May

2012 3







This video contains highlights from President Barack Obama’s speech at the Building and Construction Trades Department’s 2012 Legislative Conference. The speech was given at the Washington Hilton on Monday, April 30th and has naturally garnered plenty of online attention.

The most notable quote in terms of workers’ rights comes at 6:44 of the video:

“I believe our economy is stronger when workers are getting paid good wages and good benefits. I believe the economy is stronger when collective bargaining rights are protected. I believe when folks try to take collective bargaining rights away by passing so-called Right-to-Work laws, that might also be called Right-to-Work for less laws, that’s not about economics, it’s about politics.”

Other notable quotes include:

“American progress has always been driven by American workers.”

“Not everything should be subject to thinking about the next election instead of thinking about the next generation.”

“Ronald Reagan couldn’t get through a Republican primary these days.”

“The right to organize and negotiate fair pay for hard work…that’s the right of every American.”

“We can do more together than we can do on our own. That’s why unions were built.”