Vice President Kamala Harris marked Labor Day by rallying in the Midwest alongside Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, focusing on strengthening ties with American workers and unions.

During the event, Harris underscored her commitment to protecting labor rights and took aim at former President Donald Trump’s labor policies, and she emphasized what she views as the significant role unions have played in securing vital worker protections, including the five-day workweek, sick leave, and paid leave, as the Washington Examiner reports.

Speaking in Detroit, she was joined by prominent union leaders, including United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, as she vowed to reinforce labor laws if elected president.

Harris Pledges To Strengthen Labor Laws

During her speech, Harris outlined her vision for an “opportunity economy” where all Americans could thrive rather than merely survive.

She promised to push for stronger labor laws, including measures to prevent union-busting activities, should she win the presidency. Harris stressed the historical importance of unions, saying they were instrumental in establishing many of the worker protections that are now taken for granted.

“Everywhere I go, I tell people, ‘Look, you may not be a union member. You better thank a union member for the five-day workweek. You better thank a union member for sick leave. You better thank a union member for paid leave,’” Harris said, making a direct appeal to the audience to recognize the contributions of organized labor.

In her critique of former President Trump, Harris accused him of wanting to return the country to a time when workers did not have the freedom to organize. She pointed to his administration's support for right-to-work laws and claimed his policies had rolled back overtime benefits for millions of workers, though this claim has been rated as “misleading” by fact-checkers.

Harris Criticizes Trump’s Labor Policies

Harris did not hold back in her critique of Trump’s labor record, arguing that his administration’s policies favored businesses over workers. She highlighted his administration's efforts to support right-to-work laws, which weaken unions by allowing employees to benefit from union-negotiated contracts without paying union dues.

Harris also took aim at Trump’s overtime pay policies, which she claimed had blocked overtime benefits for millions.

However, fact-checkers have noted that while Trump’s administration did adjust overtime rules, the impact was less severe than Harris suggested. PolitiFact rated her claim as “misleading,” acknowledging that Trump’s changes extended overtime benefits to some workers, though fewer than would have been covered under the Obama administration’s rules.

In a symbolic show of unity with labor, Harris also visited a labor union hall in Pittsburgh on the same day, alongside President Joe Biden. This visit underscored the Democratic ticket’s emphasis on labor rights as a central theme of their campaign.

Walz Speaks In Milwaukee While Trump Defends Record

While Harris campaigned in Detroit, Governor Walz addressed a crowd in Milwaukee during the city’s annual “Laborfest,” reinforcing the Democrats' pro-labor message across the Midwest. Walz echoed Harris’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of unions in building a fair and just economy.

Meanwhile, former President Trump responded to the Democratic attacks on his labor record via his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump accused Harris of causing high inflation, which he claimed was burdening American workers during the holiday weekend.

Trump defended his track record, boasting about his administration’s accomplishments in negotiating trade deals and supporting American workers.

“In my First Term, we achieved Major Successes to protect American Workers by negotiating Free and Fair Trade Deals, passing the USMCA (U.S./Mexico/Canada), and giving Businesses and their Workers the tools to thrive,” Trump wrote. He further asserted that the U.S. had been an economic powerhouse under his leadership, attributing this success to the hard work of American laborers, which he claimed Harris and Biden had undone.

Conclusion: Labor Rights Central To 2024 Campaign

The Labor Day rallies by Harris and Walz in the Midwest highlight the Democratic ticket’s focus on labor rights as they gear up for the 2024 election. Harris’s promise to strengthen labor laws and her critique of Trump’s labor policies underline the party’s commitment to organized labor, a key constituency in the upcoming election.

On the other hand, Trump’s defense of his administration’s record on labor and his attacks on Harris’s economic policies signal a continued debate over which party truly has the best interests of American workers at heart.

As the campaign progresses, labor rights will likely remain a central issue, with both sides seeking to win the support of the nation’s workers.