A prominent labor union has come out against President Barack Obama's nomination of billionaire businesswoman Penny Pritzker as Secretary of Commerce due to her role as a member of the board of Hyatt Hotels.
Unite Here, which represents 270,000 hospitality industry workers, attributed its opposition to Pritzker's nomination to an ongoing contract dispute between Hyatt workers and the hotel chain.
A statement from Unite Here said Hyatt workers have endured a four-year wage freeze amid contract negotiations that have stalled around issues of subcontracting and safer working conditions for housekeepers.
"The Commerce Secretary's first concern should be to create good, family sustaining jobs for all Americans," Cathy Youngblood, a Hyatt housekeeper, said in the statement.
She added, "Under Pritzker's direction, Hyatt has led the hotel industry in a race to the bottom by aggressively subcontracting out career hotel jobs to minimum wage temps. This is not the model that will lead our country to a bright economic future."
The news from Unite Here comes just a few days before the Senate Commerce Committee is due to hold a hearing on Pritzker's nomination on Thursday.
If confirmed by the Senate, Pritzker would replace Rebecca Blank, who has served as acting Commerce Secretary since John Bryson resigned in June of 2012.
Pritzker, who Forbes ranks as the 277th richest person in America, was finance chairwoman of Obama's 2008 campaign and co-chair of his 2012 re-election campaign.
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