Biden on EFCA

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Joe Biden addressed the AFL’s Executive Committee in Miami this morning. Transcript of the event is finally out. Here are Biden’s comments on the Employee Free Choice Act. Does not sound like any backing down:

So, folks, that’s why there’s no one thing we have to do. This is all
going to be difficult, and one of the most difficult things will be to
reinstitute that basic bargain. And I think the way to do that is the
Employee Free Choice Act. (Applause.)

Folks, let’s get it straight — we’re not asking — we’re not asking
for anything we don’t deserve. And we’re not asking for anything that
wasn’t intended when the NLRB said we should be encouraging —
encouraging — unions. We just want to level this playing field again.

Ladies and gentlemen, I think President Obama said it best when he said
— I’m quoting — “I don’t buy the argument that providing workers with
collective bargaining rights somehow weakens the economy or worsens the
business environment.” If you’ve got workers who have a decent pay and
benefits, they also are customers for your business. (Applause.)

So let me add to that and say that I have a simple, basic belief, one
that we’re going to work hard to put into action: If a union is what
you want, a union you’re entitled to have. (Applause.)

Latest DC
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: