Issued February 04, 2020
WASHINGTON, DC: Service Employees International Union International President Mary Kay Henry released the following statement on President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Henry attended as a guest of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Three airport workers who are either SEIU members or trying to form their union also attended:
“Working people of all races and ethnicities are united around a common set of principles: the belief that if you work hard for a living you should be treated fairly and have the chance to see your kids have a better life. Sadly, that promise has slipped out of grasp for millions of families.
“The President wants us to believe the country is thriving under his administration, but the truth is far too many families are being left behind under his policies. Tonight he touted a low unemployment rate. But 64 million Americans are underpaid, many working two or three jobs, due in part to his refusal to support minimum wage increases or take action to create good union jobs.
“The President tonight continued to try to use race to divide working people, again blaming immigrants for our country’s problems to distract us from the fact that he gave huge tax breaks to big corporations and is still attempting to take healthcare away from millions of people.
“SEIU members and Fight for $15 and a Union leaders, like the three airport workers who attended tonight’s speech with their members of Congress, are fed up and taking our future into our own hands. The service, care and public sector workers united in the Fight for $15 and a Union movement are fighting for quality, affordable healthcare; a compassionate and common-sense path to citizenship for 11 million aspiring Americans; the opportunity to join a union to bargain for better jobs no matter where you work; and clean air to breathe and clean water to drink for future generations.
“Working people—whether we are Black, white, Latinx, or Asian—are sick of those in power rigging the system in their favor. This November we will hold them accountable.”