“I remember a good friend of mine whose father worked at Bethlehem Steel for 40 years with just a high school degree. That was a remarkable pathway to prosperity that sustained generations of working families.”

Tom Perez is a former U.S. Secretary of Labor and chair of the Democratic National Committee. He is recognized for his advocacy on workers’ rights and labor policy, shaping national conversations on economic fairness and union representation. His political career spans decades of progressive leadership in both government and party organizing.