WASHINGTON — Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa issued the following statement following President Obama’s presidential address:
“American workers will answer President Obama’s call to take responsibility for our future once more. We have long recognized the need for health care reform, energy independence and quality education. We support these goals as essential to rebuilding America’s middle class.
“President Obama is right that we are the hardest-working people on earth. Unfortunately, the benefits of that hard work have for too long flowed to the richest few Americans.
“Too many employers have shirked their responsibilities to America’s workers, and President Obama understands that. It was wonderful to hear him say he would end the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas.
“It doesn’t help our economy to develop cutting-edge technology if we send it to China, along with the new jobs that go with it. Keeping good jobs in America is critical to restoring our economic strength.
“I applaud President Obama for his continued leadership on this important issue.”
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.