This is our Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis.
She is Labor through and through. It doesn't come better than this. She can speak for herself.
Hilda take it away, honey.
Celebrating American workers and progress on Labor Day
Posted Sunday, Sep. 05, 2010
By Hilda L. Solis
Special to the Star-Telegram
These are tough times for American workers. There are too many parents out there who have lost a job and are choosing between losing their home and sending their children to college. There are too many workers who are desperately searching for employment and just can't seem to find an opening or even get an interview.
The unemployment rate in the Fort Worth area may be holding steady, but it clearly needs to start dropping -- and quickly. As we stem the loss of jobs, we must accelerate growth in all sectors of the economy, from tourism to manufacturing, so that everyone who wants a job can get a good one.
Fortunately, there are positive signs that the tide is turning. The country was losing a staggering 800,000 jobs a month when President Barack Obama took office 20 months ago. Now, we are adding jobs -- almost 100,000 every month. That's not nearly enough, of course, but we are moving in the right direction. The administration's efforts are effectively preserving jobs for the middle class, fostering business start-ups and helping companies expand. The jobs are beginning to come back.
So on this important day, when our nation celebrates the American worker, we have an opportunity to take stock of who we are and what is ahead.
Look around your community and you will find people just like you, who believe in playing by the rules and working hard to get ahead. Our families, our neighbors, our fellow Americans: They are the country's greatest resource. They are the reason I remain optimistic and committed to serving workers. They are also why I believe in extending a hand when a worker becomes unemployed and offering a leg up when one is looking for a new job.
I also believe in efficiency and looking ahead. So not only is my department helping to ease the transition during economic down times, but we are also preparing workers for in-demand jobs and high-growth industries -- from high-tech and healthcare to wind and solar power. We have already invested $2 million in five communities -- including Arlington -- to upgrade the renewable energy skills of 500 ironworkers and place them on wind turbine projects. That makes good sense in Texas, already a leader in wind power and energy. The grant will help ensure not only that workers have the skills they need to get these good jobs but also that businesses have the trained workers they need to succeed. It's what I call win-win.
Those and many other examples point to one clear fact: Our economy is changing quickly, one community after another. And, despite challenges, the nation is also growing stronger. So we have a choice before us. We can dwell on today's problems and repeat the mistakes of the past. We can miss golden opportunities for progress and let benefits be perks for the privileged few at the expense of the working many. Or we can look forward and seize opportunities in growing industries and thoughtful undertakings that will benefit entire communities.
I believe that now is the time to ramp up, to build on the progress we've already made in getting Americans back to work. Now is certainly the time to remember our workers. After all, they have always played a key role in revitalizing our economy. They surely will again. At the Department of Labor we know that well, and we intend to support them every step along the way.
Hilda L. Solis is U.S. secretary of labor. www.dol.gov
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/09/05/2447065/celebrating-american-workers-and.html#ixzz0yiM7qcnC
