The Congressional Black Caucus--African American and the Labor Movement

Floor Speech

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Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to join and thank my colleague, Mr. Jeffries, for leading the Congressional Black Caucus' important discussion on achieving economic security through the labor movement.

Labor unions played an important role in the civil rights movement. Today, the labor movement continues to be an important issue for African Americans, just as important as it was 50 years ago during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

The labor unions and civil rights groups share the struggles of fighting for better pay and equal rights. The overall goal of this movement remains the same. We must invest in education, fair wages, and workers' rights. We must continue to fight for those in our community who are denied economic opportunity and equality. Labor unions are at the forefront of these endeavors. They ensure the gains that workers have made in the past are maintained and that workers' rights will be protected in the future. Union members have played a critical role in the civil rights movement, and their involvement continues today.

Historically, the path of the middle class for African Americans was through a union job, and today unions continue to provide African Americans with economic security. You see, 13.3 percent of all union jobs in the United States are African American, despite African Americans only making up 11.4 percent of the overall domestic workforce. African American union jobs earn up to $10,000, or 31 percent, more per year than nonunion workers.

If we really want to rebuild America's middle class, we need strong unions. Labor unions play a major role in our economy and on behalf of workers. The essence of what labor unions do is to provide workers with a strong voice so they receive a fair share of the economic growth that they help create. They have always been an important player in making sure that the economy works for all Americans.

Labor unions have paved the way for middle class people, for millions of American workers, and pioneered benefits such as paid health care and pensions along the way. Even today, union workers still maintain more benefits and job protection than nonunion workers.

Union jobs continue to offer higher salaries, pensions, health care, and benefits that give families the economic security that they deserve, the security to be able to send their children to college or trade schools. I know this firsthand because my dad was a union worker. Oftentimes I say that I was able to go to college because of union dollars. This is the American Dream, and unions have helped ensure that more Americans have a chance to live it.

In central Ohio, the Third Congressional District of Ohio that I represent, labor unions are strong and a significant part of the community. During my August recess, I had the opportunity to visit the Sheet Metal Workers Union, Local 24, located in Columbus, Ohio. I also had the opportunity to have a labor town hall meeting where I had the opportunity to speak. Whether it's a teacher educating our children, a skilled tradesman improving our infrastructure, police and first responders keeping us safe, electric workers, those working in transportation, the Postal Service, nurses, automotive workers, local, State, Federal, and municipal government employees, these individuals assist us every day and their work improves our communities and our local economy.

It is so important for us to come here today as Members of Congress and, yes, as members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Let me tell you why. In our current economic climate, unions are more important than ever before. We need fair wages. We need a higher minimum wage. As our economy continues to recover from the worst recession in 80 years, many workers are experiencing decreased wages, forcing them to spend their savings or try to figure out how to make ends meet.

yes, unions are a vital part of our society and so important as we continue to rebuild America. We must ensure that workers can retire with dignity. We must preserve the ideals and the principles of the middle class. We must make sure that we preserve the values of that civil rights movement 50 years ago and that labor movement that defines our country. When unions are strong and able to provide a voice to American workers, our communities, our States, and our Nation grows.

So tonight I say ``thank you'' to all my friends in labor, because you are making us have a better America.

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