Tom Harkin: “I have always supported organized labor, for a simple reason: When workers join together and act collectively, they can…”

“I have always supported organized labor, for a simple reason: When workers join together and act collectively, they can achieve economic gains that they would never be able to negotiate individually. History tells us this: Union members were on the front lines fighting for the 40-hour workweek, the minimum wage, employer-provided health insurance and pensions. Organized labor led the way in passing legislation to ensure fair and safe workplaces and in championing many other employee safety nets, including Social Security, Medicare, and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Unfortunately, continued forward progress is not inevitable. We have seen this in recent years, as union membership has declined, wages have stagnated, the numbers of uninsured have risen, and private companies have been allowed to default on their pensions, threatening the retirement security of millions of Americans. It is clear to me that to rebuild economic security, we must first rebuild strong and vibrant unions.”