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UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings reacts to President Obama’s State of the Union address.

“President Obama talked the talk in all the right ways apart from the most important one of all – collective bargaining.

“While it’s great that the President is intent on tackling income inequality and the gender gap, he cannot expect every American worker to become another Oliver Twist - to form a line outside the CEO office and ask for more.

“Oliver Twist asked for more and was sold from the poor house. What fate awaits American workers who take Obama’s advice and ask for a raise?

“The best way to raise wages for all is by strengthening collective bargaining. Workers need a seat at the table at workplaces such as Walmart. It is not enough to appeal to CEOs to pay more.”