Obama Speaks Out for Workers' Rights, Safety

President Obama told a Cleveland TV interviewer this week that he "strongly disapproves" of the assaults in Ohio, Wisconsin and other states on workers' collective bargaining rights.

"Let's make sure we've got shared sacrifice and that we make sure that the burden just doesn't fall on one set of folks," Obama told WKYC. "Let's certainly not blame public employees for a financial crisis that they had nothing to do with. And let's not use this as an excuse to erode their bargaining rights. So, whether it's Wisconsin or what we're seeing in Ohio, I strongly disapprove."

Also this week, the president issued a proclamation for Workers' Memorial Day, reminding Americans of workplace tragedies such as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the great risks that courageous workers took to fight for safety on the job.

"Until 1970, many Americans still did not have the legal right to a safe workplace, and many employers were not legally obligated to control hazards," Obama said. "The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 fundamentally changed American workplaces.

"On Workers Memorial Day, we reflect on the vital achievements of the past and recommit to keeping all workers safe and healthy in the future. We owe nothing less to the countless working Americans who have built and shaped our nation, and to those who have lost their lives or been injured on the job."