Biden Endorses Employee Free Choice Act In Miami Speech

Like Barack Obama before him, Vice President Joe Biden offered a one-line endorsement of the Employee Free Choice Act on Thursday in a speech at the board meeting of the AFL-CIO.

"So, folks, that's why there's no one thing we have to do. This is all going to be difficult, and one of the most difficult things will be to reinstitute that basic bargain. And I think the way to do that is the Employee Free Choice Act.," said the vice president. "Folks, let's get it straight -- we're not asking -- we're not asking for anything we don't deserve. And we're not asking for anything that wasn't intended when the NLRB said we should be encouraging -- encouraging -- unions. We just want to level this playing field again."

The line, delivered to the crowd in Miami, came a few days after the president himself offered similar assurances that EFCA -- which will allow unions to more easily organize -- would pass under his administration.

"We will pass the Employee Free Choice Act," the president said in a video address.

Labor, of course, is ecstatic about the endorsements, even though Obama's support for the measure has been long known. Officials insist that Democrats have the votes in the Senate needed to pass EFCA, so, for them, it is a question of when, not how.

Comments

[PrincipiaChamp]

12:01 AM on 03/08/2009

Thank you so much, Joe. I know personally many individual­s and families who are truly elated by your words...ha­rdworking Americans who, since Reagan, have felt as second class citizens. Helping them will in turn and indeed benefit the nation.

[SparkyDash]

05:06 AM on 03/07/2009

Home run, Joe...You go, Mr. Vice President (proud of you!)

"The line...cam­e a few days after the president himself offered similar assurances­..." Although Obama said and meant the same words, coming from Biden hits middle/wor­king class Americans a little clearer, only because Joe comes from middle class and has been a huge supporter of this important working group for decades. Joe is excellent in this role, and any other role he undertakes­.

Thank you President Obama and Vice President Biden. Love you both.

[Karen Alden]

06:17 PM on 03/05/2009

Yes, unions are an important part of our history, but in today's economy they can eat away at the middle class's ability to thrive. The U.S. economy is driven by service-or­iented, technology­-based, entreprene­urial businesses­. In order to compete, these businesses depend upon a team of employees that is thinking about the customer and working toward shared goals. Unions impose an artificial barrier that drains energy from overall business objectives­.

If Vice President Biden really wants to help the middle class he should focus on giving them the tools they need to succeed-- lifelong education programs, access to affordable health care, and a business environmen­t that creates good jobs. Conflating union membership with middle class strength indicates that this Administra­tion is not in step with the 21st century economy.

[Sugermen]

04:06 PM on 03/05/2009

Joe Biden to speak to AFL-CIO Union higher ups at posh resort and The White House and Union Heads bar all video cameras.

Where's the transparen­cy?

[katekid]

04:03 PM on 03/05/2009

Way to go, VP Biden, EFCA is needed to level the playing field ASAP.
It is simply good business for any worker to have his terms of employment in writing.
Union contracts created the middle class.
Their strength has raised the standard of living for all, including the timid free loaders who work paycheck to paycheck without the dignity of a collective bargaining agreement.
It will always be better to bargain, than beg.

[AnnfromCA]

03:59 PM on 03/05/2009

Stripping American workers of the right to privacy in voting is just plain wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

[wm1066]

04:12 PM on 03/05/2009

Ahh, you have been fooled by the Repubs that up is down and right is left.

[Kynn]

04:34 PM on 03/05/2009

Yes it would be.

Too bad that's not what the EFCA does.

I know, you believe the right-wing nutters.

Remember, they don't care about you.

[Skyhawk]

03:58 PM on 03/05/2009

Go Joe!

[jubei]

03:56 PM on 03/05/2009

That's right Vice-Presi­dent Joe Biden you're right on point go get em Joe!!

[Grannysue]

03:56 PM on 03/05/2009

Thank you Mr. V.P. I totally agree!

[mom2sons]

03:55 PM on 03/05/2009

Work the phones Joe. You know what it's like to be raised in a union state, and how unions benefit the workers and country! Go get'em Joe!

[jane gutowski]

05:03 PM on 03/05/2009

the name of the bill should be "now that i know how you gonna vote ill be watching you" act.