In reaction to today’s nomination by President-elect Trump of fast food CEO Andrew Puzder as Secretary of Labor, Oxfam America’s President Raymond C. Offenheiser, made the following statement:
“It’s difficult to overstate how much is at stake for the general welfare of people in America with a new Secretary of Labor. The Secretary of Labor is responsible for representing the interests of workers--overseeing everything from preventing discrimination in pay and hiring practices, to protecting workers’ pensions and retirement savings from financial fraud and exploitation, to helping set standards for the conditions of work across the globe.
“As a fast food CEO, Andrew Puzder made it his business to generate profits by exploiting the workers in his restaurants, where he paid poverty wages. On the national stage, he’s taken strident stands against raising the minimum wage and expanding overtime pay coverage. Mr. Puzder would have the power to rewrite the rules of the game for people in every facet of work; as a corporate lawyer by trade, Mr. Puzder knows exactly how to get this done.
“With half of Americans shut off from the gains from economic growth, presidential candidate Trump pledged to reverse the stagnation and decline for millions of workers. But as President-elect, he has nominated the fox to guard the hen house--and it is workers who will pay the price.
“We urge Senators to examine Mr. Puzder’s record closely, and to get him on the record in hearings as to how he will advance the critical mission of the Department of Labor – to improve working conditions, wages, and welfare for everyone to share in the prosperity of our economy.”
