Photo Gallery: President Obama Speaks in Detroit on Labor Day

President Obama talked about jobs during his visit to Detroit on Monday.

After a performance by Aretha Franklin, the president delivered a speech to metro Detroiters and labor leaders.

"If you want to know who helped lay these cornerstones of the American middle class, you just have to look at union labor. That's the bedrock this country is built on: Hard work. Sacrifice. Looking out for one another. ...," he told the crowd gathered next to the GM headquarters.

"These are tough times for working Americans, and even tougher for those looking for work. And a lot of folks have been looking for work for a long time," he said. The president then said he wants to "fully restore the middle class in America."

The president's comments were pro-union, and he talked about protecting collective bargaining rights. "We are strong when we are united. We're firing on all cylinders. The union movement is going to be the center of it."

Obama teased the crowd about his upcoming speech on jobs, which is planned for Thursday, saying he would propose "ways to put America back to work, that both parties would agree to."

"Labor's on board. Business is on board. We just need Congress to get on board to put Americans back to work," he said.

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Other local Detroit media coverage of the speech can be found here:

Detroit Free Press:

In Detroit stop President Obama: I will stand up for collective bargaining

The Detroit News:

Obama: New jobs plan includes rebuilding roads, bridges

WDIV TV with video:

Obama Delivers Labor Day Speech In Detroit