President Joe Biden signs ‘Good Jobs’ executive order during visit to Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR, MICH. – President Joe Biden made his first visit to Michigan Friday afternoon since withdrawing from the presidential race last July.

The executive order calls on all federal agencies to adopt the following labor practices: voluntary union recognition and neutrality with respect to union organizing, equal pay and pay transparency, and projects that supply workers with benefits—including child and dependent care, health insurance, paid leave, and retirement benefits—and support workforce development and workplace safety.

The executive order also created the Investing in Good Jobs Task Force that coordinates policy development. It will be co-chaired by the Secretary of Labor and the Director of the National Economic Council.

“A lot of politicians have trouble saying the word union,” Biden said to applause. “It ain’t workers. It’s union.”

The audience included members of several unions, who greeted the president with “Thank you, Joe” chants.

“I see that he really cares for the union workers,” UNITE HERE Local 24 member Antoine Meeks said.

“He understands the nuts and bolts of labor,” CWA Local 4034 Rainer Delgado said.

Team Trump Michigan Communications Director Victoria LaCivita released a statement in response to Biden’s visit.

“Joe’s trip to Michigan is another sickening reminder to every Michigander that a Kamala presidency would be another four years of historic inflation, high prices, and lost jobs to electric vehicles. Despite Kamala and Joe’s best efforts, Michigan voters know that only President Donald J. Trump offers the common sense solutions that will Make Michigan Great Again,” she said.

During his remarks, Biden made several digs at former President Donald Trump but rarely mentioned him by name.

“Too many presidents, like my predecessor, looked the other way as companies trample on the rights of workers,” the president said.

Biden mentioned Vice President Kamala Harris in the context of their administration’s work, not her bid for the White House.