Biden Addresses Union Members in Crucial Pennsylvania as Election Day Approaches

PHILADELPHIA—President Joe Biden addressed a union house in Philadelphia just days before the general election on Nov. 1. He discussed his administration’s achievements in pension matters.

“Imagine the financial and emotional consequences when you retire and discover that years of hard work and sacrifice are diminished, with no fault of your own… It’s unfair,” Biden remarked regarding the cuts to union pensions.

He hailed the Butch Lewis Act as “the most pivotal investment in pension security in over five decades.”

“Prior to the enactment of the Butch Lewis Act, union workers and retirees faced potential cuts of up to 70 percent in retirement benefits,” Biden explained. “Thanks to the efforts of Kamala [Harris] and me in Congress, pensions are safeguarded.” This sentiment was echoed by other speakers at the event, including Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, Pennsylvania Teamsters President William Hamilton, and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.).

Related Stories

The legislation in question was named after the late Butch Lewis, a former U.S. Army Ranger and longtime International Brotherhood of Teamsters member who championed pension reform.

Rita Lewis, his widow, addressed the audience, and Biden surprised her by honoring her deceased husband with the Presidential Citizens Medal.

“As a strong labor leader, Butch Lewis worked to protect the hard-earned pensions of millions of Americans … he dedicated 40 years to being a trucker, Teamster, and union advocate, fighting for the dignity of labor,” the award citation read, concluding with Biden presenting the medal to Rita Lewis. While pinning the medal, Biden appeared to have some difficulty and even momentarily dropped it before bending down to pick it up.

Connecting with Unions Before the Election

The speech is part of several presentations Biden has given to highlight his presidential legacy before his term ends. It also emphasizes his outreach to a pivotal constituency in Pennsylvania, essential for a Harris victory in the state as the Democratic presidential nominee.

Several union members in attendance expressed to The Epoch Times that Biden’s support for pension reform is the reason they back Harris in the election.

“Thanks to the Biden administration and the American Rescue Plan, we’re going to receive the necessary funds to secure and ensure pensions for many years to come for some members who would have been affected if the fund ran out of money,” remarked Leonard Purnell, the Field Services Director of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1776, the largest union represented at the speech. “[Harris] will continue the work of the Biden–Harris administration.”

“We’re actively engaging in GOTV, mobilizing our members and their families extensively,” noted Purnell, referencing “get out the vote” efforts to rally support for Harris.

“We’ve been running a significant program for several months now … we’ve already identified numerous supporters [and] our task is to ensure they show up to vote on Tuesday,” Purnell added, stating the union’s coordination with the Harris campaign.

Tom “Tiny” Callan, vice president of Teamsters Local No. 623, concurred.

“We believe that [Harris] will continue Joe Biden’s policies and maintain strong unions … we’re canvassing, [we] traveled to different areas of the city to knock on doors and show support for Harris–Walz,” as shared with The Epoch Times.

Securing union backing is notably crucial for Harris’s campaign amid Trump’s consistent appeals to working-class voters and his proposed tariffs on imported goods to bolster domestic industry.

Throughout his career, Biden has made advocating for unions a cornerstone of his political identity to appeal to working-class voters—a attribute he emphasized during the speech.

“I take pride in being … the most pro-union president in history,” Biden stated, echoing a familiar sentiment. Flanked by two large banners reading “Union Strong,” Biden declared at the event, “The middle class constructed this nation, and unions constructed the middle class,” eliciting applause.