In a video recorded message to supporters Monday, Sept. 1st, Barack Obama expressed his best wishes on this Labor Day and renewed his pledge to have a worker-friendly presidential administration.
Labor Day isn't just a time to mark the end of summer, Obama said. "We also honor the hardworking men and women who have made this country what it is and the American labor movement that has fought tirelessly to improve their wages, benefits and working conditions."
But the economic policies of George W. Bush have harmed the standard of living of workers, Obama went on. Unfortunately, Sen. John McCain "has proudly embraced and promises to continue" them.
Obama pledged to turn things around by helping to restore economic growth and create new jobs. He stated that his administration would be a "partner" with working families. He would reject the Bush tax breaks for Big Business and corporate executives in favor of providing direct tax relief for working families.
Obama reasserted his promise to end loopholes for corporations that move jobs out of the country, and return an average of $1,000 to 95 percent of working families.
Obama further reinforced his commitment to the labor movement, to support the right to organize unions, and to sign the Employee Free Choice Act.
Obama said that the choice is clear in this election. "We can choose to remain on the path that has abandoned workers and gotten our economy in so much trouble," he emphasized, "or we can reclaim the idea that in America, opportunity is open to anyone who’s willing to work for it."
