Niccollai Comments on Obama’s Speech and the Confirmation of Hilda Solis as U. S. Labor Secretary

UFCW Local 464A President, John T. Niccollai lauded key elements of President Barrack Obama’s speech to the nation televised nationally on February 24. Speaking from his office in Little Falls, NJ, Niccollai said, “The President focused on the right issues at the right time for the people of America. The mortgage crisis, banking meltdown, escalating unemployment and irresponsible deficit spending are all in need of concentrated attention in order to right America’s financial condition.”

Niccollai was particularly pleased with the President’s declaration that all of these issues are interrelated and must be addressed together. “For the first time in many years we have a leader who is willing to face reality and tackle fundamental structural problems in our economy so that future generations won’t be saddled with unrelenting debt and further decline in their standard of living. I am glad to see that he intends to address the twin evils of wasteful spending and weak financial regulation that have, in my view, been the chief causes of the economic problems we face today. I am equally encouraged by his efforts to reach out to Congress for bipartisan cooperation. It is essential that our representatives from every state set aside their petty differences and work together not for their personal or local interests, but for the greater good of the whole nation.”

The Local 464A President also commented on the confirmation of Obama’s choice for U.S. Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis. “I have great hope for improvements to the employment conditions of America’s workers now that she has been confirmed by Congress. Her track record supporting fair pay, a voice for workers, evenhanded enforcement of labor regulations and passage of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) bodes well for bringing the ‘middle class’ back from the horrendous declines it suffered under the previous administration.”

On the EFCA Niccollai cited recent research for the Center for American Progress Fund. “This report clearly shows how union workers can help bring our economy back. Its research proves that a mere 5% increase in the number of union workers in the U.S. would add $25.5 billion more in wages and salaries to our economy. 5% isn’t much, with passage of EFCA into law we can bring far more workers into the union movement to fix our economy and improve the conditions for the middle class”