President-elect Donald Trump on Friday threw a curveball to business-friendly conservatives by announcing Republican Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon as his pick to serve as the next secretary of the Department of Labor.
A favorite of Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, Chavez-DeRemer is considered one of the most labor-friendly Republicans in Washington – and one of the few GOP members of Congress to co-sponsor the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, legislation stuck in committee that would gut right-to-work laws in nearly 30 states and make it easier for workers to unionize. Its companion bill in the Senate was introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the progressive firebrand from Vermont.
“Lori’s strong support from both the Business and Labor communities will ensure that the Labor Department can unite Americans of all backgrounds behind our Agenda for unprecedented National Success – Making America Richer, Wealthier, Stronger and more Prosperous than ever before!” Trump said in a statement.
O’Brien on Friday night praised the pick and said in a post on X the Teamsters are “ready to work with (Chavez-DeRemer) every step of the way to expand good union jobs and rebuild our nation’s middle class.”
He also took a victory lap of sorts, following his controversial decision to speak at the Republican National Convention this summer and his union’s decision not to endorse in the presidential race.
“Nearly a year ago, you joined us for a (Teamsters) roundtable and pledged to listen to workers and find common ground to protect and respect labor in America,” O’Brien said of Trump. “You put words into action. Now let’s grow wages and improve working conditions nationwide.”