Hoffa Lauds Nomination of Hilda Solis as Labor Secretary

(Washington, D.C.) – Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa issued the following statement in support of the expected nomination of Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., as Labor Secretary:

“We’re thrilled with the selection of Rep. Hilda Solis as Labor Secretary. Under her leadership, we expect the Labor Department to return to its mission of protecting workers rather than attacking them.

“Hilda Solis has deep roots in the union movement. Her dad was a Teamster shop steward, her mom a member of the United Rubber Workers. She’s the only member of Congress to serve on the board of American Rights at Work. She is smart, gutsy and passionately committed to the right to form unions and bargain collectively.

“She has given unwavering support to the port drivers who are deprived of basic workplace protections because they’re misclassified as independent contractors. She made sure the Labor Department continued to ban privatization of its workforce. She has been a leader in fighting against bad free trade policies. She funded a successful campaign to raise the minimum wage in California.

“We’re counting on her to put a full court press behind the Employee Free Choice Act, which will strengthen unions and the middle class. We know she will have President-elect Obama’s ear when he nominates National Labor Relations Board members. And we know she will continue her leadership in creating green union jobs in America. 

“We look forward to working closely with Secretary-designate Solis. We hope the Senate confirms her nomination quickly.” 

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.