This op-ed from TWU International President John Samuelsen appeared in the New York Daily News.
There is a new reality in play in the White House and his name is Donald Trump. And like it or not, many unionized workers voted for him. Unfortunately, his ascendancy has been driven in large part by the fact that a large number of workers in America have more faith in Trump than in the Democratic Party.
For a decade or more, many of us in the trade union movement have shouted earnest warnings from the rooftops that the Democrats were losing ground with everyday Americans. Now, the Democratic Party’s institutional failure to focus firstly on the economic security of working families has had epic consequences.
The negative impact on federal workers is already upon us. Their collective defense is a necessary and legitimate fight that must be waged with the administration. But that war should not become a “throw the baby out with the bath water” situation.
President Trump has nominated Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican congresswoman, to be labor secretary. Set party affiliation aside, it’s irrelevant right now. Even under a Democratic administration, she would have been a good choice for working people. She’s about the best workers could hope for — and Democrats should absolutely support her nomination in committee and on the floor.
Chavez-DeRemer cosponsored the PRO Act — legislation designed to empower workers to collectively bargain and raise middle-class wages. (Shamefully, there are prominent Democrats refusing to sign onto the ProAct). She voted repeatedly to protect workers from assaults on the job. She co-sponsored legislation seeking to bring back to U.S. soil aircraft maintenance jobs that major airlines are relocating overseas.
Chavez-DeRemer supports union apprenticeship programs, protecting first responders exposed to carcinogens while running into burning buildings, and increasing public sector workers’ rights to organize. The list goes on. She is consistently and unapologetically pro-worker.
When Chavez-DeRemer testifies Wednesday before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, you will hear more about her stalwart support for unions and her personal background. She is the proud daughter of a Teamster who worked in a grocery store. She is one of a handful of Republicans publicly supporting reforms to make it easier for workers to join unions and win collective bargaining agreements.
Perhaps most importantly, she has consistently opposed nonsense right-to-work proposals that undermine workers’ rights and are the ultimate dream for the right-wing of the Republican Party.
Chavez-DeRemer has been such a strong leader for workers that her nomination is opposed by many of the same people who opposed Julie Su’s confirmation as labor secretary for the same reasons. Sen. Rand Paul reportedly said up to 15 Republicans won’t vote for Chavez-DeRemer.
Presidents have treated the Labor Department as an afterthought for most of my lifetime. Presidents nominated whichever party stalwart was acceptable to their base. Someone who wouldn’t have a confirmation fight. Someone who would tow the party line, nothing more.
At best, presidents picked up-and-coming party devotees like Elaine Chao, a shameless pro-boss hack, or Tom Perez, a nice guy for sure, who failed to deliver any significant gains for blue-collar America.
Presidents Biden and Trump broke that mold: Biden with former Labor Secretaries Marty Walsh and Su, Trump with Chavez-DeRemer. Unlike the party functionaries picked previously, all three grew up in the labor movement. They fought for economic security alongside workers and their unions.
They relate to the men and women who drive buses, fix trains and planes, clean passenger stations, and perform countless other blue-collar jobs.
This is a major change in our national politics, reflecting the realization that the frontline members of both the political parties are now blue-collar, working-class families. Americans like the 155,000 union members I represent have called on politicians for decades to prioritize workers’ economic well-being. In 2016, 2020, and 2024, these voters rewarded the candidates who spoke to them and promised to improve their lives.
The job of labor secretary can and should be a premiere post in every president’s administration. Leaders like Chavez-DeRemer have the potential to make incredible gains for working people, if confirmed, and be a voice of reason against the anti-worker right-wingers who seek to destroy us.
Democrats should cheer her nomination. She will put families’ livelihoods ahead of enriching corporations and their lackeys. This is a pivotal opportunity for senators to follow through for workers and put a union champion in a position that will do good by working people. To elevate the standing of organized labor, Senate Democrats must support Lori Chavez-DeRemer for labor secretary.
Samuelsen is international president of the Transport Workers Union.