2020 Conventions: on Jobs
Donald Trump:
FactCheck: 9 million jobs offset by 22.2 million job loss
Trump claimed the US economy has gained a record nine million jobs over the past three months.FactCheck: The economy did add about 9.3 million jobs combined in May, June and July -- but that record increase immediately followed a much bigger record
loss of about 22.2 million jobs in March and April. The economy is still down nearly 13 million jobs because of the coronavirus crisis. (Also, many of the jobs added were simply people returning to work after temporary layoffs.)
Source: CNN Fact-Check on 2020 Republican Convention speech
Aug 28, 2020
Larry Kudlow:
Fact check: unemployment fell to lowest rate of 3.5%
Kudlow claimed that the economy "was rebuilt in three years," saying, "Unemployment fell to the lowest rate of 3.5 percent." However, as good as that number was, the rate was already at 4.7 percent when Trump took office. In fact, Obama presided over
a much steeper drop in unemployment in his second term, a 3.3-point drop in the rate, than Trump did in his first three years, a decline of 1.2 points. The numbers under Trump appear to be the continuation of a trend, not something new.
Source: NBC News Fact-Check on 2020 Republican Convention speech
Aug 25, 2020
Cory Booker:
Unions: This dream ain't free; you gotta work for it
Booker told viewers he was only able to speak on the final night of the party's convention because of a "union job" secured a half-century ago by his grandfather--who "left the Jim Crow South for Detroit, joined the UAW and got a job on the assembly
lines during World War II.""He'd tell us, 'Take another by the hand, and another, and let's get to work. This dream ain't free. You gotta work for it,'" Booker said.
Source: Politico.com on 2020 Democratic National Convention
Aug 21, 2020
Joe Biden:
Newly empowered labor unions; equal pay for women
With child care and elder care that make it possible for parents to go to work and for the elderly to stay in their homes with dignity. With an immigration system that powers our economy and reflects our values. With newly empowered labor unions.
With equal pay for women. With rising wages you can raise a family on. Yes, we're going to do more than praise our essential workers. We're finally going to pay them.
Source: Acceptance speech at 2020 Democratic National Convention
Aug 20, 2020
Socialist Party:
Close wage gap; end gender division of labor
Stop the attack on women's reproductive rights and defend Roe v. Wade. Women must have the fundamental right to choose & control their own bodies.
Women still earn 22 percent less than men, and the gap is even more severe for Black and Latina women. Close the wage gap and end the gender division of labor.
Source: PSL's 2020 Ten Point Program (2020 Socialist Convention)
Aug 15, 2020
Socialist Party:
Restrict employers' asking about criminal records
We call for the immediate amnesty for all non-violent offenders currently incarcerated.
We call for disallowing employers from inquiring about an applicant's past criminal record not directly related to the occupational task to be performed, including eliminating the check off box for felons.
Source: Socialist Party Platform at 2020-2021 PSL Convention
Aug 3, 2020
Democratic Party:
Social contract: right to unionize, equal pay, family leave
Democrats commit to forging a new social contract with the American people. One that affirms housing is a right and not a privilege. A new economic contract that raises wages and restores workers' rights to organize, join a union, and collectively
bargain. One that at last supports working families and the middle class by securing equal pay for women and paid family leave for all. A new economic contract that provides access for all to reliable and affordable banking and financial services.
Source: Democratic Party Platform adopted at 2020 Convention
Jul 27, 2020
Democratic Party:
Raise minimum wage to $15/hr; repeal right to work laws
Democrats will fight to raise wages including by raising the federal minimum wage so it reaches $15 an hour by 2026. We know that strong American labor unions help increase wages and job standards for workers across the economy, which is why Democrats
will prioritize passing the PRO Act and restoring workers' rights, including the right to launch secondary boycotts. We will repeal so-called "right to work" laws that undermine worker power and lead to lower wages and less protection for workers.
Source: Democratic Party Platform adopted at 2020 Convention
Jul 27, 2020
Democratic Party:
Contractors should recruit people of color, women, LGBTQ+
We will increase funding to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and increase its authority to initiate investigations into civil rights violations, violations of the rights of people with disabilities, and violations against LGBTQ+ people,
especially transgender women of color. Federal contractors should be required to develop and disclose plans to recruit and promote people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and veterans--and be held accountable for delivering.
Source: Democratic Party Platform adopted at 2020 Convention
Jul 27, 2020
Libertarian Party:
No required unions; no occupational licensing laws
We favor repealing any requirement that one must join or pay dues to a union as a condition of government employment.
We advocate replacing defined-benefit pensions with defined- contribution plans, as are commonly offered in the private sector, so as not to impose debt on future generations without their consent.
Libertarians support the right of every person to earn an honest and peaceful living through the free and voluntary exchange of goods and services.
Accordingly, we oppose occupational and other licensing laws that infringe on this right or treat it as a state-granted privilege. We encourage certifications by voluntary associations of professionals.
Source: Libertarian Party Platform for 2018-2020 National Convention
Jul 4, 2018
Page last updated: Sep 07, 2020