Biden celebrates unions and job creation during a Philadelphia Labor Day appearance

President Joe Biden, who often says he's the most pro-union president in history, touted the importance of organized labor and applauded American workers in building the economy during a Labor Day appearance in Philadelphia on Monday.

- Fatima Hussein

The Democratic president spoke about how the economy is recovering from the crippling coronavirus pandemic and what his administration has done to pay for infrastructure improvements and cited the importance of unions in building the middle class.

As the pace of the Republican primary season escalates, Biden is trying to reclaim ground among working-class voters that abandoned Democrats and moved their allegiance to former President Donald Trump and others over cultural issues. And on Monday in Philadelphia, he gave a preview of that argument, repeatedly referring to Trump as "the last guy" and likening Trump's job creation record to that of President Herbert Hoover, who presided over the country as it spiraled into the Great Depression and was soundly defeated by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Speaking of Trump who is the leading Republican candidate in the polls so far - Biden said: "He left office with fewer jobs in America than when he got elected into office."

Biden spoke to a crowd of union members from a diversity of industries - from steel workers to stagehands - and focused on the impact that his administration's policies have had on working people.

"This Labor Day, we're celebrating jobs, good-paying jobs, jobs you can raise a family on, union jobs," Biden told the crowd. Instead of standing at the podium, the president held the microphone in his hand and walked around the stage behind signs that read "UNION STRONG."