Thread: Immigrant's daughter Solis to lead Labor Dept

Immigrant's daughter Solis to lead Labor Dept

By ERICA WERNER and SAM HANANEL, The Associated Press 1:01 p.m.

December 19, 2008

In this Aug. 27, 2008 file photo, Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., waves as she speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Solis, the 51-year-old daughter of a Mexican union shop steward and a Nicaraguan assembly line worker, is in line to be the second Hispanic nominee in Obama's Cabinet. Obama planned to announce her nomination as secretary of labor Friday. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File) - APWASHINGTON — Hilda Solis grew up on tales of workplace struggles from her Mexican immigrant father, a Teamsters union steward. Her mother, born in Nicaragua, worked on an assembly line.

That upbringing shaped Solis, 51, into a tenacious defender of workers' rights and set her on the path toward becoming President-elect Barack Obama's labor secretary.

In her new post, Solis says she will be a strong advocate for organized labor and pledged tougher enforcement of federal regulations on wages and hours, overtime pay and pay discrimination.

"As secretary of labor, I'll work to strengthen our unions and support every American in our nation's diverse work force," Solis said Friday at a news conference in Chicago announcing her nomination.

During eight years in the California Legislature and as a Democratic congresswoman since 2001, Solis wrote measures to help migrant workers, combat domestic violence and limit use of pesticides.

"She's never forgotten her humble roots," said Art Torres, chairman of the California Democratic Party, who served with Solis in the Legislature. "She's very sensitive to the needs of working men and women without destroying industry. She knows how to create a balance."
The third child of seven and the first in her family to attend college, Solis has been the only member of Congress of Central American descent.

She represents a heavily Hispanic district that includes portions of eastern Los Angeles County and East L.A.

Her background has labor advocates cheering, while business interests are reacting warily. Solis is viewed as quite liberal and has sometimes been criticized as inflexible in advancing her causes.

"Business groups will need to be very, very well prepared when they go and see her," said Jim Brulte, former Republican leader in the California Senate. "Because in moving forward the Obama agenda, she won't be taking any prisoners."

"When she has to reach agreement she will," Brulte said. "And if she doesn't have to reach agreement, she won't."

The business community's concern over the appointment is especially great because of a fight coming up next year over efforts to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, the top priority for labor unions. The measure is designed to boost union membership by having employees sign union cards to form unions instead of holding secret ballot elections. But business groups say it would raise labor costs and warn that eliminating the secret ballot exposes workers to union intimidation.

"Solis is a die-hard forced-unionism activist who apparently believes that all workers should be gathered into union collectives – whether they like it or not," said Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Committee.

Introducing Solis on Friday, Obama signaled his administration's commitment to backing the goals of organized labor, which spent millions in helping him win the White House.

"I know that Hilda will show the same kind of leadership as secretary of labor that she showed in California and on the Education and Labor Committee by protecting workers' rights – from organizing to collective bargaining, from keeping our workplaces safe to making our unions strong," Obama said.

Joseph McCartin, a professor of labor history at Georgetown University, said the selection shows how committed Obama is to passage of the card-check legislation.

"The fact that she comes off of Capitol Hill puts her in a good position to lead that fight, which is going to be decided on Capitol Hill," McCartin said.

Solis came to Congress by taking on an entrenched incumbent in a Democratic primary who had lost the support of organized labor. She's been easily re-elected ever since.

Her approach is earnest and unpretentious, but she doesn't back down from a fight. In California, where she became the first Latina elected to the state Senate in 1994, she chaired the powerful Senate Industrial Relations Committee and led the battle to increase the state's minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.75 an hour in 1996.

Environmentalists praised her selection, citing a $125 million measure she got through Congress to train workers for jobs in areas such as energy efficiency and "green building" construction.

Solis' husband, Sam Sayyad, is a small business owner, and supporters say she balances small businesses' needs with those of workers.

"While she was fighting to increase the minimum wage, she also was fighting for a fair share for small business," said Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... ndex=25085

"She's never forgotten her humble roots," said Art Torres, chairman of the California Democratic Party, who served with Solis in the Legislature. "She's very sensitive to the needs of working men and women without destroying industry. She knows how to create a balance."
The third child of seven and the first in her family to attend college, Solis has been the only member of Congress of Central American descent.

Riiiight, that's why California is so prosperous, no?

I can't wait to be governed by the Illinois and California political machines.

Solis is a die-hard forced-unionism activist who apparently believes that all workers should be gathered into union collectives – whether they like it or not," said Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Committee.

Good God!!! This woman is more dangerous than I had first suspected! This is serious!

"Solis is a die-hard forced-unionism activist who apparently believes that all workers should be gathered into union collectives – whether they like it or not," said Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Committee.

This woman could bring down the US economy, not only the auto industry. There are plenty of right-to-work states, which have decided by their sovereign power not to be hampered by unions. Were she to pull this crap during the economic mess we have currently, employers would not be able to hire workers to keep the companies going. Workers' wages would be cut by union dues, which would probably not want to spend going out for lunch, which would destroy the local restaurant business, plus all the other mom-and-pop operations. Forced unionization is beginning to sound a bit more like the Soviet regime.

"As secretary of labor, I'll work to strengthen our unions and support every American in our nation's diverse work force," Solis said Friday at a news conference in Chicago announcing her nomination.

As secretary of labor she WILL OPEN THE DOOR TO ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM MEXICO. That will be her first priority. To make sure all Mexicans find work. I know that LaRaza. MALDEF, and all the other racist organizations must be oozing with joy.

If anyone that thinks its hard to find a job now with so much reverse discrimination going on well its about to get dismal!!!

She is bad news! I wonder if she is related to Patty Solis Doyle and Danny Solis (Chicago alderman)? Patty and Danny are sibs. Could there be a Chicago connection to Hilda?

http://www.dannysolis.org/about.asp

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/02 ... doyle.html