Remarks at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees convention in Chicago, Illinois

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, June 24, 1996

I don't believe that we ought to weaken the worker safety laws. We can find better ways to work in partnerships with employers, but do we want to go back to the time when there were no protections for worker safety? We can find better ways to operate in the environmental sphere. We're giving 50 different companies, right now, the opportunity to throw the rule book away if they're subjected to tests for clean air and clean water and the other environmental tests. We're not hung up on the bureaucracy. But do we want to forget about the standards for clean air and clean water and chemical right-to-know and all those things? I don't think so.

Audience member, No-o-o!

The President. I say we should stand up for the notion that America will be stronger in the global economy of the 21st century if we give our people clean air, clean water, safe streets, a solid education system, if we honor our commitment to our parents, and if we decide we are going forward together. It's always worked before. Why won't it work in the global economy of the 21st century?

I understand the other side is criticizing us because we have the support of labor unions. Well, I plead guilty to that. [Applause] Thank you.

Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

The President. Thank you. Thank you.

I would put - it is true that I have done some specific things that all of you wanted that I believed in. I believe in the Executive order I signed on striker replacement. I believe in the repeal of the anti-union Executive orders from the previous administration. I believe in the appointments I've made to these Federal agencies that finally are giving a fair break to both labor and management and not being too one-sided. I believe in that, I think you're entitled to a fair break. I think you're entitled to the respect and the full protection of the laws that were out there for you. I believe in those things.

I don't believe that we should weaken the power of labor by going back to company unions. I don't believe that. But I also want to point out, and based on my experience as a Governor and my experience as a President, it is simply a myth to pretend that everybody who serves the public is anti-change. I'd like to see some of these people who criticize people in public service go out and look at how the changes have been made in some of the welfare programs that you serve in and some of the health care programs that you serve in. I would like to see that.

I'd like to remind everybody in this country, if you'll let me now in my role as President crow that Business Week last year said that the best customer service on any toll-free line in America was not given by L.L. Bean or Federal Express, but by the Federal employees at the Social Security Administration. I am proud of that.

The Labor Department last month released a report by the mayor of Louisville, Jerry Abramson, and former Governor Florio of New Jersey, pointing out that when State and local governments work in real partnership with their workers and let the people on the front line who know how things really work make decisions, then taxpayers can get better services at lower cost. You are willing to, able to, and actually effecting change. And you ought to get credit for the changes you're making to make the American people's lives better.