Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga talked about essential workers who are union members, Labor Day and top-down accountability when he appeared on America’s Work Force Radio Podcast on Sept. 1.

Union members on the front lines

Burga said union members, like many other workers, have been on the front lines working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Union members already go through extensive training to make sure they work safely. Burga said union members have had little issue adapting to temporary and updated safety standards and regulations. He added that they do this to protect themselves as well as their fellow coworkers.

Labor Day

With Labor Day fast approaching, Burga said the holiday is very important to union members.

It is more than just a long weekend away from work. Throughout history, working class people and union members have fought for the rights and betterment of workers. Whether it was establishing the 40-hour week, or demanding an increase in training to keep all workers safe, working people and union members helped give us what is now considered normal in the workplace.

Accountability in office

The conversation then shifted to the 2020 election. Burga focused on accountability and examined how candidates and politicians are being held accountable.

He highlighted some of the big campaign trail and in-office promises President Trump has made to working people.

Burga said the president has not delivered an infrastructure bill that would adequately help working class Americans, manufacturing has not been brought back at a rate promised and some has even left and there is still an existing import and export deficit.

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