WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after reports that President-elect Donald Trump intends to nominate fast food executive Andrew Puzder to be the next U.S. Secretary of Labor, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement:

“This nomination would be a blow for working men and women and strong signal that the Trump Administration plans to favor management over workers. 

“As CEO of a fast food conglomerate, Mr. Puzder stated a preference for automation over human employees.  He has criticized worker protections and objected to things like raising the minimum wage, paid sick leave, and fair overtime pay rules. 

“It is hard to understand how a Labor Secretary could be effective if they don’t respect labor laws.”