VP Kamala Harris gives nod to union workers, working class in speech at Durham Tech

U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh joined Harris to discuss the administration's investments in union jobs.

On Wednesday morning, Harris toured the IBEW local 553 apprentice program at Durham Technical Community College, stopping to visit with instructor Brian Wesley, who told the vice president he lived in a home where money was tight. He credits the union he joined with changing that for him and his family.

Following the tour, Harris spoke about the Biden administration's "historic investment" into American workers. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper was also present.

Harris also addressed the Ukraine situation, noting that "the brave people of Ukraine are fighting to defend their freedom and integrity" and that Americans stand with them.

Harris spoke of the administration's effort to bolster the economy. The Biden administration has cited its efforts to help create more than 6.5 million jobs and lower the unemployment rate.

"I have met workers of all ages, and they have many traits in common," Harris said. "Tenacity, creativity and a relentless determination to get the job done right."

Harris also mentioned the administration's efforts to help end the COVID-19 pandemic and "get our economy back to normal."

"With that, this fight is not yet won," she said.

"To continue our recovery we must then create more good paying jobs, good union jobs. In big cities and small towns across our country, union workers are building the future," Harris said.

A White House task force issued a set of recommendations on Monday that could make it easier for federal workers and contractors to unionize.

The report submitted to Biden included 70 distinct policy proposals, according to a release by the White House. Biden created the task force chaired by Harris, with Walsh as vice chair, through an executive order last April.

“We had the ability for people to come in and give testimony on what they want to see in strengthening workers’ rights,” Walsh said. “This is a very strong, worker-centered document.”

The report argues that a decades-long drop in union membership has coincided with a rising share of income going to the top 10% of earners. It further says that most Americans have a favorable impression of unions and would join one if given the option in a vote. Yet the Labor Department reported last month that only 10.3% of workers belonged to a union in 2021, down from 20.1% in 1983.

On Tuesday night, President Joe Biden gave his State of the Union address, vowing to check Russian aggression in Ukraine, tame soaring U.S. inflation and deal with the fading but still dangerous coronavirus. Biden spoke in Durham in October 2020 and October 2019 while on the campaign trail.