Secretary of Labor Solis Begins Partnership With AFL-CIO

President Haynes Meets Secretary of Labor Solis
President Haynes Meets Secretary of Labor Solis

Secretary of Labor Solis Begins Partnership with AFL-CIO


In just six days on the job, the new Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis, has practically spent more time with unions in her nascient tenure than her predecessor Elaine Chao did in eight years on the job. Secretary Solis participated in two events over two days with the nation’s largest labor umbrella organization during the National AFL-CIO Executive Council meeting. Secretary Solis spoke at an AFL-CIO Community Forum at the Greater Bethel AME Church in Miami on Monday night where she heard from workers and their families who spoke about the struggles they faced in forming unions and in finding employment. The event kicked off the AFL-CIO Executive Council’s winter meeting. Secretary Solis also met with the Executive Council at IBEW Local 349’s union hall, hearing from President John Sweeney and numerous international union presidents about the relief felt by working families to finally have a true labor champion as Secretary of Labor. Secretary Solis was also scheduled to tour a local training facility where union apprentices are gaining skills to prepare them for the new “green” economy that looms closer and closer on the horizon.

With Secretary Solis addressing the AFL-CIO Executive Council, answering questions, and hearing comments both of praise and concern, the IBEW Local 349 union hall had a feeling of great pride that can only come from having a Secretary of Labor in office who comes from a union family and espouses union values such as a deep commitment to the right to organize free of employer intimidation.

President Robert J. Haynes of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, who had the opportunity to meet with Secretary Solis, commented on the occasion saying, “It was an incredible honor to meet Secretary Solis, a woman who comes from a labor union family, an immigrant family, and who not only understands, but shares deeply the concerns of organized labor and all workers. It was refreshing to speak with a Secretary of Labor who is truly deserving of that title, and who will fight for working families across our country. She'll be a great ally in helping workers navigate these difficult times and turn around this economy.” President Haynes and Secretary Solis discussed the crucial need for workforce development, and also talked about the impressive Massachusetts Congressional Delegation’s strong support for both her confirmation, and her future work as Secretary.

Click on the links below to read more about the new Secretary of Labor’s visit with the AFL-CIO:

Solis Meets With Workers in First Public Appearance, AFL-CIO Now Blog

Labor Secretary Solis, VP Biden to Join AFL-CIO Executive Council Meeting, AFL-CIO Now Blog

New US Labor Secretary Meets Unionists in Maimi, Reuters

Solis: Enforcement to be stepped up at Labor Department, Fort Mill Times