Labor reacts to Biden’s American Jobs Plan

President Joe Biden’s announcement of his $2 trillion American Jobs Plan brings us one step closer to repairing, rebuilding and restoring our country, says Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO.

“Working people are continuing to bear the brunt of the greatest national crisis since the Great Depression, and any just recovery will require unprecedented federal investments in the working communities that have lost the most,” Trumka said.

“It’s time for Congress to step up and deliver the funding we need to tackle the climate injustice, racial injustice and economic injustice facing working families while creating a new generation of well-paying union jobs.”

But Trumka says the investments alone are far from sufficient.

“In order to shift the balance of power in favor of working people, we need to rewrite the fundamental rules of the economy. That’s why President Biden called on Congress to finally pass the PRO Act and strengthen our freedom to organize on the job. As we’ve said time and again, we can only build back better if union members are doing the building.”

REINVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE
Mark McManus, general president of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA), says the introduction of the American Jobs Plan is an important step toward finally reinvesting in and modernizing our nation’s crumbling infrastructure.

“If it includes strong labor protections and federal loan guarantees, the American Jobs Plan has the potential to revitalize our working class while building back better than ever before,” McManus said. “The entire United Association stands ready to get to work with this proposal, delivering safe and clean water, retrofitting schools and buildings, and providing efficient energy to American families.”

READY TO GET TO WORK
Darrin Kelly, a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and president of the Allegheny/Fayette Central Labor Council, says union members are ready to get to work.

“President Biden has never been afraid to say the word ‘union,’ and today he once again showed that he backs up his words with real action — not only by prioritizing this bold infrastructure plan, but also by calling for passage of the PRO Act to guarantee all American workers the right to join a union,” Kelly said. “We will continue to urge all of our elected officials in Congress to send the PRO Act and the entire American Jobs Plan to the president’s desk as soon as possible.”

FAMILY-SUPPORTING JOBS
Stephanie Bloomingdale (AFT), president of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, joined those across the Labor Movement in expressing support for President Biden’s infrastructure plan.

“A robust U.S. economy requires a 21st-century infrastructure,” Bloomingdale said. “President Joe Biden understands that the skills and expertise needed to build an America that can compete on the global stage can only be provided by our nation’s union workers.

“That’s why his American Jobs [Plan] includes the needed labor provisions to ensure family-supporting jobs, prevailing wages and the freedom to join a union. We urge immediate bipartisan action on the American Jobs Plan so we can build back better and fuel a post-pandemic American-made revival.”