The AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor federation, came out against Alexander Acosta, President Trump’s nominee to head the Labor Department Wednesday, saying his testimony before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee raised questions about his commitment to helping working people.
“The labor secretary is not just another Cabinet member — his or her actions directly impact our wages, safety, retirement security and rights on the job every single day. Working people wanted to hear how Mr. Acosta would enforce and uphold labor laws to benefit us and not further tilt the balance of power toward corporate CEOs. Today, presented with the opportunity, he failed to do so and ensure America’s workers he’s on our side,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.
Acosta, a former assistant attorney general for civil rights during President George W. Bush’s administration, faced skeptical questions from Democrats. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., for example, repeatedly demanded that he commit to upholding a new rule the department made last year regarding silica exposure. Acosta said he could not because President Trump has called on Cabinet secretaries to review recent rulemakings.
He also indicated that he thought the previous administration set the salary threshold for when a worker can be exempted from being paid overtime too high. It was increased to $47,000 from the previous level of $23,000. More than doubling it caused “stresses” on the economy, Acosta said. He added that former Labor Secretary Tom Perez, may have exceeded his authority in setting the rate at that level.
The AFL-CIO had previously taken a neutral position on Acosta’s nomination, saying it would wait to hear his Senate testimony.
