President on RTW: 'What they're really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money' [View all]

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Last edited Tue Dec 11, 2012, 12:54 PM - Edit history (2)

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President Obama was in Detroit Monday to talk about the economy (and the new 'right-to-work' law) and how companies are reinvesting in American workers and why it's so important to extend tax cuts for middle class families.


President Barack Obama watches a worker during a visit to the heavy duty engines line at the Daimler Detroit Diesel plant in Redford, Mich., Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)


excerpt of remarks by the President at the Daimler Detroit Diesel Plant, Redford, MI:

President Obama:

. . . what we need to do is simple. We need to keep going. We need to keep going forward. We should do everything we can to keep creating good middle-class jobs that help folks rebuild security for their families. (Applause.) And we should do everything we can to encourage companies like Daimler to keep investing in American workers.

And by the way, what we shouldn’t do -- I just got to say this -- what we shouldn’t be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages and working conditions. (Applause.) We shouldn’t be doing that. (Applause.) These so-called “right to work” laws, they don't have to do with economics; they have everything to do with politics. (Applause.) What they're really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money. (Applause.)



Bill Pugliano, Getty Images


You only have to look to Michigan -- where workers were instrumental in reviving the auto industry -- to see how unions have helped build not just a stronger middle class but a stronger America. (Applause.) So folks from our state’s capital, all the way to the nation’s capital, they should be focused on the same thing. They should be working to make sure companies like this manufacturer is able to make more great products. That's what they should be focused on. (Applause.) We don't want a race to the bottom. We want a race to the top. (Applause.)

America is not going to compete based on low-skill, low-wage, no workers’ rights. That's not our competitive advantage. There’s always going to be some other country that can treat its workers even worse. Right?

AUDIENCE: Right!



Charles Dharapak


THE PRESIDENT: What’s going to make us succeed is we got the best workers -- well trained, reliable, productive, low turnover, healthy. That's what makes us strong. And it also is what allows our workers then to buy the products that we make because they got enough money in their pockets. (Applause.)

So we’ve got to get past this whole situation where we manufacture crises because of politics. That actually leads to less certainty, more conflict, and we can't all focus on coming together to grow.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: That's right!

THE PRESIDENT: And the same thing -- we're seeing the same thing in Washington. I’m sure you've all heard the talk recently about some big deadlines we're facing in a few weeks when it comes to decisions on jobs and investment and taxes. And that debate is going to have a big impact on all of you . . .


read entire remarks: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/12/10/remarks-president-daimler-detroit-diesel-plant-redford-mi

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