January 12, 2017 - Latino Leaders Oppose the Confirmation of Andrew F. Puzder as U.S. Secretary of Labor

LATINO LEADERS OPPOSE THE CONFIRMATION OF ANDREW F. PUZDER AS U.S. SECRETARY OF LABOR

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 40 of the nation’s preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, sent a letter yesterday to the U.S. Senate opposing the confirmation of Andrew F. Puzder as U.S. Secretary of Labor citing Puzder’s practices and policy positions that are at odds with the needs and aspirations of American workers. Puzder has expressed opposition to raising the minimum wage, has criticized paid sick leave policies like those mandated for federal contractors, and has said that expanding eligibility for overtime pay is bad for workers.

“NHLA supports policies that reward work with fair wages and protections, which is why we defend the right of workers to join labor unions and participate in collective bargaining, call for a higher minimum wage and paid sick leave, and support gender equity in the workplace by enacting the Paycheck Fairness Act and other measures. In contrast, Pudzer’s record has shown him to be in conflict with NHLA’s priorities for workers,” said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. “The confirmation of Andy Puzder as Secretary of Labor puts in jeopardy the livelihoods of millions of hard-working people in America and NHLA strongly opposes his confirmation.”

“The nation’s farmworkers – the people who labor on our farms to produce our food – need a Secretary of Labor who is fully committed to enforcing wage-hour laws vigorously, reducing workplace hazards, deterring gender discrimination, preventing guestworker program abuses, and improving labor standards. This nominee’s statements and actions reveal that he is not committed to fulfilling the job required of the Secretary of Labor,” said Bruce Goldstein, President, Farmworker Justice, and Co-Chair of NHLA’s Economic Empowerment and Labor Committee.

“Puzder’s statements regarding the objectification of women and the lawsuits brought up against CKE restaurants regarding sexual harassment and workforce violations flies in the face of NHLA’s agenda which advocates for the protections of the workforce and equal pay,” said Jessica González-Rojas, Co-Chair of NHLA’s Latina Task Force and Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. “As the backbone of our families and communities, Latinas are disproportionately impacted by these abuses and face the largest wage disparities amongst all racial and ethnic groups. Puzder’s track record has clearly demonstrated that he is not fit to serve as Secretary of Labor.”

NHLA's letter can be found here: http://bit.ly/2ioTDGO

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

| Michael Torra | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 425-0582 |

| Brenda Arredondo | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (915) 373-1483 |

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 40 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

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