DETROIT — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton promised to stand with the large Service Employees International Union if elected president, and pleaded with members to help her defeat Republican Donald Trump in a speech Monday in the Cobo Center.

The more than 3,000 SEIU delegates are attending the 2016 International Convention in Detroit.

Mrs. Clinton noted the work that SEIU members have done for her since the 1.2-million-person union endorsed her in November, and pleaded with them to help her prevent Mr. Trump from becoming president.

“Trump economics is a recipe for lower wages, fewer jobs, higher debt. He could bankrupt America like he’s bankrupted his companies,” Mrs. Clinton said.

Mrs. Clinton said the White House should be a “bully pulpit” for working families, “but the last thing we need is a bully in the pulpit.”

“We are going to defend the right to organize, protect collective bargaining. Let’s make the jobs of the future good union jobs that can’t be outsourced. Right to work is wrong for workers and wrong for America,” she said.

“Every worker in America deserves a fair wage and a voice on the job,” she said.

“I am proud to stand with SEIU and workers across America organizing the fight for 15 dollars [an hour] and a union,” she said.

Mrs. Clinton contrasted her policies as being pro-family against those of Mr. Trump.

“You’re not just fighting for your members. You’re fighting for all working families. I know that strong families are the backbone of our economy and our country,” she said.

The former first lady, U.S. senator from New York, and U.S. secretary of state is close to locking down the Democratic nomination against rival Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Mrs. Clinton promised an end to mass incarceration, to mandate family leave, and to support a rule that no family should have to pay more than 10 percent of their income on child care. She promised a crackdown on gun violence and to act quickly on immigration reform.

Mrs. Clinton said “dog trainers” are paid more than child-care workers.

“I believe in training dogs, but you don’t raise up and send your dog to kindergarten, you don’t dream of sending your dog to college, you don’t worry about exposing your dog to dangerous influences because you can’t afford child care,” she said.

She reached out to Mr. Sanders’ supporters.

“The only thing standing between Donald Trump and the Oval Office is all of us. We are coming to the end of the Democratic primaries. I applaud Senator Sanders and his supporters for challenging us. We are going to unify the Democratic Party and stop Donald Trump,” she said.

SEIU delegates cheered throughout the speech.

Delegate Emma Woodard, 54, of Minneapolis, a rehabilitation aide, said of Mrs. Clinton’s address, “she sends out a good message.”

“Her main concern is a living wage,” Ms. Woodard said. She said the agenda item that’s important to her is government support for day care. Ms. Woodard cares for her grandson but has a two-hour gap between when he comes home from school and when she gets home from work. A day care would charge her $700 a month, she said. She fills the gap with family members watching the 9-year-old.

Sergio Garcia, 61, of Fresno, Calif., sounded guarded about the Clinton appeal.

“We like what she says. She was charged up for us. The people were clapping. She spoke the right words to the majority of our members,” Mr. Garcia said. He said he believes she will live up to her commitments but said the union will pay close attention.

He provides home care to his mother and aunt and is paid for it.

The chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, Ronna Romney McDaniel, said “voters don’t trust her to lead our country.

“No amount of rhetoric to a friendly audience in Michigan today is going to change the fact that Michiganders don’t want Hillary Clinton as our commander-in-chief. We want, need, and deserve better than a third Obama term,” Ms. McDaniel said.

Mrs. Clinton lost the Michigan Democratic primary by 49-48 percent March 8 to Mr. Sanders.

Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058 or on Twitter @TomFTroy.

First Published May 24, 2016, 4:00 a.m.