NWLC on Labor Pick: Will Chavez-DeRemer Champion Workers–or Trump’s Agenda?
The following is a statement by Gaylynn Burroughs, senior vice president for education and workplace justice at the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC):
“Everyone deserves to work with dignity. They need safe workplaces, to earn a fair wage, and be free from harassment and discrimination. We know Lori Chavez-DeRemer has supported pro-union legislation. And we know women workers in unions receive higher wages and greater access to benefits, and are better equipped to address workplace abuse when it occurs. We will be watching her confirmation process closely: Will she be a champion for workers or a champion for Donald Trump, who has a history of making empty promises to workers?
“In his first administration, Trump opposed wage increases for the lowest-paid workers and restricted access to overtime pay. He weakened enforcement of health and safety protections, and tried to dismantle programs designed to enforce equal access to job opportunities. This time, with Project 25 as his blueprint, he will likely continue to undermine worker protections. Women workers need a Labor secretary who will close the pay gap, enforce basic worker protections, and eliminate gender-based violence and other discrimination at work.
“Trump has already shown his utter disregard for women at work, so we will be watching to see: Will Chavez-DeRemer be an advocate for women workers or a puppet for Trump?”