he’s too damn old." Look, you know, I’ve been too young or too old, never in between.
I got elected when I was 29 years old in a right-to-work state called Delaware, and we changed it. Guess what? Plumbers and pipe fitters of the fourth union ever endorsed me when I was a 29-year-old kid running for the Senate. Mark flew over from Washington with me on Air Force One, along with great National Labor leaders, Brent Booker of the laborers, Brent Sea McGarvey Building Trades, and Bren Mills.
We talk about workers, and I say, "Dignity is the most important thing." These workers bust their necks to provide our ability to sleep, walk, and work, and they deserve to be treated with dignity. That’s exactly what she’s doing, and Kenny Cooper, IBW, was the first one to stand up for me in 2020. He came out and said, "I’m going to be for him," and he brought his union along and changed everything.
I want to thank Debbie Dingell, a great personal friend, and Haley, who’s been there, one of the most enthusiastic people I know. And Sheree, who’s doing an incredible job, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su.
When I started saying that Wall Street did not build America, the middle class built America, people looked at me like I was nuts. But guess what? I may be nuts, but I’m right. Labor unions built the middle class. When I was Vice President, I became President, and I got a little heat because I was so pro-union. In fact, I asked the Treasury Department to do a study, and it showed that when union workers do well, every worker in America does better. Everybody does better.
The First Union to ever endorse me was the United Steel Workers. I remember when they brought me in to see IWAEL, who was then the President, and I can see him looking at the local rep from Delaware, saying, "Are you sure about this kid?" But they did it, man. Thank you, and we’re going to make sure Steel Workers are still the backbone of this country for a long time to come.
What a great way to cap off Labor Day week, to be a proud Union state of Michigan, Michigan, Michigan!
