Building an America that works: The Houston Labor Leaders Breakfast brought together members of the Texas congressional delegation, Houston-area elected officials, union leaders and members on Oct. 15 — an annual gathering hosted by Rep. Al Green of Texas. In keynote remarks, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez said he wakes up every morning asking, “What can we do to build an America that works for everybody, that builds shared prosperity?” Perez said that much progress has been made, pointing to 67 consecutive months of private-sector job growth. But, he noted, economic progress “that helps only a few at the expense of the many is not the America we know.” The breakfast came on the heels of a summit on worker voice hosted by President Obama, which provided examples of how America succeeds when workers speak up in the workplace. The secretary said the department would continue with initiatives that support and protect workers, such as championing a minimum wage increase and enforcing wage laws. Since 2009, the department has helped 1.5 million workers recover $1.3 billion in back wages, Perez said. “Nobody who works a full-time job should have to live in poverty.”
Source: US Department of Labor Blog
