This is historical material “frozen in time”. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.

Search form

Weekly Address: This Labor Day, Let’s Talk About the Minimum Wage

Summary: 
In this week's address, the President wished Americans a happy Labor Day weekend, highlighted the important economic progress we've made, and reaffirmed his commitment to accelerate our progress and ensure that our growing economy fuels a strong middle class.
President Barack Obama tapes the Weekly Address in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Aug. 29, 2014.

President Barack Obama tapes the Weekly Address in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Aug. 29, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

In this week’s address, the President wished Americans a happy Labor Day weekend, highlighted the important economic progress we’ve made, and reaffirmed his commitment to accelerate our progress and ensure that our growing economy fuels a strong middle class.

To do this, the President reiterated that Congress should do right by hardworking Americans across the country and raise the minimum wage, and he praised the 13 states and Washington, D.C. as well as employers large and small who have heeded his call and taken action to provide their citizens and employees a fair wage.

The President underscored that America built the world’s greatest middle class by making sure that everyone who’s willing to work hard and play by the rules can get ahead – an economic patriotism worth remembering this Labor Day, and every day.

Transcript | mp4 | mp3