AFSCME endorsement: Joe Biden ‘respects and protects working people’ while others ‘stabbed them in the back when the cameras were off’
WASHINGTON — The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), a union of 1.4 million public service workers nationwide, has endorsed President Joe Biden for reelection. The endorsement was announced prior to a scheduled national event this Saturday in Philadelphia hosted by the AFL-CIO, in which a broad coalition of unions affiliated and unaffiliated with the labor federation are expected to rally behind President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Joe Biden is the most pro-worker president of our lifetime. He respects and protects working people – especially front-line public service workers – and the essential work they do,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “Joe doesn’t just thank us for keeping our communities running; he prioritizes our issues and defends our freedoms – the freedom to organize, to earn a living wage, to build thriving communities and to have a seat at the table. And he will help us solve the staffing crisis that is pushing millions of public service workers to their breaking point.”
Since taking office, Joe Biden has:
- Created more than 13 million new jobs, with historic lows in unemployment and robust wage growth for working people – not just rich elites.
- Saved millions of public service jobs thanks to big investments in states, cities, towns and schools included in the American Rescue Plan.
- Fixed crumbling roads and bridges and created good union jobs by signing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
- Cut prescription drug costs for seniors through the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Wiped out student debt for millions of public service workers by reforming the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
- Fought for the freedom of workers to organize by naming qualified and impartial appointees to the National Labor Relations Board.
“Before Joe Biden was sworn in, the pandemic was raging, and our economy was in free fall. Politicians – including the former president – shook hands with front-line public service workers for the cameras, then stabbed them in the back when the cameras were off by doing nothing as essential workers were laid off because of budget shortfalls.
“Joe knew that getting America back on track meant showing up for public service workers. The American Rescue Plan protected public service jobs, boosted the economy and gave public service workers the freedom to negotiate strong contracts that improved their lives and communities. Today, wages are rising, gas and grocery prices are falling, and more jobs have been created in two-plus years of the Biden administration than in any four-year presidential term in history.
“Now it’s time to finish the job. As political extremists try to roll back all the progress we’ve made and take away fundamental freedoms, Joe Biden will work with us to address the top issue for public service workers today: resolving the staffing crisis that is pushing millions of public service workers to exhaustion and leaving our communities unprepared for the next crisis,” continued Saunders.
Saunders concluded by saying, “The choice is clear. With President Joe Biden, we can fix our nation’s public service staffing crisis, expand our freedoms and ensure that all working people get a fair shake. The values of the labor movement – our values – are written in his heart. He believes in solidarity and treating all people with dignity. For that and so much more, AFSCME members are ready to mobilize our communities to ensure he is reelected.”
To learn more about AFSCME’s 2024 program, visit respectpublicworkers.org.
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