Sharon Block is a Professor of Practice and the Executive Director of the Center for Labor and a Just Economy at Harvard Law School.
Chris Lu served in the Obama administration as the Deputy Secretary of Labor, and is now a Senior Fellow at the University of Virginia Miller Center.
This post originally appeared in The Huffington Post.
As former political appointees in the Obama administration’s Labor Department, we can think of few areas where we are in agreement with Donald Trump. In fact, we have fundamental differences with him about how to build an economy that works for everyone.
Yet, we share his belief that government needs to do more to lift up American workers. If the new president is interested in delivering on his promise of creating jobs and growing wages for workers, there’s an executive order already in place that he should support.
Every year, the federal government spends hundreds of billions of dollars on procurement contracts. By some estimates, one quarter of all American workers are employed by a federal contractor — that’s millions of families whose livelihoods are connected to the federal procurement system.
In 2014, Barack Obama signed an executive order called “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces” that was premised on two fundamental principles: doing business with the federal government is a privilege, not a right; and taxpayer money should only go to companies that are abiding by the laws that protect American workers. Under the Obama executive order, the federal government would give contracts only to companies that pay their workers the wages they’ve earned, protect the health and safety of employees, and prohibit discriminatory practices.
Donald Trump’s early interaction with the Carrier Corporation — before he was even inaugurated — affirms the core belief that companies that profit from federal contracts should help American workers. Trump implicitly threatened Carrier’s future as a government contractor because of corporate behavior that he perceived to be contrary to the best interests of its employees – namely, by moving their jobs out of the country. Judging from his tweets on the subject, Trump seems more than willing to use his new position as purchaser-in-chief to exact similar promises from other federal contractors to act in the best interest not only of their bottom line but the bottom line of American workers too.
We challenge the new president to show us that he is committed to standing up to federal contractors to deliver lasting wins for American workers – and not just looking for press-friendly sound bites. If he is serious about helping workers, Donald Trump will have a powerful tool in the federal procurement system. He could make transformational, not just anecdotal, change to ensure that all companies doing business with the federal government are good corporate citizens.
For the contracting community, the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces executive order laid out a detailed set of principles about which labor violations would be considered and how companies could ensure they were in compliance for contracting purposes. An objective, rule-based system provides predictability to companies about their ability to secure government contracts – a far better outcome than living in fear that their business practices will draw the ire of a presidential tweet.
This week, the House will consider legislation to roll back the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces executive order. President Trump claims that he is willing to take on corporations to advance the interests of American workers. His position on this executive order will demonstrate whether that claim is a hypocritical slogan or a real commitment to stand with American workers.
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March 11
Chavez-DeRemer confirmed as Labor Secretary; NLRB issues decisions with new quorum; Flex drivers deemed Amazon employees in Virginia
March 10
Iowa sets up court fight over trans anti-bias protections; Trump Administration seeks to revoke TSA union rights
March 9
Federal judge orders the reinstatement of NLRB Board Member Gwynne Wilcox; DOL reinstates about 120 employees who were facing termination
March 6
A federal judge hears Wilcox's challenge to her NLRB removal and the FTC announces a "Joint Labor Task Force."
March 5
In today’s news and commentary, lots of headlines for the United Auto Workers as the union comes out in support of tariffs, files for an election at a Volkswagen distribution center in New Jersey, and continues to bargain a first contract at the Chattanooga VW plant they organized last spring. The UAW released a statement […]
March 4
In today’s news and commentary, the Tennessee Drivers Union allegedly faces retaliation for organizing, major hospital groups are hit with a wage suppression lawsuit, and updates from Capitol Hill. The Tennessee Drivers Union announced on social media that its members are facing retaliation from Uber and Lyft for their rideshare organizing activities. Specifically, 34 members […]