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Statement

Puzder Withdrawal a Victory for America's Workers

February 15, 2017
Workplace Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO and executive director of MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than 1 million mothers and their families
“Today, Andrew Puzder withdrew his nomination to be the United States Secretary of Labor, a major victory for America’s working moms, dads and families and a demonstration of the power of grassroots activism. Half of all primary breadwinners are moms. The U.S. Department of Labor is critical to the everyday lives of working moms and their families, and together we showed that we will persist and will not accept a Labor Secretary who does not value working families and does not prioritize policies that will boost our national economic security.
 
“Puzder’s disturbing anti-worker record and his willingness to blatantly exploit women and moms both in the workplace and in his companies' advertisements inspired an outpouring of grassroots opposition. A strong coalition of workers, moms and advocates from across the country rose up to urge the Senate to reject this terribly unqualified nominee. More than 35,000 MomsRising members signed a petition and almost 2,000 more made calls to Senate offices asking their Senators to reject his nomination. His withdrawal today shows just how powerful grassroots activism can be.
 
“This is about what the nation’s workforce deserves: a champion of working people who is invested in rebuilding the middle class, raising wages, and promoting national economic security. As the President considers his next nominee, we remind him that we will persist and we will bring the same level of scrutiny to whoever is nominated for this important position.”
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.