NEW JERSEYANS RALLY AGAINST PUZDER NOMINATION, CULMINATES WITH HIS CANDIDACY WITHDRAWAL

Anti-worker CEO wrong choice to enforce nation’s labor laws

NEWARK — More than 100 low-income workers, elected officials, and Fight for $15 advocates gathered in downtown Newark to denounce the upcoming confirmation hearings of Andrew Puzder to be US Secretary of Labor. Shortly afterwards the Trump administration announced his candidacy withdrawal for U.S. Secretary of Labor.

After rallying at Newark City Hall, the group marched down Broad Street, temporarily stopping traffic and continuing their protest against the exploitation of low-wage workers. Puzder is the CEO of CKE Restaurants, parent company of Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. fast food operations. Puzder’s confirmation hearings were scheduled to begin on Thursday, February 16.

“We welcome the news that Trump’s “anti” labor nominee has folded under national pressure and public outcry.” said Analilia Mejia, Executive Director of New Jersey Working Families Alliance. “Mr. Trump’s nomination of an individual whom reportedly ranks highest amongst anti-worker bad actors, supported our assertions that this administration was more interested in bolstering the wealthy and well connected, instead of protecting the rights of working Americans everywhere” continued Mejia.

Revelations about Puzder’s business practices, hostility to workers, misogynistic statements, failure to pay taxes for a domestic worker, and other personal issues have clouded his nomination. Several Republican senators were said to be on the fence on his nomination while Democrats were opposed to confirming Puzder as the ultimate enforcer of U.S. labor laws.

Advocates calls for action where joined by several elected officials. “As both a labor leader and elected official, I was extremely disturbed by the nomination of such an anti worker individual as Andrew Puzder.” said Essex County Freeholder, President of Laborers Local 55, Wayne Richardson.“Our union brothers and sisters are prepared to continue to defend workers against any and all nominations that hurt working people across our state and nation.”

Freeholder Richardson was joined by his colleague, Freeholder Vice Chair Brendan Gil, who said “Our county, state and nation require someone prepared to uphold the law and defend the rights of workers, not a “violator in chief” who stands against fair wages, earned sick days and enhanced workplace safety.” A report conducted by Bloomberg News concluded that Hardees’s and Carl’s Jr. ranked amongst the highest in the industry for wage theft violations.

Newark members of city hall also joined advocates in their denunciation of Puzder. Councilman Eddie Osborne stated “Andrew Puzder represented the antithesis of a pro worker and working class agenda professed by the Trump administration.  His actions on wage theft, replacing workers with robots and a whole host of issues runs counter to the interests of workers in Newark and across our great nation”

Many of the rally and march participants are involved in the New Jersey Fight for $15 campaign. The state’s legislature passed a bill last year to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 by 2021 by the measure was vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie.

“Andrew Puzder is the antithesis of the kind of leader working people want to head the Department of Labor,” said Kevin Brown, 32BJ SEIU Vice President and NJ State Director.  “Puzder opposes raising the minimum wage, paid sick time, and new overtime rules. And his company CKE and the the restaurants in his chain have been found guilty of violating the nation’s wage and hour laws in 60 percent of the investigations into their practices. Puzder’s history and anti-worker beliefs are evidence he would be hostile to working people. We are glad to see his name withdrawn from such a critical post.”

“As a low wage worker, I knew that Andrew Puzder did not have my interests at heart. Our safety, livelihood and families depend on strong enforcement of minimum wage laws and worker safety protections. We need a strong secretary of labor not one that will gut worker protections we have fought so hard for.” said Juan Martinez an Elizabeth resident and member of Make the Road Action from Elizabeth, NJ.

“As the CEO of CKE Restaurants, Puzder’s track record of health and safety violations, exemplified a lack of support for worker health and safety protections. Failure to enforce safety and health standards has a human cost. What’s needed is a labor secretary who can enforce the law, not undermine it.” said Bridget Devane, Director of Public Policy for HPAE

News of Puzder’s withdrawal broke this afternoon with reports of up to twelve Republican members of Congress refusing to support his nomination.