Thea Mei Lee
@theameilee.bsky.social
International workers' rights and social justice advocate. Formerly US Dept of Labor; Economic Policy Institute; AFL-CIO.
Reposted by Thea Mei Lee
@theameilee.bsky.social nails it: when exploitation is profitable, even the good companies lose. That’s why it’s on governments to build markets that don’t profit from abuse.
🎧 Listen to how smarter trade policy can level the playing field—and make decency a competitive advantage.
➡️ buff.ly/WiTrMxA
🎧 Listen to how smarter trade policy can level the playing field—and make decency a competitive advantage.
➡️ buff.ly/WiTrMxA
November 3, 2025 at 4:57 PM
@theameilee.bsky.social nails it: when exploitation is profitable, even the good companies lose. That’s why it’s on governments to build markets that don’t profit from abuse.
🎧 Listen to how smarter trade policy can level the playing field—and make decency a competitive advantage.
➡️ buff.ly/WiTrMxA
🎧 Listen to how smarter trade policy can level the playing field—and make decency a competitive advantage.
➡️ buff.ly/WiTrMxA
Check out @pitchforkeconomics.bsky.social new podcast on trade policy!
Trade isn’t just about goods—it’s about power.
@theameilee.bsky.social explains how ignoring labor rights in global trade fueled inequality and political instability, and why trade must start with workers, not corporations.
🎧 The last episode of our Trade series is live ➡️ buff.ly/WiTrMxA
@theameilee.bsky.social explains how ignoring labor rights in global trade fueled inequality and political instability, and why trade must start with workers, not corporations.
🎧 The last episode of our Trade series is live ➡️ buff.ly/WiTrMxA
October 29, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Check out @pitchforkeconomics.bsky.social new podcast on trade policy!
Worth reading. Terrifying moment.
August 18, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Worth reading. Terrifying moment.
It’s official. We are being governed by a spoiled brat who cannot tolerate bad news and will attempt to dismantle a skilled government agency to hide the outcomes of his pathetic policy blunders. Luckily, the excellent career staff at BLS will provide integrity as long as they can.
Today, President Trump directed his team to fire the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) because he didn’t like the jobs numbers they released. This is a move straight out of an autocratic playbook, says EPI President @hshierholz.bsky.social
www.epi.org/press/trumps...
www.epi.org/press/trumps...
Trump’s firing of BLS commissioner is undemocratic and economically dangerous
Today, Trump directed his team to fire the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) because he didn’t like the jobs numbers they released. This is a move straight out of an autocratic play...
www.epi.org
August 2, 2025 at 12:32 PM
It’s official. We are being governed by a spoiled brat who cannot tolerate bad news and will attempt to dismantle a skilled government agency to hide the outcomes of his pathetic policy blunders. Luckily, the excellent career staff at BLS will provide integrity as long as they can.
Many thanks to Senators Cortez Masto and Lujan for convening an important conversation on Trump's trade and economic policies and how they are impacting American households, workers, and small businesses. www.youtube.com/live/GSOz6a9...
Costs, Chaos, Corruption: The Household Impact of Trump's Tariffs
YouTube video by Sen. Ben Ray Luján
www.youtube.com
June 12, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Many thanks to Senators Cortez Masto and Lujan for convening an important conversation on Trump's trade and economic policies and how they are impacting American households, workers, and small businesses. www.youtube.com/live/GSOz6a9...
Looking forward to joining @lujan.senate.gov, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, and @adamposen.bsky.social tomorrow (6/10) at 1:30 for Spotlight Forum on Trump's trade policies. It will stream on Facebook Live:
www.facebook.com/events/73835...
www.facebook.com/events/73835...
Cortez Masto, Lujan Lead Senate Spotlight Forum on Trump’s Tariffs and Their Impact on Americans
Event by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto on Wednesday, June 11 2025
www.facebook.com
June 10, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Looking forward to joining @lujan.senate.gov, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, and @adamposen.bsky.social tomorrow (6/10) at 1:30 for Spotlight Forum on Trump's trade policies. It will stream on Facebook Live:
www.facebook.com/events/73835...
www.facebook.com/events/73835...
Hey, I was looking for the X/Twitter account for my former DOL agency, @ilab.dol.gov (International Labor Affairs Bureau). It seems to have mysteriously disappeared. What the heck?? The agency still exists! People are still doing amazing work.
