Biden heads to Philadelphia for a Labor Day parade and is expected to speak about unions’ importance

President Joe Biden, frequently asserting his status as the most pro-union president in history, is making his way to Philadelphia on Monday to partake in the traditional Tri-State Labor Day Parade.

The anticipation surrounds President Biden addressing the significance of unions within the United States and expounding on the ongoing economic recovery from the severe impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

As the country observes Labor Day, a holiday dedicated to honoring the labor force, the United States has seen an increase in job additions, and more individuals have initiated their job search endeavors. This development, the most notable since January, is something President Biden is keen to emphasize as he pursues his re-election aspirations in 2024.

Preceding the Labor Day weekend, President Biden remarked from the Rose Garden on Friday, “As we approach Labor Day, it’s pertinent to acknowledge that America is currently experiencing one of the most robust periods of job creation in its history.” He made this statement after the announcement that the nation’s employers had incorporated 187,000 jobs in the month of August. This serves as evidence of a labor market that may be decelerating, yet remains resilient, even in the face of the elevated interest rates imposed by the Federal Reserve.

Additionally, the report issued by the Labor Department on Friday revealed that the unemployment rate has elevated from 3.5% to 3.8%, marking its highest level since February 2022. However, it is imperative to note that this increase in the unemployment rate is underpinned by a positive development: approximately 736,000 individuals have initiated their job searches over the past month, representing the highest number since January. Notably, not all of these individuals secured employment immediately. It’s essential to underline that only those actively engaged in job-seeking endeavors are categorized as unemployed.

President Biden has harnessed executive actions to bolster worker mobilization, personally commended efforts towards unionization at prominent corporations like Amazon, and authorized federal funding to bolster pensions for union members. In the recent past, the Biden administration also introduced a new regulation, with the potential to extend overtime pay eligibility to an additional 3.6 million American workers. This stands as one of the most substantial increases in such eligibility in many years.

President Biden has traversed the nation, underscoring how labor unions have contributed to the construction of infrastructure such as bridges and improved train tunnels. These endeavors are part of the bipartisan public works package valued at $1.1 trillion, which was ratified by Congress in 2021.

In President Biden’s words from Friday, “Unions serve to elevate the standards across the workforce and industries, propelling wages upward and reinforcing benefits for all.” He further reiterated a sentiment he has expressed on numerous occasions: “America’s foundation was not laid by Wall Street, but rather, it was erected by the middle class, and unions have been instrumental in building and sustaining the middle class.”

The 36th annual Tri-State Labor Day Parade and Family Celebration is being hosted by the Philadelphia AFL-CIO, an organization encompassing over 100 local labor unions, collectively representing more than 150,000 workers, as detailed on their official website.

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More about Unions

• [President Biden’s Remarks on Labor Day](link to source)
• [Labor Department’s Report on Unemployment](link to source)
• [Biden’s Executive Actions Supporting Workers](link to source)
• [Biden’s Proposal to Expand Overtime Pay Eligibility](link to source)
• [Details on the Bipartisan Public Works Package](link to source)
• [Philadelphia AFL-CIO’s Official Website](link to source)