Teamsters Applaud Senate Confirmation of Tom Perez for Labor Secretary

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Jul 18, 2013, 04:47 ET

Hoffa Cites Senate Compromise as Key to Quick Confirmation

WASHINGTON, July 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Teamsters Union applauds the Senate's confirmation of Thomas Perez for Labor Secretary in a vote held today. Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa praised Senate Leader Harry Reid for pushing for the compromise with Republican Senators that led to the 54-46 vote for confirmation.

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"Tom Perez's confirmation was long overdue," Hoffa said. "Our union believed Perez was the right choice for Labor Secretary when he was nominated in March. I am glad Leader Reid was able to find a path to the compromise that led to this confirmation. Secretary Perez can now get to work and help this country get back on track."

In his Justice Department 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.

Hoffa also repeated his call for the Senate to quickly move forward on confirming all five National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) nominees before the August recess and avoid the board losing a quorum due to the current chairman's' term expiring on Aug. 27 and effectively shutting down the board.

"The Senate has to confirm the NLRB nominees now, before working Americans lose the support of the one body of government whose sole purpose is to protect workers' rights and enforce their protections under the law," 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