Labor Day is a day that belongs to you, the working men and women of America. It's a day when we recommit ourselves to the idea that everyone who works hard in this country has a chance to get ahead. This Labor Day, take a moment to watch the President talk about why the celebration of this holiday is so important and how he's fighting for a better bargain for the middle class.
September 01, 2013 | 1:55 | Public Domain
President Barack Obama's message to the American people on Labor Day. September 2, 2013
Last week, President Barack Obama delivered remarks in Las Vegas about fixing the broken immigration system so that it is fairer and helps grow the middle class by ensuring everyone plays by the same rules.
"I’m here because most Americans agree that it’s time to fix a system that’s been broken for way too long." President Obama said. "I’m here because business leaders, faith leaders, labor leaders, law enforcement, and leaders from both parties are coming together to say now is the time to find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as the land of opportunity.”
President Obama's proposal for immigration reform has four parts. First, continue to strengthen our borders. Second, crack down on companies that hire undocumented workers. Third, hold undocumented immigrants accountable before they can earn their citizenship; this means requiring undocumented workers to pay their taxes and a penalty, move to the back of the line, learn English, and pass background checks. Fourth, streamline the legal immigration system for families, workers, and employers.
In response to the President’s remarks, a number of organizations that advocate for working people across the nation issued statements applauding the President for his leadership. Here are a few of those statements:
“In a phrase, President Obama “gets it” – he gets that a rising tide lifts all boats and that empowering immigrant workers is a win for all working people. The President clearly shares the AFL-CIO’s commitment to a viable pathway to citizenship, meaning that seemingly innocuous conditions cannot be allowed to get in the way of a roadmap for citizenship that encompasses the dreams of 11 million people.
President Obama’s leadership, and the bipartisan Senate group which announced its reform principles yesterday, makes us hopeful that 2013 will be the year in which the United States finally builds a working immigration system.”
Service Employees International Union
“As President Obama asked for our votes last year, he promised to act on commonsense immigration reform, and now he is keeping his word. He is to be congratulated for taking on an issue that, only a year ago, was considered a political nonstarter on Capitol Hill even though the American public has long favored commonsense reform.
“President Obama’s words today were a profound reminder that our greatness as a nation comes from the people who built it, the workers who sustain it, and our children who will be our future leaders, engineers, teachers and military service members, regardless of their country of origin or ancestry.”
“We join President Obama in being encouraged by the bipartisan framework outlined by the senators on Monday. Yet we also applaud the President’s vow that if Congress does not act in short order, he will move forward with his own bill based on the principles he has outlined, and insist on a vote.”
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
“I commend the President for taking these steps to ensure that workers, no matter where they come from, enjoy the protections they deserve in the workplace. We have seen far too many employers threaten with deportation workers who speak out for just treatment on the job.”
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
“I agree with President Obama—the time to reform our broken immigration system is now. The plan unveiled yesterday by a bipartisan group of Senators is a good start and they should get to work right away drafting legislation. The UFCW strongly supports comprehensive immigration reform that treats all immigrants with respect and dignity and creates a modern, 21st century system that reflects our values.”
Communication Workers of America
“The Communications Workers of America commends the Obama administration on its determination to create a path to citizenship for 11 million adults and their children who contribute to the economic life of our nation every day.”
“The UAW applauds President Obama for setting out a constructive framework for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.“
"Our country's immigration system is broken. Without a pathway to citizenship, millions of workers are forced into a shadow economy and exploited by unscrupulous employers," said UAW President Bob King. "That drives down wages and working conditions for all workers, and puts employers who want to do the right thing at a competitive disadvantage. It's past time to lift the fear of deportation for individuals who are contributing to our country."
Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO
"The President today unveiled his priorities in achieving comprehensive immigration reform and we applaud his leadership. His proposal appropriately emphasizes creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, strengthening border and interior enforcement mechanisms and recognizes the economic implications of inaction.”
Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA)
“It is encouraging to see the President and Senators from both parties working together in support of comprehensive immigration reform. I look forward to working with the White House and policymakers from both parties to achieve true immigration reform that strengthens our nation and enables millions of undocumented workers to step out of the shadows and into the American workforce.”
“LIUNA believes in establishing a clear path to citizenship for the 12 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States who have violated no law other than their lack of documentation. Our current immigration policy leaves far too many undocumented workers vulnerable to employer pressure and permits wholesale worker exploitation that drives down wages and corrodes working conditions for all similarly employed workers - citizens and immigrants alike.”
“We commend both the President and Congress for making it a priority to address this issue in a meaningful manner.
A major challenge is fairly handling the 11 million undocumented immigrants who are already part of the fabric of our society. As long as undocumented workers remain in the shadows, they can be unjustly exploited by employers in that they can be subject to wages theft, unsafe working conditions and denied other basic protections under the law.”
American Federation of Teachers
“The time for immigration reform is long overdue, and we applaud the president today for proposing a commonsense, compassionate, comprehensive immigration reform plan that provides a pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants who currently reside in the United States. The president’s blueprint for reform, and the U.S. Senate bipartisan framework, shows an understanding that our nation has always been enriched by immigrants and strengthened by the diversity they bring. His proposal strengthens our borders, ensures immigrant children can go to school without fear, keeps families together, and promotes safe and secure jobs for all workers. His continued support of the Dream Act gives dreamers the chance to dream by giving hard-working students who play by the rules an opportunity to pursue a college degree.”
“We applaud President Obama. Due to his leadership and the framework released yesterday by a bipartisan group of senators, comprehensive immigration reform is now a real possibility.
“Immigrant rights are worker rights, and AFSCME will be on the frontlines of the march toward comprehensive immigration reform. We know that real reform will bring a fair path to citizenship and protection of jobs and job opportunities for all workers in our country.
National Education Association
“On behalf of the more than 3 million members of NEA, we welcome President Barack Obama’s vision to continue moving comprehensive immigration reform forward. As educators, we have witnessed for far too long the impact that the current immigration system has had on our students, their families, and our communities. We join the growing chorus of voices calling on lawmakers to create a common-sense immigration process for aspiring Americans, one that includes a roadmap for new Americans to become citizens.
“We are pleased that the vision that President Obama outlined reflects our values and our rich tradition of embracing people who move to make life better for themselves and their families. We see them every day in our classrooms, schools, and our communities. They are our students, friends, and our neighbors. They move to put food on the table, to provide for their families, or for the promise of freedom and opportunity in this country. And we are all better for having hardworking new immigrants as contributing members of our communities.
For more information:
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his appointment of the following individuals to the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations:
The Council, created in 2009 by Executive Order, is tasked with advising the President on matters involving labor-management relations in the executive branch. The Council is co-chaired by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, John Berry, and the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget, Jeffrey Zients. The President also designated the following Deputy Secretaries to be members of the Council: Ashton B. Carter, Deputy Secretary of Defense; W. Scott Gould, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Seth Harris, Deputy Secretary of Labor; Jane Holl Lute, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security; and Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.
President Obama said, “I am grateful that these accomplished individuals have agreed to play an integral role in this Administration, and I’m confident they will serve ably in these important roles. I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years.”
President Obama announced today his appointment of the following individuals:
Michael B. Filler, Appointee for Member, National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations
Michael B. Filler is the Director of the Public Services Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) with responsibility for overseeing the representation over 260,000 public and professional employees throughout North America. He was first appointed to the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations by President Obama in February 2010. From 2003 to 2005, Mr. Filler was the Associate Director of the IBT’s Education Department. Previously, Mr. Filler worked at the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) as Director of Negotiations (1999 - 2003), as Northeast Regional Director (1988 - 1999), and as a National Field Representative (1985 - 1987). Prior to his tenure with NTEU, Mr. Filler worked at the Federal Election Commission as a Branch Chief (1981 - 1985) and as a Reports Analyst (1976 - 1981). He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Public Sector Industry Council of the Labor and Employment Relations Association. In addition, he was a founding member of the Federal Workers Alliance, an active participant in the United Department of Defense Workers Coalition, and the Teamsters’ Delegate to the Public Services International Convention in Vienna, Austria in 2007. Mr. Filler received a B.A. in Political Science from American University and attended the Executive Program at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
David J. Holway, Appointee for Member, National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations
David J. Holway is the President of the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO), which represents more than 110,000 bargaining unit members across the country. He has been a member of the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations since being appointed by President Obama in February 2010. Prior to his current role, Mr. Holway served in many capacities at NAGE, including as Lead Negotiator and Legislative Director. He also previously held several government positions including Deputy Commissioner in the Massachusetts Department of Correction, Chief Financial Officer at the Norfolk County Hospital, and as Budget and Staff Director at the Massachusetts Legislative Committee on Counties. Mr. Holway served on the Cambridge Massachusetts School Committee from 1978 to 1979. In 2011, Mr. Holway began serving his second four-year term as a member of the Employee Thrift Advisory Council of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. He received his B.S. from Boston State College.
