President Obama talks tough at jobs address in Detroit but no details for the unemployed workforce

By Karen Hudson Samuels/Tell Us USA News Network

DETROIT, MI (Tell Us Det) - Thousands of supporters and union members chanted “Four more years” as President Barack Obama took the stage to deliver his Labor Day address in Detroit, east of General Motors headquarters.

In a wide ranging 25 minute speech, the President praised the impact of the labor movement in creating the middle class, provided a preview of his Thursday jobs speech and commended Detroit as a city “that’s coming back.”

The President said if you ask Detroiters they will tell you, “Yeah, it’s tough, but we’re tougher’ to which the audience erupted in applause.

Obama previewed some of what he will share with the nation on Thursday night in a highly anticipated jobs speech to a joint session of Congress.


Prior to the event with the President, included a mini concert musical performance by Aretha Franklin. (Photo by Monica Morgan/Tell Us USA News Network)

The President said “We’ve got roads and bridges across this country that need rebuilding. We’ve got private companies with the equipment and the manpower to do the building. We’ve got more than 1 million unemployed construction workers ready to get dirty right now. There is work to be done and there are workers ready to do it. Labor is on board. Business is on board. We just need Congress to get on board. Let’s put America back to work.”

Obama was joined in the Labor Day rally by state and federal officials along with leaders from labor; national AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka, United Auto Workers President Bob King, Teamsters President James P. Hoffa and Service Employees International President Mary Kay Henry.

The message from labor unions to President was clear “We need jobs, now.” With unemployment in Michigan at near depression levels and collective bargaining under attack Teamster President James Hoffa told the crowd. “This may be Motown but today its Union Town. Hoffa said “We will not become a right work state.”

In praise of the unions Obama said “America cannot have a strong growing economy without a strong growing middle class and without a strong labor movement.”



The President acknowledged the decades of struggle by the labor movement to help “build the greatest middle class the world has ever known.” He pledged to continue support of collective bargaining and said unions are the bedrock this country is built on. “Hard work, responsibility, sacrifice, looking out for one another, giving everybody a shot, everybody a chance to share in America's prosperity.”

Applause erupted throughout Obama’s rundown of the labor movement’s struggles: “I’m talking about the work that got us a 40-hour workweek and weekends, and paid leave and pensions, and the minimum wage and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare -- the cornerstones of middle-class security. That's because of your work.”

The President rallied the crowd, with his message for Republicans in Congress, “The time for Washington games is over.” Obama said Congress needs to get on board with his job creation plans; he said “Labor's on board and businesses are on board”.

It was clear from audience response, and speaking with members of the crowd after the speech, that the President has the backing of labor, they just want jobs and their rights protected.