Klobuchar rallies Miami union workers as part of economic policy roll-out
Speaking to a modest crowd of about 40 union workers and activists in her one-on-one style, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said if she becomes president, America will have a president who respects “the dignity of work.”
Klobuchar, candidate for president and fifth in popularity for the Democratic primary, spoke at the SEIU Local 1991 in Miami Friday about labor rights and her union-friendly campaign platform.
“The dignity of work, to me, means people are able to raise a family. If they’re taking those jobs we want them to take in the service industry and healthcare, we have to make sure they are able to afford things.”
The daughter of a union teacher and union journalist and the granddaughter of an iron ore miner, the Midwestern moderate said she’s made labor policies one of her key platforms during her campaign because it’s personal.
“I feel right at home here, because it’s Vikings and Prince purple,” Klobuchar said, joking about the purple-filled conference room.
Klobuchar was joined by leaders from the SEIU Local 1991, United Teachers of Dade, United Faculty of Miami Dade College and the South Florida AFL-CIO. The SEIU has not yet endorsed a presidential candidate for the 2020 election.
“It’s very important we elect someone who’s going to get us out of this embarrassing ditch we’re in,” SEIU Local 1991 President Martha Baker said.
The event dovetails into a recent Klobuchar policy roll-out focused on the economy, which includes a range of essential Democratic ideas like bolstering paid family leave, raising the national minimum wage, overhauling the current K-12 education system and connecting every household to high-speed internet.
“We’re seeing a change in our economy,” Klobuchar said. “We’ve got to look at what’s the best thing that makes our economy work and what’s best for the workers.”
Klobuchar, known for her gutsy clap backs to President Donald Trump, criticized his lack of care for workers in the country.
“Despite his 100 tweets by 1 p.m. yesterday, he’s not keeping up with workers and what their needs are,” she said.
One section of the economic policy roll-out is focused on strengthening labor laws, protecting rights like collective bargaining, increasing penalties for employers that violate workers’ rights and nominating pro-labor members to the National Labor Review Board.
Her last visit to Miami had a similar focus. Fresh off the third debate in Houston, Klobuchar stopped in Miami in September to meet with union members and activists for a round-table discussion on election reform.
She said unions are becoming stronger, explaining how the public’s supporting teachers’ strikes means “people understand what I’m talking about.”
“When our unions are strong, the economy is strong,” she told workers. “When the economy is strong, our people are strong.”
She added that she plans to roll back Right to Work laws, which maintain that in some states, employers cannot fire or refuse to hire workers if they choose not to pay and participate in a union. Florida is a “Right to Work State.”
Klobuchar also highlighted other parts of her platform, like her “Amy’s First 100 Days” plan, which involves 100 actions to reverse Trump administration policy that can be done without Congress. The actions range from getting the U.S. back into the International Climate Change Agreement to suspending efforts to eliminate the Affordable Care Act’s protections for people with preexisting conditions.
“Also, just imagine having no mean tweets to wake up to at 7 in the morning,” she joked.
Though she is not in the top tier of her Democratic rivals, polls show Klobuchar gaining momentum. A November survey by The Des Moines Register and CNN shows her support doubling to 6% since September. That puts her in fifth place, trailing South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg with 25%, Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 16% and former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders each with 15%.
Klobuchar is in the process of doubling her staff in New Hampshire, doubling her Iowa campaign offices to more than 20 and hiring staff in Nevada and South Carolina, other early primary states.
February 3 marks the Iowa caucus, where Iowans will indicate their preference. Republicans use secret ballots, while Democrats stand together in groups to show their support. On February 11, New Hampshire voters will cast the first round of primary votes, which plays an important role in setting the tone of the contest for the rest of the nation. February 22 is the Nevada Democratic caucuses, February 29 is the South Carolina Democratic primary.
Florida’s presidential preference primary is March 17. The Florida primary for the general election — local races plus state House and Senate primaries — is August 18. November 3 is Election Day.
Klobuchar is one of seven candidates who has qualified for the sixth Democratic debate Dec. 19 in Los Angeles. She said Friday that the Democratic National Committee should move the debate from Loyola Marymount University, where workers have been picketing since November.
The DNC pulled the debate from the initial University of California Los Angeles location over a union boycott
“I don’t believe we should cross that picket line.”
This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 3:20 PM.