President-elect Donald Trump has sent a strong message of support to labor unions by selecting Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon as the next U.S. Department of Labor secretary.
Chavez-DeRemer is one of only a few Republicans to have backed the “Protecting the Right to Organize,” or PRO Act—legislation that would strengthen the ability of unions to organize, penalize companies that attempt to thwart unions and weaken so-called “right to work” laws, which make it easier for workers to opt out of union participation.
“I am proud to hereby nominate Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer, from the Great State of Oregon, as United States Secretary of Labor,” Trump said in a statement emailed to Newsweek. “Lori has worked tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America’s workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America.”
“I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand Training and Apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs,” he continued.
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Trump went on to say that Chavez-DeRemer’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.”
Chavez-DeRemer, who lost her House seat to Democrat Janelle Bynum earlier this month, thanked Trump for her nomination in a post to X, formerly Twitter. She asserted that “working-class Americans finally have a lifeline with [Trump] in the White House” and predicted that he would “bring our economy to new heights and secure a prosperous future for all hardworking Americans.”
While Chavez-DeRemer will still need to be confirmed by the Senate, her nomination represents a win for unions and for Teamster President Sean O’Brien in particular, who had lobbied for her nomination after facing backlash for failing to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president and speaking at the Republican National Convention earlier this year.
O’Brien thanked Trump “for putting American workers first” by choosing Chavez-DeRemer while sharing a picture of himself with both Republicans alongside a statement posted to X within minutes of the president-elect’s announcement.
“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, addressing Trump. “You put words into action. Now let’s grow wages and improve working conditions nationwide.”
“Congratulations to [Chavez-DeRemer] on your nomination!” he added. “North America’s strongest union is ready to work with you every step of the way to expand good union jobs and rebuild our nation’s middle class. Let’s get to work!”
The National Education Association (NEA), which is the nation’s largest union representing teachers and did endorse Harris, offered more cautious praise for Chavez-DeRemer, with NEA President Becky Pringle saying in a statement that “her record suggests” she will “stand up for workers.”
“During her time in Congress, Lori Chavez-DeRemer voted against gutting the Department of Education, against school vouchers, and against cuts to education funding,” Pringle said. “She cosponsored the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, the PRO Act, and other pro-student, pro-public school, pro-worker legislation.”
“This record stands in stark contrast to Donald Trump’s anti-worker, anti-union record, and his extreme Project 2025 agenda that would gut workplace protections, make it harder for workers to unionize, and diminish the voice of working people,” she added.
Meanwhile, Trump’s claim of “strong support” for Chavez-DeRemer among business leaders is doubtful. The Washington Post reported on Friday that there was instead “strong opposition” from “powerful business groups” to the congresswoman’s impending stewardship of the Department of Labor.
Kristen Swearingen, the chair of the anti-union business group Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, expressed “alarm” in a statement released just after news broke that Trump was considering Chavez-DeRemer earlier this week.
Swearingen cited the congresswoman’s support for the PRO Act, which she called “a signature bill for President Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders” that is “opposed by business groups representing almost every industry” and “the vast majority of Republicans.”
