Statement by Randi Weingarten,
President, American Federation of Teachers,
On Labor Secretary Nominee Rep. Hilda Solis

WASHINGTON – We are pleased that President-elect Barack Obama has selected U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis, (D-Calif.) as labor secretary. The Department of Labor, by its very definition, represents men and women who are the engines of our economy. Solis will be an important member of President-elect Obama’s team, and in that role, she must give voice to the concerns of all working people, and help formulate and implement the policies that will build the 21st-century workforce that a vigorous economy demands. We are looking for a greater focus on skills-building to help people get back to work and prepare them for good jobs.

We look forward to working with Solis as she carries out the Labor Department’s responsibility to protect workers and assure basic health and safety workplace protections.

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