DNC Statement on Labor Day

DNC Chair and former Labor Secretary Tom Perez, DNC Labor Council Chair Stuart Appelbaum, DNC Vice Chair Carrie Pugh, and DNC Vice Chair Senator Maria Elena Durazo released the following statement on Labor Day:

“Our nation is in crisis. Millions are out of work and our economy is in a recession exacerbated by Donald Trump’s incompetence. But if there’s one thing that remains constant, it’s this: Never bet against the American worker. Generations of hardworking Americans have fueled our nation’s prosperity, especially through our darkest moments. Their sweat powered the military might that helped us win the Second World War; their grit got us through a Dust Bowl and a Depression; their determination has made our economy the envy of the world; and their fight for dignity has transformed America for the better. From the 40-hour workweek and overtime pay to workplace safety and equal pay, American workers have unionized and organized for the better wages, benefits, and conditions we all deserve.

“We are living through another one of those dark moments in history. But while Democrats are advocating for workers to get the relief and support they need, Donald Trump and Republicans are taking aim at the labor movement. Instead of betting on American workers and building an economy that works for everyone, the Trump administration continues to attack unions while rewarding huge corporations and their wealthy allies at the top. Trump got played by China on trade, losing hundreds of thousands of American jobs. He has tried to weaken federal unions, blocked an expansion of overtime pay protections, and appointed anti-union justices like Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. And even now, in the midst of the worst unemployment crisis since the Great Depression, at a time when millions of essential workers are risking their lives to protect us, Trump continues to leave workers out in the cold by cutting unemployment benefits and letting businesses shutter.

“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris respect American workers. They are champions of the American labor movement. And they know that workers and unions will be the ones to lift our economy from despair and help us build back better. The Biden-Harris vision for our future is one that celebrates, strengthens, and empowers the unions and workers who have built America brick by brick. They know these fights aren’t just about dollars, they’re about dignity. United we bargain, divided we beg.”