DETROIT -- President Obama previewed his strategy for job creation at a Labor Day rally Monday, saying he plans to propose infrastructure improvements and middle-class tax breaks.
"We're going to propose ways to put America back to work that both parties can agree to," Mr. Obama said. "We're going to see if congressional Republicans will put country before party."
The event, sponsored by the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO, attracted thousands of people, who at times chanted "Four more years."
Mr. Obama's 25-minute speech was in some ways a rehearsal before a friendlier crowd for the jobs address he is to give Thursday to a joint session of Congress.
"I don't want to give everything away right here, because I want you all to tune in on Thursday, but I'll give you just a little bit," he said.
More than a million unemployed construction workers are "ready to get dirty right now" rebuilding roads and bridges nationwide, he said.
"Labor is on board. Business is on board. We just need Congress to get on board," he said.
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That is likely to be a challenge in the GOP-controlled House. Republicans have been critical of big spending packages, citing a massive federal budget deficit.
"Infrastructure again? Really?" Jon Stainbrook, chairman of the Lucas County Republican Party, asked. "He already tried this with stimulus money for roads and bridges in an attempt at reviving the economy, and that was a complete failure.
"So again, President Obama says, 'Here's my new plan. We're going to spend money on the infrastructure, on roads and bridges.' Well, really that's more of the same. It didn't work last time, but here it is again."
In addition to infrastructure improvements, Mr. Obama said he would work to extend payroll tax cuts that put "an extra $1,000" in the pocket of the average family. The cuts are scheduled to expire in a few months.
The challenge Mr. Obama issued to Republicans, coupled with his direct address to Congress on Thursday, suggest he plans to take a much more aggressive approach to the jobs debate than he did during this summer's debate over the debt ceiling.
At that time, some Democrats criticized Mr. Obama for failing to use his office to urge action.
He also used the event, which took place in the shadow of General Motors Co. headquarters on the city's riverfront, to highlight the success of the federal bailout of the auto makers.
"We stood by the auto industry," he said. "And now, the Big Three are turning a profit and hiring new workers."
The speech followed a dismal jobs report released Friday. No net jobs were added in August and unemployment remains at 9.1 percent.
The President's potential opponents in the 2012 election have continued to criticize his performance on the economy. Mr. Obama's approval rating for his handling of the economy -- likely to be the top issue in next year's presidential contest -- has fallen to a low of 26 percent, according to a recent Gallup survey.
The President's Motor City appearance also brought into focus the embattled state of the nation's unions. A number of national labor leaders and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis addressed the crowd before Mr. Obama took the stage.
"This is Motown," said James P. Hoffa, general president of the Teamsters, "but today this is Union Town."
He named three battlegrounds in what he called the "war on workers." One of those battlegrounds, he said, is the effort to repeal Senate Bill 5 in Ohio.
The Ohio AFL-CIO is seeking a "no" vote on Issue 2 to vote down enactment of the bill, which was passed earlier this year by the Republican-controlled Ohio General Assembly and signed by Republican Gov. John Kasich. The law, which would roll back some collective bargaining rights for public employees, is set for a Nov. 8 ballot referendum.
A similar fight in Wisconsin and an effort to make Michigan a "right to work" state rounded out Mr. Hoffa's list.
Secretary Solis also referred to those efforts in her speech.
"We know these are tough times for so many of our families," she said, "but that's no excuse for what's happening in states across this country, like Wisconsin and Ohio, and right here in Michigan."
The President didn't mention those battles specifically, but he did say, "As long as I'm in the White House, I'm going to stand up for collective bargaining."
And he repeatedly emphasized organized labor's role in shaping the American middle class.
"After all that unions have done to build and protect the middle class, you've got people trying to claim that you're responsible for the problems middle-class folks are facing," he told the crowd.
"You've got Republicans saying you're the ones exploiting working families. Imagine that. Now, the fact is, our economy is stronger when workers are getting paid good wages and good benefits.
"Our economy is stronger when we've got broad-based growth and broad-based prosperity. That's what unions have always been about -- shared prosperity."
Michigan Republican Chairman Robert Schostak tried to draw a line between union leaders and the President.
"Big labor leadership are questioning his direction," Mr. Schostak said in a conference call with reporters.
"They are calling for Obama to provide tools for American businesses to succeed. They are asking where the jobs are."
Mr. Schostak said Republican state leaders such as Michigan's new governor, Rick Snyder, are "showing the way for Obama to address the nation's challenges."
Information from The Blade's news services was used in this report.
Contact Tony Cook at: tcook@theblade.com or 419-724-6065.
First Published September 6, 2011, 4:30 a.m.
