AFL-CIO head rips Trump on Labor Day: ‘He’s assaulted’ worker regulations

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka ripped President Trump on Labor Day for repealing key protections for workers.

Trumka said Monday on CNN that Trump has repeatedly “assaulted” major regulations aimed at keeping American workers safe.

“He’s assaulted just about every health and safety regulation out there, whether it’s from beryllium or silica,” Trumka said. “He attacked the overtime regulations; he attacked regulations for consumer protection.”

Trumka acknowledged that Trump had attracted support from workers during the 2016 presidential campaign but argued he “hasn’t really done a good job” since taking office.

{mosads}“He hasn’t really done a lot to help workers,” the labor chief argued.

Trump has made repealing regulations a main goal of his administration.

White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said in July that the administration had rolled back 860 regulatory actions in the months since Trump took office.

Trumka on Monday also addressed his resignation from a White House advisory council over Trump’s comments on violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., last month. His resignation came shortly before Trump disbanded two councils after members resigned en masse.

“It’s not about a matter of talking, it was the symbolism of being on that council after he had that spirited defense of neo-fascists and white supremacists,” Trumka said Monday. “That was above and beyond, that was just a point that went to divide the country.”

“What we wanted to do was make a statement that we wanted a president that brings us together, and we hope he becomes that president, that he unites the country rather than polarizes the country because that’ll be good for America.”