Hoffa Lauds Nomination Of Thomas Perez As Labor Secretary

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Mar 18, 2013, 12:34 ET

President Obama Nominates Pro-Worker Lawyer To Lead U.S. Labor Department

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa lauded President Obama's nomination today of Thomas Perez, assistant attorney general for civil rights, to be his Labor Secretary.

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"Thomas Perez is the right choice for Labor Secretary because he has shown throughout his career that he is a strong advocate for working families," Hoffa said. "In these difficult economic times, workers need a fighter at the Labor Department who will stand up for them, and they are getting just that with Thomas Perez."

In his post as the assistant attorney general for civil rights, Perez settled the three largest fair lending cases on behalf of working families targeted by unfair mortgage practices. He fought to protect the rights of students to achieve a quality education, increased the enforcement of human trafficking laws and stepped up efforts to protect the civilian jobs of military personnel who are serving our country. He also has been a champion for voting rights. Perez previously served as Maryland's Labor Secretary.

Perez is the son of immigrants from the Dominican Republic. When he was 12, his father died of a heart attack and a Teamster became a surrogate father to him. That bond helped create his lifelong support for labor unions.

"We look forward to the confirmation of Thomas Perez as Labor Secretary so he can get to work on continuing to strengthen our middle class and restoring balance to an economy that favors excessive profits over workplace fairness," Hoffa said.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters