Vice President Joe Biden and Democratic Candidate for Vice President and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine joined USW International President Leo W. Gerard in Pittsburgh on Monday for the city’s annual Labor Day Parade.
Hundreds of union members gathered before the parade to hear from both lawmakers who spoke about the importance of a strong labor movement and the benefits all workers have because of unions.
“Non-union workers have what they have because you have taken risks for them,” said Vice President Biden when he cited a new study from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) that shows if private sector union density would have stayed at it’s 1979 level, non-union men would be earning 5% more per year.
Biden then went on to blast Republican Candidate for President Donald Trump for supporting “right to work” laws that weaken unions and his belief that the American worker makes too much money.
During his speech, Senator Kaine compared both candidates’ jobs plans, noting that a new study shows Hillary Clinton’s would create 10.5 million jobs while Donald Trump’s would cause the country to lose 3.5 million. He said, “With Hillary Clinton, you can have a 'you're hired' president. But with Donald Trump you're going to get a 'you're fired' president."
President Gerard reminded the crowd of union activists which candidates stand with Steelworkers when it comes to issues and policies that impact working people.
“When Hillary Clinton was a New York Senator she never said no when the USW asked for help,” said President Gerard. “We’ve filed thousands of trade cases and not once did Donald Trump ask if help was needed.”
Senator Kaine also knows the value of Labor from his work as Senator of Virginia with USW Local Union 8888 in Newport News where thousands of working people build nuclear aircraft carriers.
President of SEIU Mary Kay Henry, President of AFT Randi Weingarten, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Richard Bloomingdale, Democratic Candidate for Senate Katie McGinty and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf also attended the labor day rally.
Check out pictures from the rally and parade below.
