U.S. Labor Secretary joins Bresnahan at roundtable
Apr. 5—NANTICOKE — The first stop on U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer's 50-state "America at Work" listening tour was at the home of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 163 JATC Apprenticeship Program. She was joined there by U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan and a number of local labor leaders.
The roundtable meeting was not open to the public, and lasted for about 35 minutes — half the length it was planned for.
"I hope that what you hear from me today is that you'll see me on the ground in all 50 states to tell this story and package it up for the President to say, 'Here's where we need to focus,' and that is going to be on the American worker," Chavez-DeRemer said.
The discussion was moderated, in part, by Warren Faust, president of North Eastern Building Trades, and a Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers Local 44 worker. The focus of Faust's comments to Chavez-DeRemer and Bresnahan was centered on increased opportunities for apprenticeships.
"With you sitting at this table — it is wonderful and speaks volumes to what the future can be together when we invest in apprenticeship," Faust said to Chavez-DeRemer.
Specifically, Faust asked for grant assistance for local apprenticeship opportunities, to which Chavez-DeRemer was receptive.
"This has been a conversation that we have had about the investments and the advancement and how great [apprenticeship programs] can become if that's where we put our priorities and the dollars behind it," Chavez-DeRemer said. "Expanding apprenticeship programs, advancing apprenticeship programs — understanding what that means — is a focus for the Department of Labor and for myself."
Upcoming data center projects and more emphasis on infrastructure were discussed by the roundtable members as key drivers of job growth in Northeast Pennsylvania. Developing high-speed internet and improving the electrical grid in the area were also placed under the infrastructure umbrella. The topic was of particular interest to Chavez-DeRemer and Bresnahan — she previously served on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and he currently does.
State Rep. Alec Ryncavage questioned how the Department of Labor will recruit young people into the trades and, more broadly, into the local workforce. Chavez-DeRemer said her personal goal is to find ways for students to be skilled, appreciate their communities, and keep those communities affordable.
The roundtable was rather light on tangible policy, and at times contradictory to prior comments made by President Donald Trump. At one point during the roundtable, Faust signaled support for the Biden-era CHIPS and Science Act, even though Trump called on House Speaker Mike Johnson to "get rid of" the manufacturing act during his joint address to Congress in March.
There also seemed to be some confusion regarding Trump's March 27 executive order, which took aim at federal union workers' collective bargaining ability.
"The President is focused on the American worker. What we want to do is make sure there are plenty of men and women in this country who can build these facilities — manufacturing, construction jobs," Chavez-DeRemer said to a direct question about the union workers' collective bargaining ability being stripped. "What we're seeing across the board is the federal workforce is slowly declining, but what we are seeing is an increase in the public workforce at the local level, where the people are."
In regard to Trump's aggressive tariff policy, which places new tariffs on most of the United States' trading partners, Chavez-DeRemer seemed to acknowledge that the economy may go through a difficult adjustment period. Still, she made her support for Trump clear.
"Is it going to take time? Absolutely. But are we all on board? Is this entire team that he has built on board? Absolutely," said Chavez-DeRemer. "And we're going to support the President on this and, ultimately, that is going to benefit every man and woman in this country as we get back to work."
Also participating in the roundtable conversation were Tom Calpin, Ironworkers Local 404; State Rep. Dane Watro, 116th District; BJ Cryder, Boilermakers Local 13; Danny O'Neill, PPL Corporation; Dan Clarkson, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters; Bobby Scott, IBEW Local 1319; Chris Darrow, IBEW Local 1319; Kris Anderson, IBEW's 3rd District; John T. Nadolny, IBEW Local 163; and John H. Olejnik, IBEW Local 163.
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