Union Leaders Back Lori Chavez-DeRemer

At first glance, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of one-term congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer to serve as Labor secretary is mystifying. The former congresswoman seemingly isn’t qualified for the position; she lacks relevant experience and, unlike many Trump supporters, hasn’t even been a union member. The pick makes more sense, however, as Trump’s concession to International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) general president Sean O’Brien for his agreeing to speak at the Republican Nation Convention and keep his union on the sidelines during the election.

Chavez-DeRemer’s most notable experience in labor issues is her service on the House Education and the Workforce Committee during her lone congressional term. More important, for O’Brien, is Chavez-DeRemer’s co-sponsorship of the labor movement’s holy grail: the poorly named Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.