Tom Perez Quotes

Our party feels that we need to have fair compensation, living wage, good benefits, and decent treatment of workers, and that we can do that and still be competitive on a global basis.

If we turn our back on the people of this country who need to work for a living, we shouldn't be here, to be honest, because that has to be an essential part of what we do to protect the country, from the standpoint of defense, protect workers and make sure they have jobs.

This is the greatest country in the world for people who want to work, but we have to make sure that this is always true..

Affirm the priority of work over capital and the fact that material goods are meant for all … The priority of work over capital places an obligation in justice upon employers to consider the welfare of the workers before the increase of profits.

We have to get very militant with some of these employers to say there's no shortcuts, our people have a right to a fair day's wage for a fair day's pay, and we've got to get that done. And that's going to happen.

Out of labor's struggle in Arizona came better conditions for the workers, who must everywhere, at all times, under advantage and disadvantage work out their own salvation.

This is just the beginning of a new era for America's workers.

Workers want to be paid an honest, fair wage for the work they do. They want to be able to provide for their families by being justly compensated for their part in helping grow the U.S. economy. They deserve to be able to put food on the table and receive health care and other benefits.

Were the workers who sweated to put food on my table paid at least minimum wage? Did they get health benefits? Overtime? Were they unionized? Protected from pesticide exposure?

The priority of work over capital places an obligation in justice upon employers to consider the welfare of the workers before the increase of profits.

A fair day’s wages for a fair day’s work is ever my partner’s motto.

When labor is strong, America is strong.

Business’s objective is to maximize profits—not maximize benefits to the American worker.

Labor is marching toward the goal of industrial democracy and contributing constructively toward a more rational arrangement of our domestic economy.

If there is to be peace in our industrial life, let the employer recognize his obligation to his employees

The shorter working day is the most essential thing in the lives of industrial workers. It means opportunities for life and self-development which are shut out by the whir of the machinery and the routine of the factory job at which the day is spent. It means also more efficiency on the job and better service to the employer.

“A fair day’s wages for a fair day’s work,” is as just a demand as governed men ever made of governing; yet in what corner of this planet was that ever realized?

The workers, before all else.

The Ford Motor Company, the greatest and most successful automobile manufacturing company in the world, will, on January 12, inaugurate the greatest revolution in the matter of rewards for its workers in the industrial world. At one stroke, it will reduce the hours of labor from 9 to 8, and add to every man’s pay a share of the profits of the house. The smallest to be received by a man 22 years old and upward was $5 a day.

Instead of focusing on attacking unions and the labor movement, we need to find ways to strengthen and empower workers so we can put more money in the pockets of middle class families.

Food service workers, home care workers, farm workers, and other low-wage workers log long hours. They come home tired after providing services and producing goods that make our country stronger. They deserve fair treatment from their employers, and they deserve a voice in collective bargaining.

What we have to do is support business, but also support our workers with job training programs and with reasonable wages.

We must defend the rights of working people to bargain collectively for fair wages and safe working conditions.

Employees who work for WWF, they have better benefits than the wrestlers do. The ones they should take care of is the wrestlers.

As we say we fight for working people, we have to make sure our policies reflect that.