President-Elect Barack Obama Nominates Hilda Solis as new Secretary of Labor

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen to nominate California Democrat Hilda Solis as his administration's Secretary of Labor, the cabinet-level position that oversees the Department of Labor.  

Ms. Solis has championed a bill, called the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that would enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes.

The A.F.L.-C.I.O  supports Ms. Solis and has stated that, “We’re confident that she will return to the Labor Department one of its core missions: to defend workers’ basic rights in our nation’s workplaces. She’s proven to be a passionate leader and advocate for all working families.”  

The AFL-CIO, through its state organizations, fights to protect and improve workers' compensation laws.  If the AFL-CIO is behind Ms. Solis' nomination, it appears that President-Elect Obama has made a early decision to stand for the rights of American workers who have been injured on the job.  This is an encouraging start for his new administration.  I am optimistic that the nomination of Ms. Solis will positively impact the workers' compensation law and benefits.

If you have been injured while working in Tennessee, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. If you have questions, the article entitled Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Benefits will help you understand your rights.  A Tennessee workers’ compensation attorney can help you receive the workers’ comp benefits for which you are entitled and will ensure that you are treated fairly. If you have been injured and are considering filing a workers’ comp claim, contact Phillip Miller & Associates at (800) 337-HURT (4878) or (615) 356-2000 for legal advice.