GOP senator says Trump’s labor secretary pick’s pro-union stance won’t derail her confirmation

Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, the first Senate Republican to meet with labor secretary nominee Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, predicted the congresswoman’s support for a collective bargaining bill won’t derail her confirmation. 

Some Senate Republicans were surprised President-elect Donald Trump picked Ms. Chavez-DeRemer to lead the Labor Department because she is one of only three House Republicans who cosponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize or PRO Act. She lost her reelection race in November.

No Senate Republicans cosponsor the PRO Act, which expands collective bargaining rights and requirements, including that employees represented by unions must contribute to its fees. Proponents say the legislation protects workers’ right to bargain for better wages and benefits. Opponents argue the measure benefits large unions at the expense of workers.

“I will need to get a better understanding of her support for Democrat legislation in Congress that would strip Louisiana’s ability to be a right to work state, and if that will be her position going forward,” incoming Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy said after Ms. Chavez-DeRemer was nominated.

Mr. Mullin, who also comes from a right to work state, said he discussed the matter with Ms. Chavez-DeRemer, who told him she is “serving at the will of the president of the United States and she’ll be pushing forth his agenda.”

He said he made the case that unions can still thrive in right to work states, like they are in Oklahoma. 

“It’s not that right to work states are anti-union,” Mr. Mullin said. “They want the employee to have a choice to either join the union or not join the union, not be forced to join the union if they don’t like to. Because some of the dues that they got to pay for, maybe they can’t afford to pay the dues because they’re in a tight situation.”

He was satisfied with her response, and he expects his GOP colleagues will be too. 

“She also talked about making sure the Department of Labor works for the businesses, and the businesses are everyone,” Mr. Mullin said. “We’re not talking about just corporate. We’re talking about the businesses as the labor and the business owners. They both had to be successful right now.”

Ms. Chavez-DeRemer will continue meetings with other Senate Republicans this week. She may also decide to court votes from Senate Democrats who have complimented her for backing the PRO Act.

Sen. Patty Murray, Washington Democrat, an original author of the bill, said she was glad Ms. Chavez-DeRemer cosponsored it and looks forward to evaluating her qualifications as the confirmation process moves forward.

“We need a Labor Secretary who will protect workers’ rights, help ensure everyone can have a secure retirement, make sure every worker gets paid the full paycheck they’ve earned, and that all workers are treated with dignity and respect,” Ms. Murray said.