Frances Perkins was an American sociologist and workers-rights advocate – she served as the U.S. Secretary of Labor for twelve years and was the first woman appointed to the U.S. Cabinet. Perkins was a loyal supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt. She assisted in pulling the labor movement into the new deal coalition. She remained in office for his entire presidency and was also one of the only original members of the Roosevelt cabinet. Frances Perkins executed many aspects of the new deal during her term. These includes acts such as the civilian conservation corps, the public works administration, the federal works agency, and the labor portion of the national industrial recovery act. She established unemployment benefits with the social security act as well as pushed to reduce workplace accidents. She helped make laws against child labor and was also the person who formed the standard forty-hour work week. She established the first minimum wage and overtime laws for American workers through the fair labor standards act. Over the course of her term, Perkins dealt with many labor questions, especially during World War II when women were beginning to move into formerly male jobs.
http://www.biography.com/people/frances-perkins-9437840
How many Secretaries of Labor have been pro-labor? Is someone who works in that position necessarily expected to represent labor, or is it merely a position that makes decision on matters of labor, bending to the expectations of the president that appoints the secretary?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your article because the acts that she put in place were the main parts of the New Deal, however I have not heard that much about Francis Perkins herself. How did she deal with women moving into predominantly male jobs? What measures did she take to lessen work related accidents?
ReplyDelete