Image

2:52 PM / Friday April 19, 2024

7 Sep 2018

Trump attacks union leader on Labor Day

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
September 7, 2018 Category: Week In Review Posted by:

ABOVE PHOTO:  AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka

 

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump started his Labor Day with an attack on a top union leader, lashing out after criticism from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.

Trump tweeted Monday that Trumka “represented his union poorly on television this weekend.” He added: “it is easy to see why unions are doing so poorly. A Dem!”

The president’s attack came after Trumka appeared on “Fox News Sunday” over the weekend where he said efforts to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement should include Canada. Trumka, whose organization is an umbrella group for most unions, said the economies of the United States, Canada and Mexico are “integrated” and “it’s pretty hard to see how that would work without having Canada in the deal.”

Trump said Saturday on Twitter that there was “no political necessity” to keep Canada in NAFTA. But it’s questionable whether Trump can unilaterally exclude Canada from a deal to replace the three-nation NAFTA agreement, without the approval of Congress. Any such move would likely face lengthy legal and congressional challenges.

Trump administration negotiations to keep Canada in the reimagined trade bloc are to resume this week as Washington and Ottawa try to break a deadlock over issues such as Canada’s dairy market and U.S. efforts to shield drug companies from generic competition.

Trump wants to get a trade deal finalized by Dec. 1.

Trumka also said of Trump: “the things that he’s done to hurt workers outpace what he’s done to help workers,” arguing that Trump has not come through with an infrastructure program and has overturned regulations that “will hurt us on the job.”

Asked about the low unemployment rate and economic growth, Trumka said “those are good, but wages have been down since the first of the year. Gas prices have been up since the first of the year. So, overall, workers aren’t doing as well.”

On Monday, Trump touted the economy, saying “Our country is doing better than ever before with unemployment setting record lows.” He added, “The Worker in America is doing better than ever before. Celebrate Labor Day!”

The unemployment rate of 3.9 percent is not at the best point ever — it is near the lowest in 18 years.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Leave a Comment

Recent News

Philly NAACP

April 14, 2024

March 17, 2024

Tweet Email Tweet Email Related Posts Philadelphia Judicial Primary Candidates At A Glance Guide Philadelphia Judicial Candidates...

Sports

Hank Aaron rose above racist hate mail and threats in pursuit of Ruth’s home run record 50 years ago

April 14, 2024

Tweet Email ABOVE PHOTO: Hank Aaron holds aloft the ball he hit for his 715th career home...

Health

Mental health and the ALS community

April 13, 2024

Tweet Email BPTSponsored by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) Each year, an estimated 5,000-6,000 Americans are...

Election 2024

Federal data does not show a soaring number of unauthorized migrants registering to vote

April 14, 2024

Tweet Email ABOVE PHOTO: SCREEN SHOT By Melissa GoldinASSOCIATED PRESS CLAIM Social Security Administration data shows the...

Color Of Money

Five financial tips to take your business to the next level

April 5, 2024

Tweet Email BPTBy Irana Wasti, chief product officer at BILL Building a business is an incredible journey,...

Seniors

Jump start the spring season by getting vaccinated against this potentially serious lung disease

April 5, 2024

Tweet Email BPT Spring is the season of new beginnings — a time when we can finally...

The Philadelphia Sunday Sun Staff