For decades, Democrats have stood alongside labor unions in defense of fair pay and economic security. Democrats understand that labor unions helped build America’s middle class, and organized labor remains critical to fulfilling America’s basic bargain: If you work hard and do your part, you should be able to get ahead and stay ahead. We need to strengthen and protect America’s workforce.

Much of what we now take for granted — the 40-hour work week, the minimum wage, health insurance, paid leave, pensions, Social Security and Medicare — were made possible by the hard work and dedicated struggle of America’s labor movement.

It was labor unions that led the fight to improve working conditions and labor standards and helped to build the largest middle class in history. Labor unions demonstrate that we are stronger together than as individuals.

Under President Obama, the Department of Labor and other federal agencies strengthened workers’ rights. Among other advances, President Obama’s administration updated and modernized overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act, clarified and strengthened rules prohibiting discrimination against pregnant workers, and cracked down on the abuse of independent contractor worker classifications.

Democrats want to invest in good-paying jobs, raise the minimum wage, strengthen overtime rules, invest in apprenticeships and high-quality training, protect workers from exploitation, and protect retirement security.