AFSCME President Lee Saunders on Acosta Resignation

WASHINGTON — AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued the following statement in response to the resignation of Alex Acosta as secretary of Labor:

“Secretary Acosta’s resignation was long overdue. Working people need a strong advocate at the Labor Department, someone who shares their values and priorities, someone who will fight for their rights and freedoms. It’s time for President Trump to finally nominate such a person as the next labor secretary.

“Acting Secretary Patrick Pizzella has a long history of hostility to workers’ rights and to unions. We are concerned by his appointment as acting secretary and hope his tenure is very brief. Pizzella had an abysmal, anti-worker track record during his time at the Federal Labor Relations Authority. In addition, his work with corrupt and disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff to undermine minimum wage protections ought to be disqualifying.

“The next labor secretary should champion issues that protect workers and ensure they are paid fairly for the work they do. That includes reviving a fiduciary rule, finalizing a more reasonable threshold under which employees are automatically eligible for overtime pay, and establishing a workplace violence safety and health standard.”