Thank you for inviting me to be with you today.

Quite frankly, there's nowhere I'd rather be.

You know, at the AFL-CIO, we represent a lot of working people—about 11 and a half million, as a matter of fact.

They're pilots and painters, miners and musicians, nurses and plumbers—every type of hard-working men and women you can think of.

But you and I both know that none of them works harder than America's teachers and school employees -- let's hear it for teachers and school employees ….

…and no one – NO ONE -- has more responsibility for shaping our greatest asset…

our future…

our children.

When you're in a fight—as Washington school employees are today—it's good to know all those pilots and painters and plumbers and nurses are in it with you.

And today I'm here to tell you this: America's union movement is right here with you. 

Whatever you need … however long it takes … we're in. 

From the start, our union movement has been one of the strongest advocates for free, universal public education.

It's who we are—a basic value that is our foundation…the firm commitment to never rest until social and economic justice are realities for ALL.

That's why we fought to end child labor…

That's why we fought and still fight for early childhood education…

child nutrition…

child health…

And that's why we fought for -- and we will ALWAYS fight beside -- teachers.

Because we know that high-quality education is the key that opens doors for our children…

…Doors to opportunity

… to good jobs

… to upward mobility

… and to the middle class.

And when our schools are allowed to work well, they are the key to EQUAL opportunity—

—a fair chance for every student to succeed -- regardless of race, ethnicity or national origin … regardless of disability.

But here and across the country, public education and our school children are the victims of wrong-headed efforts to fill state and local budget gaps.

Children are the scapegoats.

Class sizes are growing beyond anything that makes a shred of sense…

…After-school and early education programs are disappearing…

…Teachers are buying school supplies out of their own pockets…

…And children are losing teachers they love and trust.

These children have been the victims of so-called experts who are willing to sacrifice public education and use our children as guinea pigs.

Well, let me tell you who the REAL experts are.

The experts who know best what helps children learn

… and succeed

… and become productive citizens

…are YOU -- right here in this crowd.

Our teachers. 

Our school professionals.

A REAL expert is NOT someone who hires 900 new teachers -- and then a few weeks later is laying off nearly 400 teachers and support staff.

That, my friends, is a screaming case of mismanagement—

—mismanagement that our children and families and neighborhoods and schools will bear the burden of.

I don't know about you, but I think there's something we can call it besides mismanagement.

I suspect it's a cold, hard case of union-busting.

When people think about union-busters—if they have any vision of them at all—maybe they think about a coal mine boss who cares more about bringing up another ton of coal than about whether the people who go down into the mine come out alive.

Maybe they think about a CEO with visions of a bigger bonus.

Maybe they think about a certain retail giant that will do just about anything to keep workers from gaining decent pay and benefits.

They probably don't think about a school chancellor…

But here in D.C. we have one…who thinks her mission is to destroy collective bargaining agreements…

to manage by fear…

and to "reform" teachers and school employees right out of their jobs.

Listen, you don't make better schools by firing teachers.

You don't engage students in learning by disrespecting their educators.

You don't teach children values by discarding values.

You may close a short-term budget hole, but it's at our children's expense.

And that PRICE IS TOO HIGH TO PAY.

We're here today to rally for respect.

Respect for D.C. parents and taxpayers.

Respect for teachers and school employees.

Respect for public education and our children.

R – E – S – P – E – C – T

I want every teacher, every student support employee, every D.C. Public Schools parent to know that your brothers and sisters throughout the AFL-CIO are here with you.

We support you.

We'll make our voices heard along with you.

We will rally and march by your side.

We are with you in your struggle for fairness, for the high-quality public education our children need and deserve.

Every step of the way.

Thank you for everything you are doing to win—for our children and for justice.

Thank you.