In Detroit, Obama vows to stand by labor

DETROIT -- In perhaps some of his strongest words of support for organized labor, President Obama on Monday told a riverfront crowd of thousands in Detroit that "As long as I'm in the White House, I'm going to stand up for collective bargaining."

He said that organized labor is responsible for the rise of the middle class and the core of the nation's economy, and that legislative battles to curb the rights of organized labor are a threat to the nation as a whole.

"When I hear they're trying to take collective bargaining away, trying to pass right-to-work laws, I know it's not about economics. It's about politics," he said, prompting a chant from the crowd: "Four more years."

It's the second time Obama has been to Detroit on Labor Day, but it was candidate Obama who came in 2008. It was the president who came to the city Monday, which he said "has been to heck and back." Obama stood in front of the Renaissance Center, where General Motors Co. is headquartered, to celebrate organized labor and the auto industry, which was saved by a federal bailout in 2009.

"We stood by the auto industry and made some tough choices, and now the Big Three are turning a profit and hiring new workers. Right here in Detroit and the U.S.A.," he said.

Obama used the stop in Detroit to offer a small preview of his jobs plan, which he plans to reveal in a prime-time address to Congress on Thursday.

"I don't want to give everything away right here, because I want you all to tune in on Thursday," he said.

Congress returns from its summer recess this week and the faltering economy and jobs shortage are expected to be a dominant theme.

Obama used the speech to challenge Congress to support his forthcoming plan: "Prove you'll fight just as hard for tax cuts to middle class families as you do for oil companies," he said.

Besides spending on public works, Obama said he wants pending trade deals passed to open new markets for U.S. goods.

The president is expected to call for continuing a payroll tax cut for workers and jobless benefits for the unemployed. Some Republicans oppose extending the payroll tax cut, calling it an unproven job creator that will only add to the nation's massive debt. The tax cut extension is set to expire Jan. 1.

Republicans also cite huge federal budget deficits in expressing opposition to vast new spending on jobs programs.

"It won't be an easy thing to do," Solis said. "We know some will fight us and ... some will say we can't afford to invest in our workforce."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.