Obama addresses Big Labor, accuses opponents of ‘war on unions’

Printed from: https://newbostonpost.com/2015/09/07/obama-talks-economy-at-labor-day-breakfast/

BOSTON – Speaking to the Greater Boston Labor Council Monday morning, President Barack Obama showed his support for organized labor, claiming that his opponents have launched “a constant war against unions.”

Tapping into local football fervor in order to make his point, the president argued that “even (Tom) Brady’s happy he has a union.”

“If I wanted somebody who had my back, I’d join a union,” he added.

The president made several digs at Congressional Republicans, pushing Congress to pass a budget instead of risking “shutting down the government for the second time in two years.” 

The Greater Boston Labor Council represents a wide range of over 160 local unions and district councils. The Labor Day event took place at the Boston Park Plaza hotel, where Mass. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, as well as other Massachusetts political leaders, joined the president for an 11 a.m. breakfast.

The labor union breakfast was seen by some as a victory breakfast.

In January, Massachusetts raised the minimum wage to $9 an hour. In May, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh signed the city’s first six-week paid parental leave policy for men and women.  And on July 1, the voter-approved law mandating sick leave went into effect. Big Labor takes credit for these legislative changes to workplace law.

This weekend’s trip was Obama’s 21st trip to the state during his presidency.