H.T. Nguyen, Appointee for Member, National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations
H.T. Nguyen is the Executive Director/General Counsel of the Federal Education Association (FEA), a state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA) representing federally-employed educators. He was first appointed to the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations by President Obama in February 2010. Previously, Mr. Nguyen served as the Deputy General Counsel for the FEA from 1988 to 1998, where he was the FEA’s lead attorney in all major cases involving the Association. From 1984 to 1988, Mr. Nguyen was a Staff Attorney with the FEA. In 1983, Mr. Nguyen was an associate at Berger & Miranda in San Jose, CA. From 1978 to 1980, he was a case worker for the International Rescue Committee in Washington, DC. He received his B.A. in American Government, his M.A. in International Relations, and his J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America.
October 14, 2011 | 6:11 | Public Domain
Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President continued to fight for the proposals in the American Jobs Act to put folks back to work and grow the economy. The President welcomed the 1985 Chicago Bears and the Tunisian Prime Minister to the White House, traveled to Pittsburgh to convene a meeting of his jobs council, attended the forum on American Latino heritage, and hosted the President of South Korea for a State Visit. That's October 7th to the 13th or “We Go Together.”
September 29, 2011 | 5:37 | Public Domain
Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President announced reforms to No Child Left Behind, traveled to California to hold a town hall on job growth at LinkedIn, spoke on what the American Jobs Act could mean for America's schools and gave his third annual Back To School address. That's September 23rd to September 29th or "Set Your Sights High."
September 28, 2011 | :51 | Public Domain
Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, the President signed patent reform into law with the America Invents Act, spoke to the American people on his common-sense proposal for deficit reduction and traveled to New York City to meet with world leaders and address the United Nations General Assembly before visiting Cincinnati to speak on jobs.
Ed. Note: Cross-posted from Fast Lane, the blog of the Secretary of Transportation.
Two weeks ago, President Obama presented his American Jobs Act to a joint session of Congress and to the people of America. Today, I was pleased to join him at the Brent Spence Bridge across the Ohio River, a functionally obsolete crossing on one of North America's busiest trucking routes. Replacing this bridge is exactly the kind of project that the American Jobs Act could support.
And the Brent Spence Bridge from Cincinnati, Ohio to Covington, Kentucky is just one example. As the President said, "The same is true in cities and towns all across America. It’s not safe. It lengthens the commute to work. It costs our businesses billions when they can’t ship parts or products as quickly as possible."
President Barack Obama shakes hands with construction workers after delivering remarks on the American Jobs Act at the Brent Spence Bridge, that spans the Ohio River between Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Ky., Sept. 22, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
We were joined beside the bridge by ironworkers, laborers, and carpenters from the area, some of whom have been out of work for months on end. They would be happy to get back on the job rebuilding the Brent Spence or any of the tens of thousands of bridges in America that need repair, replacement, or modernization. If only Congress would pass the American Jobs Act.
America is the country that built the transcontinental railroad and the interstate highway system; the Hoover Dam and Grand Central Station but today, we have roads, bridges, airports and railway lines all across the country that are in need of repair and updating. This afternoon, President Obama was in Cincinnati, Ohio where the Brent Spence Bridge, located on one of the busiest trucking routes in North America, is in such poor condition that it has been labeled functionally obsolete.
The American Jobs Act, a set of ideas supported by both Democrats and Republicans, includes $50 billion for immediate investment in America's infrastructure. This investment not only improves Americans' daily lives by making commutes shorter and safer, but it puts construction workers across the country to work in much needed middle class jobs.
To better understand how the American Jobs Act will improve our nation's infrastructure and put Americans back to work, take a look at the infographic below.
