Ask any labor activist or political observer about how they’ve been feeling over these last few weeks with what has happened on the national political scene and you might hear things like “turbulent,” “a rollercoaster,” “inspiring and energizing,” or a host of countless other emotions. In the midst of all of the challenges and changes these last few weeks have brought, there is one thing that has emerged with perfect clarity. The labor movement is all in for the incredible pro-worker Harris-Walz ticket and is ready to do the work to send them to the White House.
But this enthusiasm isn’t just a coincidence, and doesn’t come easily from working people and our unions. This energy and excitement is deeply rooted in the countless accomplishments of the most pro-union administration in American history — the Biden-Harris administration — and the role that Vice President Harris has consistently played in all of the most consequential, worker-centered accomplishments of the last three and a half years.
She has been a true partner with working people and their unions as the administration has taken on Wall Street and corporate greed, has led on efforts to expand affordable child care and support vulnerable workers, and at every step of the way she has been an effective and visionary leader who has shown time and time again that she’s on our side.
As vice president, she also played a critical role in rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, investing in good-paying union jobs, bringing back manufacturing to America, lowering prescription drug costs, and raising wages. She saved the pensions of more than 1 million union workers and retirees. She championed worker organizing and chaired the first-ever White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment where she focused on new worker organizing and training to create pathways to good union jobs. And she stood with striking workers when she withdrew from an event that would have forced her to cross the writers’ picket line last year during their high profile strike.
Those are just some of the reasons why the AFL-CIO was proud of the early and steadfast support for the Biden-Harris administration, and why the American labor movement will now be ratcheting up our mass mobilization of millions of union workers to elect Vice President Harris as president.
But so much more has happened in recent weeks to drive the enthusiasm of working people in this race. At the top of that list was the selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as Harris’ running mate. A former public school teacher and union member who has proven that a pro-worker agenda is a winning agenda — and especially in competitive states — Governor Walz “is a principled fighter and labor champion who will stand up for working people and strengthen this historic ticket,” as AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in a statement about the decision. This decision also reaffirms Vice President Harris’ commitment to continuing and bolstering the work of the Biden-Harris administration and how it views, centers, and prioritizes working people and their unions. By adding our union brother, Governor Walz, to the ticket, Vice President Harris shows us, yet again, that she will continue to have our backs.
WIth Kamala Harris in the White House and Tim Walz as vice president, together we’ll continue to build the labor movement, expand the middle class and make our economy work for all of us. Together, we can and will defeat Donald Trump, JD Vance, and their anti-worker Project 2025 agenda — which is aimed at eliminating labor unions and further emboldening Corporate America and greedy CEOs — in November. Because when we fight, we win!
Learn more and join the fight at betterinaunion.org.
