President Saunders: Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis “a Tireless Advocate” for Workers
by Pablo Ros | January 10, 2013
U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis
AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders called U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis “an ally, a friend and a tireless advocate” for workers after Solis announced this week she would be leaving her cabinet position.
“We are grateful for Secretary Solis’ extraordinary commitment to working men and women,” President Saunders also said. “At a time when powerful, moneyed forces have come together to pursue a virulent, anti-union agenda, she focused the Department of Labor’s attention on putting Americans back to work, making the workplace safer and healthier, and protecting and preserving the rights of union members and working families.”
“She will be missed,” he added.
A welcome choice when Pres. Barack Obama nominated her in 2008, Solis will be hard to replace. During her service as labor secretary, she was praised by labor unions for standing up for working families, enforcing workplace regulations, and protecting children and underpaid workers.
Today, the former Congresswoman from California reportedly intends to go back to her native Los Angeles and run for local office.
Solis, who was confirmed in February 2009 as the 25th U.S. Secretary of Labor, is the first Latina to hold this position. No doubt she will remain a strong advocate for labor unions and environmental policy reform, as she has been throughout her career.
