The president of the AFL-CIO on Thursday said that he has been advising the Clinton campaign and predicted that labor and Hillary Rodham Clinton will be “full partners” in rewriting economic rules if she replaces President Obama, who Big Labor had disagreements with.
Richard Trumka, wearing a Hillary campaign button bigger than his own AFL-CIO button, said, “I think we will be full partners in rewriting the rules of the economy.”
At a media breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, he added that labor has been on the inside of the Clinton campaign, especially in developing jobs and infrastructure policies.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. Photos Michael Bonfigli/The Christian Science Monitor
“We have talked about policy, we will continue to talk about policy, not just through the election but after the transition and into the new administration whenever it comes into being, we’ll be working as partners,” said the former coal miner in an annual pre-Labor Day meeting with reporters.
Trumka called Obama a “good president for working people,” but described his 30-year relationship with Clinton in a better light.
“I think probably the difference will be she will listen a little earlier and a little more carefully than the president did,” he said. “She is more open to talking to people before decisions are made. Her circle is wider than the president’s.”
A common complaint of Obama is about how small his kitchen cabinet is and how little they reach out to others for advice.
Trumka, however, said Clinton prefers to listen to a broad group of advisors before making moves and he said it is good for labor to be in on the ground level.
“I think that’s absolutely wonderful. I think we will be full partners in rewriting the rules of the economy,” said Trumka, whose union has established a huge effort to help Clinton beat Donald Trump.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. Photos Michael Bonfigli/The Christian Science Monitor
“I believe they want working people in on the writing of the new rules of the economy, so it isn’t just a remake of what we’ve seen to date and an economy that continues to work for those at the very top but the rest of the people get left out of the economy,” Trumka said, adding, “We have talked about policy, we will continue to talk about policy, not just through the election but after the transition and into the new administration whenever it comes into being, we’ll be working as partners.”
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
