Patricia Smith Confirmed as Solicitor of Labor (2/4/10)

Patricia Smith 

Statement by RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum:

Today's confirmation of Patricia Smith as the Labor Department's new solicitor is great news for America's working families.

As many know, the RWDSU worked closely with her and her staff on programs to crack down on employers that violate the law and rob workers of their earnings. From that experience and many others we came to know Patricia Smith as a tireless and uniquely effective advocate for workplace fairness.

Her confirmation means that, after eight years of indifference and inaction, the Labor Department will at long last have a solicitor with an unquestioned commitment to enforcing the law.

Her nomination is a tribute to President Obama's commitment to working people -- and her confirmation by the Senate today represents an important victory for everyone who believes in worker rights.