A labor official says Rep. Hilda Solis of California will be nominated as labor secretary by President-elect Barack Obama.
The Democratic congresswoman was just elected to her fifth term representing heavily Hispanic portions of eastern Los Angeles County and east L.A. She is the daughter of Mexican and Nicaraguan immigrants and has been the only member of Congress of Central American descent.
http://www.iht.com/...
Her background looks promising:
The daughter of a union family, Hilda is widely considered to be one of the strongest supporters of America's workers and the labor movement in the House of Representatives. She fervently believes that unions are vital to the health and strength of America's communities, allowing workers, the backbone of our nation, to stand up for themselves and their families.
Time and time again, Hilda has stated that the strength of the national economy is directly linked to the ability of America's workers to organize. For this reason, Hilda proudly cast a "yay" vote in favor of H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that restores the right of workers to form a union.
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Hilda only supports responsible U.S. trade policies that are fair to working families within the U.S. and abroad. She avidly opposes all trade agreements that do not include strong labor, environmental, and human rights protections.
Her track record in the House of Representatives reflects her strong support for Fair Trade policies. She was a leading opponent of the United States - Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) because it would contribute to the rapid job loss within the United States and further the decline of working and environmental conditions in the Amercas. In addition, she staunchly opposes granting President Bush "fast track" trade negotiating authority, an authority that would effectively silence Fair Trade proponents in Congress.
http://www.hildasolis.org/...