NANTICOKE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — In contrast to the mass mobilization effort, state and national leaders held a round table discussion on Saturday in Luzerne County.
The goal was to discuss workforce development, but other topics concerning controversial Trump administration policies came up for discussion.
28/22 News Reporter Gianna Galli was the only TV news reporter to join the US Labor Secretary on a tour of the union building in Nanticoke, where the discussion took place.
Congressman Rob Bresnahan and US Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer joined other republican leaders for the round table at the IBEW building in Nanticoke.
The discussion aimed to show support for American workers and hear their concerns.
United States Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-Deemer visited Nanticoke to host a round table for the first stop on her America at Work listening tour.
"I believe in the American workforce, and we are going to create more jobs than we have ever seen before," Secretary DeRemer stated.
She and Congressman Rob Bresnahan were hands-on with equipment, technology, and items used by union workers in the trades, including the electrical industry.
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"The important thing to take away is these are family-sustaining careers. These are people contributing back to our local economy," Congressman Bresnahan said.
PPL workers, carpenters, and local leaders listened for a message of infrastructure investment, bringing more manufacturing jobs to northeastern Pennsylvania, and growing the next generation of workers.
What was not originally on the table of topics: Tariffs and other Trump administration policies getting major pushback.
"We need to build in this country and export our goods and services, that's all we've been doing with services. Now we need to export our goods to make our country dominant," Secretary DeRemer continued.
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Secretary Deremer responded to reporters' questions about tens of thousands of doge cuts to the federal workforce by contrasting what is happening in other sectors.
"So we are seeing that workforce increase, and then it's parallel, the federal workforce to the private sector, and we are seeing the private sector jobs increase. That's great," Secretary Deremer added.
The round table comes as protests circle nationwide and right here in northeastern Pennsylvania over these issues, plus others like potential Medicaid and Medicare cuts.
"I've said this time and time again that under no circumstances will we reduce the benefits to the Americans that deserve these benefits," Congressman Bresnahan added.
Secretary Deremer is reminding those on hand Saturday what their stated focus is.
"And that's what this was about today… to tour these facilities and make sure we are on the right track and that we are staying focus on that," Secretary Deremer said.
This was the first stop of the Secretary's America at Work Listening Tour.
The secretary says the people here in NEPA can expect to see growth in apprenticeships.
