--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If American workers are being denied…" description: "\"If American workers are being denied their right to organize and collectively bargain when I'm in the White House, I will put on a comfortable pair of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/barack-obama-17_america_if-american-workers-are-being-denied-the_1261837.jpg" --- # If American workers are being denied their right to… ![“If American workers are being denied their right to organize and collectively bargain when I'm in the White House, I will put on a comfortable pair of shoes myself and I will walk on that picket line with you as President of the United States of America. Because workers deserve to know that…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/barack-obama-17_america_if-american-workers-are-being-denied-the_1261837.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/barack-obama-17_america_if-american-workers-are-being-denied-the_1261837.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e7/barack-obama-17_america_if-american-workers-are-being-denied-the_1261837.jpg) > “If American workers are being denied their right to organize and collectively bargain when I'm in the White House, I will put on a comfortable pair of shoes myself and I will walk on that picket line with you as President of the United States of America. Because workers deserve to know that somebody is standing in their corner.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker pledges personal solidarity with workers, emphasizing that leaders should visibly support labor rights and stand with those fighting for fair treatment. **In simple terms:** A leader says they will walk the picket line to show support for workers. Key Takeaway Leaders should visibly stand with workers. Themes leadership solidarity workers’ rights political activism Mood determined inspirational serious Type political motivational activist When to use this quote - union negotiations - political campaigns - public demonstrations - policy advocacy Key Concepts public commitment symbolic action Questions to Reflect On - What concrete policies can accompany symbolic support? - How can leaders balance symbolism with effective action? A Different Perspective Symbolic gestures may not replace substantive policy changes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-workers/) [Bargains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bargains/) [Picket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picket/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [United states of america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states-of-america/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/) [Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers/) ## Related quotes > [When a man or woman, young, or old, takes a place on the picket line for even a day or two, he will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/when-a-man-or-woman-young-or-old-takes-a-place-on-the-picket-line-for/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [“You see what’s going on,” Dane said. Miserably he ran his hands over his head. “That is a picket line, and I am in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/you-see-what-s-going-on-dane-said-miserably-he-ran-his-hands-over-his/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [I was a blue-eyed, chubby-cheeked five-year-old when I joined my family on the picket line for the first time. My mom made me leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/i-was-a-blue-eyed-chubby-cheeked-five-year-old-when-i-joined-my/) [Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/) > [Because of the dynamics on the picket line all my life, I had these expectations of people. It was all the things that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/because-of-the-dynamics-on-the-picket-line-all-my-life-i-had-these/) [Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/) > [In Greece, the picket line is forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikis-theodorakis/in-greece-the-picket-line-is-forbidden/) [Mikis Theodorakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikis-theodorakis/) > [I remember at the age of five travelling on a trolley car with my mother past a group of women on a picket line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-remember-at-the-age-of-five-travelling-on-a-trolley-car-with-my/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [now the profile of our country looks a little less hard nosed / but that picket line persisted and that clinic's since been closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/now-the-profile-of-our-country-looks-a-little-less-hard-nosed-but/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [The picket line is the best place to train organizers. One day on the picket line is where a man makes his commitment. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/the-picket-line-is-the-best-place-to-train-organizers-one-day-on-the/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [ The first thing I did \[in Michigan\] was join a picket line of a pizzeria in Ann Harbor in 1963 that didn't allow African… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/the-first-thing-i-did-in-michigan-was-join-a-picket-line-of-a/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [America's workers face a battle for their jobs. They are the finest workers in the world. American workers grow, harvest, and mine some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/america-s-workers-face-a-battle-for-their-jobs-they-are-the-finest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If immigration reform is bad for America's workers, then why does virtually every group that represents American workers support it so enthusiastically?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/if-immigration-reform-is-bad-for-america-s-workers-then-why-does/) [Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/) > [I think that when it comes to issues of trade, I think it is important for us to be in favor of trade, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-that-when-it-comes-to-issues-of-trade-i-think-it-is-important/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We still need laws that strengthen rather than weaken unions, and give American workers a voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-still-need-laws-that-strengthen-rather-than-weaken-unions-and-give/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [It is we the workers who built these palaces and cities here in Spain and in America and everywhere. We, the workers, can build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buenaventura-durruti/it-is-we-the-workers-who-built-these-palaces-and-cities-here-in-spain/) [Buenaventura Durruti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buenaventura-durruti/) > [I've proposed reforms on taxes, regulations, and trade that will all have the effect of keeping jobs and wealth in America for our workers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-ve-proposed-reforms-on-taxes-regulations-and-trade-that-will-all/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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