Statement from AFL-CIO Officers on President Biden’s Announcement

July 21, 2024

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond issued the following statement:

There has been no greater champion in the White House for America's workers than President Joe Biden. He has had workers' backs every day of his presidency, constantly pushing his administration to use every tool in its toolbox to create and protect our jobs, defend our rights in the workplace, and invest in our economic security.

President Biden's legacy as the most pro-labor president in history, and that of the Biden-Harris White House, is indisputable. The president led the passage of landmark legislation, which rescued our economy from the brink of another depression, brought manufacturing jobs back to America and put us on the pathway to create millions of good-paying union jobs. He ensured a pro-labor National Labor Relations Board that has defended workers' rights and held bad bosses accountable, including corporate CEOs. He has pressed for labor standards in every federal investment and raised the wages of hundreds of thousands of federal contractors, raising the tide for fair pay for working people across the country.

Vice President Kamala Harris has been an integral part of that success. She cast the tie-breaking votes to save the pensions of more than 1 million union members and retirees, expand the child tax credit to help millions of struggling families, and take on big pharmaceutical companies to lower the price of key prescriptions like insulin. She is a defender of civil rights and reproductive freedom and a proven partner in the administration's pro-worker agenda.

This is why the AFL-CIO unequivocally supported Biden-Harris for re-election earlier than any other presidential endorsement in our history. And it is why, with our deepest gratitude and respect, we honor President Biden's choice to not run for re-election.

The AFL-CIO's officers and leadership from the federation's 60 affiliated unions, representing more than 12.5 million workers, will convene soon to discuss our next steps.

Candidates may change, but our values don't. Our fight to create an economy where everyone has a fighting chance and a country where working people not only survive but thrive will never stop. Our solidarity with workers as we organize and bargain for the pay, benefits, and safety we deserve will never waver. And our commitment to defeating Donald Trump and JD Vance is as strong as ever.

Contact: Steve Smith, 202-637-5018