President Barack Obama was quoted in two major publications about his support for labor and the Employee Free Choice Act.

Detroit Free Press:

“He also discussed legislation pushed by labor that could make it easier to organize. A supporter of the “Employee Free Choice Act” decried by business, Obama said he believes there is no economic risk to workers organizing and making a living wage – especially if workers understand, as he says they seem to, that unreasonable demands on the part of labor would only serve to destroy jobs in the long run. He said he hoped to see in coming weeks forces on both sides talk about common ground which could be reached on the legislation.”

Philadelphia Inquirer:

On other topics, Obama said he would not urge a delay in consideration of the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation sought by organized labor that would make it easier for unions to win the right to represent workers.

Business groups are fiercely opposed, saying that the bill – which would allow unions to be certified by workers’ signatures, without a secret ballot, and would require arbitration – would increase costs.

“I don’t buy the argument that providing workers with collective-bargaining rights somehow weakens the economy or worsens the business environment,” Obama said. “If you’ve got workers who have decent pay and benefits, they’re also customers for business.”

At the same time, Obama said business had legitimate concerns. He said he would like to see labor and business groups work together on a compromise.

“Whether those conversations can bear fruit over the next several months, we’ll see,” he said. “But I’m always a big believer in before we gear up for some tooth-and-nail battle, that we see if some accommodations can’t be found.”

Barack Obama is a supporter of labor and I think we’ll see massive steps forward for working Americans during his presidency.