Vice President Joe Biden celebrated Labor Day with a call for a “fair wage” at a union rally for workers in Detroit on Monday.
“Folks, the middle class is in real trouble now,” Biden said to an enthusiastic crowd. “A job’s about a lot more than a paycheck. It’s about your dignity, it’s about your place in the community, it’s about who you are.”
Biden’s 20-minute speech employed a populist and personal tone as he took on everything from the estate tax to American corporations that have moved operations overseas.
Biden, who is known for his blue collar roots, referenced his family roots and his ties to labor.
“‘Joey, you’re labor from belt buckle to shoe sole,'” Biden said his uncle told him.
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Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com