Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, speaks at the Iowa Federation Labor Convention on August 21, 2019 in Altoona, Iowa. (Photo: Joshua Lott/Getty Images)
After Decades of Corporate 'Decimation' of Unions, Sanders Says It Is Time for Workers to Win the Class War
"If there is going to be class warfare in this country, it's time that the working class of this country won that war."
After he unveiled a comprehensive plan to double union membership and strengthen labor rights, Sen. Bernie Sanders said during an AFL-CIO event in Iowa on Wednesday that it is time for America's workers to win the class war against corporate elites.
"If there is going to be class warfare in this country," said Sanders, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, "it's time that the working class of this country won that war."
Sanders explained that, over the past several decades, big corporations and their allies in government have been waging class war against workers, gutting their right to organize and bargain for better wages and working conditions.
"For 45 years there has been a war in this country waged by the corporate elite against the working class of America," said Sanders. "And the truth of the matter--not talked about in Congress, not talked about in the media--is that as a result of that war against the working class by the corporate elite, what we have seen is the decimation of working families all across this country, while the wealthiest people and largest corporations have done phenomenally well."
Sanders said rebuilding the American trade union movement is essential to fighting soaring inequality in the United States and securing economic justice for all.
"We must come together and stand up for the working families of this country," Sanders said, "and finally create an economy and a government that works for all of us, not just the one percent."
Watch the full speech:
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This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
After he unveiled a comprehensive plan to double union membership and strengthen labor rights, Sen. Bernie Sanders said during an AFL-CIO event in Iowa on Wednesday that it is time for America's workers to win the class war against corporate elites.
"If there is going to be class warfare in this country," said Sanders, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, "it's time that the working class of this country won that war."
Sanders explained that, over the past several decades, big corporations and their allies in government have been waging class war against workers, gutting their right to organize and bargain for better wages and working conditions.
"For 45 years there has been a war in this country waged by the corporate elite against the working class of America," said Sanders. "And the truth of the matter--not talked about in Congress, not talked about in the media--is that as a result of that war against the working class by the corporate elite, what we have seen is the decimation of working families all across this country, while the wealthiest people and largest corporations have done phenomenally well."
Sanders said rebuilding the American trade union movement is essential to fighting soaring inequality in the United States and securing economic justice for all.
"We must come together and stand up for the working families of this country," Sanders said, "and finally create an economy and a government that works for all of us, not just the one percent."
Watch the full speech:
After he unveiled a comprehensive plan to double union membership and strengthen labor rights, Sen. Bernie Sanders said during an AFL-CIO event in Iowa on Wednesday that it is time for America's workers to win the class war against corporate elites.
"If there is going to be class warfare in this country," said Sanders, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, "it's time that the working class of this country won that war."
Sanders explained that, over the past several decades, big corporations and their allies in government have been waging class war against workers, gutting their right to organize and bargain for better wages and working conditions.
"For 45 years there has been a war in this country waged by the corporate elite against the working class of America," said Sanders. "And the truth of the matter--not talked about in Congress, not talked about in the media--is that as a result of that war against the working class by the corporate elite, what we have seen is the decimation of working families all across this country, while the wealthiest people and largest corporations have done phenomenally well."
Sanders said rebuilding the American trade union movement is essential to fighting soaring inequality in the United States and securing economic justice for all.
"We must come together and stand up for the working families of this country," Sanders said, "and finally create an economy and a government that works for all of us, not just the one percent."
Watch the full speech: