Senator Murray, Advocates: Workers Deserve All the Facts on Andrew Puzder’s Concerning Record of Squeezing Workers as Fast Food CEO
President-elect Trump continues rigging the system with nominees that would put in place policies that hurt working families
Today in a press call Sen. Murray said Andrew Puzder’s record of squeezing workers as CEO of CKE Restaurants and his steady opposition to worker protections raise serious questions about his ability to lead the Department of Labor
Sen. Murray was joined by representatives from CAP Action, the AFL-CIO, and ROC United
Sen. Murray: “By nearly every measure, Andrew Puzder appears to be a uniquely unqualified choice and stands against the very mission of the Department he’s been selected to lead.”
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and representatives from the Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAP Action), the AFL-CIO, and Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC United) held a press call to address President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Andrew Puzder to serve as Secretary of Labor.
Puzder’s record of squeezing workers as the CEO of CKE Restaurants and his steady opposition to critically-needed worker protections, such as increasing the minimum wage and expanding overtime pay, raise serious questions about his ability to head the Department of Labor.
Senator Murray said she fully expects a “vigorous and thorough” confirmation hearing so that working families have all of the facts about Puzder’s positions, statements, and history as the CEO of CKE.
Key excerpts from Senator Murray’s remarks:
“Mr. Puzder is the classic example of a millionaire CEO who nickel-and-dimes workers while raking in profits for himself. He has spoken out against increasing the minimum wage. He opposes President Obama’s updated overtime rule. He’s dismissive of workplace discrimination issues. He appears comfortable reinforcing harmful stereotypes about women. And I could go on.”
“By nearly every measure, Andrew Puzder appears to be a uniquely unqualified choice and stands against the very mission of the Department he’s been selected to lead. Workers deserve a Secretary of Labor whose priority is higher wages and good jobs for workers—not profits for big corporations that come at workers’ expense. And they deserve to have all of the facts about Mr. Puzder—his positions, statements, and history as CEO of CKE Restaurants.”
“I fully expect a vigorous and thorough confirmation hearing. Mr. Puzder is going to have to explain his vision of an economy and country that benefits those already at the top, but leaves workers further and further behind. And so is President-elect Trump, and any Republican who chooses to support his nomination.”
Full text of Senator Murray’s remarks:
“President-elect Trump campaigned on a promise that he would put working families first.
“But it’s pretty clear that he and his Republican party are planning to do the exact opposite.
“We see it in their budget plans and their focus on repealing health care, privatizing Medicare, gutting Social Security and Medicaid.
“And we are seeing it so clearly—right now—in who President-elect Trump is selecting to lead his Administration.
“It’s mostly billionaires—a few millionaires here and there—and the staunchest allies for big business, special interests, and Wall Street that I think you could possibly find.
“And the selection of Andrew Puzder for Labor Secretary is, in particular, I believe, a dangerous and alarming example of President-elect Trump rigging his Cabinet against working families.
“Mr. Puzder is the classic example of a millionaire CEO who nickel-and-dimes workers while raking in profits for himself.
“He has spoken out against increasing the minimum wage.
“He opposes President Obama’s updated overtime rule.
“He’s dismissive of workplace discrimination issues.
“He appears comfortable reinforcing harmful stereotypes about women.
“And I could go on.
“By nearly every measure, Andrew Puzder appears to be a uniquely unqualified choice and stands against the very mission of the Department he’s been selected to lead.
“Workers deserve a Secretary of Labor whose priority is higher wages and good jobs for workers—not profits for big corporations that come at workers’ expense.
“And they deserve to have all of the facts about Mr. Puzder—his positions, statements, and history as CEO of CKE Restaurants.
“So I fully expect a vigorous and thorough confirmation hearing.
“Mr. Puzder is going to have to explain his vision of an economy and country that benefits those already at the top, but leaves workers further and further behind.
“And so is President-elect Trump, and any Republican who chooses to support his nomination.
“Thank you.”
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