FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 20, 2021
Contact: Jake Lewis
312-222-1000
Chicago Federation of Labor Statement on the Inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris
CHICAGO – Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter released the following statement regarding the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris:
“Today is a historic day as Joe Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States and Kamala Harris becomes the first woman of Black and Asian descent to serve as vice president. Today is also the anniversary of the first reported COVID-19 case in the United States, and the ongoing pandemic continues to decimate our economy and claim the lives of thousands of Americans every day. The outgoing president has spent the last year ignoring the pandemic and the last four years dividing our nation and tearing down the institutions that should protect working people. Now, the incoming administration must both clean up his mess and make real gains for the American worker.
“Perhaps no one is better equipped to meet these challenges than President Biden and Vice President Harris. Their pledge to stand with labor is a welcome relief from four years of corporate America running roughshod over working people. Under a Biden Administration, we look forward to putting our government back on the side of the American worker by rebuilding institutions like the Department of Labor and National Labor Relations Board. Together, we must enact a pro-worker agenda that includes raising the federal minimum wage, passing the PRO Act, and protecting workers in the so-called gig economy. Today also marks the beginning of desperately-needed national leadership in combatting the Coronavirus pandemic, including financial backing for state and local governments, additional economic support for the middle class, needed investment in our national infrastructure, and a 50-state strategy to protect the health and safety of all Americans.
“Congratulations, President Biden and Vice President Harris. Though the challenges ahead of us are daunting, the working people of Chicago and Cook County are ready to partner with your administration to rebuild and strengthen this nation for all workers. Let’s get to work.”
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The Chicago Federation of Labor is the third-largest central labor council of the AFL-CIO representing nearly 300 unions and labor organizations comprised of half a million union members in Chicago and Cook County.