Looking forward to President Biden laying out an agenda that continues his record as the most pro-union president in history
On March 7, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler will be joining Congressional Labor Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (Wis.) for President Biden’s State of the Union address. Shuler, who represents 60 affiliate unions and 12.5 million union members, looks forward to Biden building on his record as the most pro-union president in history, with more plans and initiatives aimed at bolstering workers’ rights and improving working people’s livelihoods.
“Congressman Pocan is a champion for working people, and I’m honored he invited me to view the State of the Union with him,” said Shuler. “Too often in D.C., the State of the Union gets looked at through what boxes get checked or how many times a word is said—and those details matter, of course—but it’s also important to step back and realize that the sum of President Biden’s actions have resulted in launching another industrial revolution with transformational policies for workers and communities that will last for generations.”
“I’m honored to have President Shuler as my guest at the State of the Union. With Liz at the AFL-CIO and President Biden in the White House, workers have their strongest champions in years,” said Pocan. “In three years, President Biden has prioritized American workers, bringing them to the table when moving legislation forward and strengthening workers’ rights. From the Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, American workers will have better opportunities than ever before. I urge President Biden to call on Congress to advance legislation that helps all workers, not just rewarding those on the top. I look forward to hearing what he says on Thursday night.”
Working people and labor leaders are looking forward to a State of the Union that includes:
- Creating transformational policies for workers that will last for generations and empower young workers, through Career and Technical Education (CTE), workforce development and career pathway programs like apprenticeship that connect working people to good union jobs.
- Using policy, regulatory agencies and his bully pulpit as president of the United States to ease the path for workers who want to stand together in unions and bargain collectively to reshape the economy so that it works for everyone, not just the wealthy and big corporations.
- Investing in cutting-edge clean technologies and fostering the jobs of tomorrow to bolster America’s manufacturing while ensuring that goods are made in America. And all of it being done with a union workforce as its foundation. The strike by Hollywood writers and actors highlighted the challenges facing a new generation of workers and their struggle to have a seat at the table when new technologies like artificial intelligence are being introduced.
- Rolling out new policies or initiatives that directly tackle “greedflation,” a strategy used by big corporations during times of economic turmoil as cover to raise prices beyond the rate of inflation, further jeopardizing the livelihoods of working people.
Contact: Isabel Aldunate, 202-637-5018