May 30, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Hey, I was looking for the X/Twitter account for my former DOL agency, @ilab.dol.gov (International Labor Affairs Bureau). It seems to have mysteriously disappeared. What the heck?? The agency still exists! People are still doing amazing work.
If you’re in DC, come by the Department of Labor tomorrow (5/28) at noon, 200 Constitution Ave steps! Support American workers and the dedicated DOL career staff!
May 27, 2025 at 3:20 PM
If you’re in DC, come by the Department of Labor tomorrow (5/28) at noon, 200 Constitution Ave steps! Support American workers and the dedicated DOL career staff!
Powerful op-ed by George Saunders on the firing of our librarian of Congress: “Shame on all of us if we let these ignorant purveyors of cruelty reduce this beautiful thing we’ve built over these hundreds of years to a hollow, braying, anti-version of itself “
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/o...
Opinion | George Saunders: Shame on the White House
www.nytimes.com
May 15, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Powerful op-ed by George Saunders on the firing of our librarian of Congress: “Shame on all of us if we let these ignorant purveyors of cruelty reduce this beautiful thing we’ve built over these hundreds of years to a hollow, braying, anti-version of itself “
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/o...
Glad to join @deluzio.house.gov, Gil Kaplan, and @stevenoverly.bsky.social for a great discussion at the #PoliticoTrade event.
x.com/i/broadcasts...
x.com/i/broadcasts...
A Panel Discussion with Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Gilbert B. Kaplan, and Thea Lee / X
A Panel Discussion with Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Gilbert B. Kaplan, and Thea Lee
x.com
May 14, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Glad to join @deluzio.house.gov, Gil Kaplan, and @stevenoverly.bsky.social for a great discussion at the #PoliticoTrade event.
x.com/i/broadcasts...
x.com/i/broadcasts...
During my time in govt, our Dept of Labor lawyers were super strict about gifts from foreign governments: nothing over $480, and even small gifts had to be cleared. Every scarf, platter, and keychain was approved by the ethics lawyers. This is appalling.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/11/u...
Trump Is Poised to Accept a Luxury 747 From Qatar for Use as Air Force One
www.nytimes.com
May 12, 2025 at 12:18 PM
During my time in govt, our Dept of Labor lawyers were super strict about gifts from foreign governments: nothing over $480, and even small gifts had to be cleared. Every scarf, platter, and keychain was approved by the ethics lawyers. This is appalling.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/11/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/11/u...
Reposted by Thea Mei Lee
This is a generational moment. Every time labor has been knocked down, we get back up stronger than before.
Throughout the first 100 days of the Trump admin, America’s unions have been relentlessly fighting back against the billionaire takeover, and we’re winning.
Throughout the first 100 days of the Trump admin, America’s unions have been relentlessly fighting back against the billionaire takeover, and we’re winning.
April 29, 2025 at 2:37 PM
This is a generational moment. Every time labor has been knocked down, we get back up stronger than before.
Throughout the first 100 days of the Trump admin, America’s unions have been relentlessly fighting back against the billionaire takeover, and we’re winning.
Throughout the first 100 days of the Trump admin, America’s unions have been relentlessly fighting back against the billionaire takeover, and we’re winning.
Check out this excellent @newyorker.com article about the bumblng and self-defeating attempts by this administration to destroy DOL's international labor work -- and the staff, who are continuing to speak out despite the illegal threats against them. Worth a read!
www.newyorker.com/news/deep-st...
www.newyorker.com/news/deep-st...
What “America First” Could Cost Us
As the Trump Administration forces the U.S. to retreat from labor-protection programs abroad, American workers might end up suffering, too.
www.newyorker.com
April 25, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Check out this excellent @newyorker.com article about the bumblng and self-defeating attempts by this administration to destroy DOL's international labor work -- and the staff, who are continuing to speak out despite the illegal threats against them. Worth a read!
www.newyorker.com/news/deep-st...
www.newyorker.com/news/deep-st...
Reposted by Thea Mei Lee
OUT NOW: The Tariffs 101 episode you need!
Economist @theameilee.bsky.social provides insight into Trump’s economic madness and explains what actual strategies in support of American workers and people of color could look like.
Listen now!
democracyincolor.com/podepisodes/...
Economist @theameilee.bsky.social provides insight into Trump’s economic madness and explains what actual strategies in support of American workers and people of color could look like.
Listen now!
democracyincolor.com/podepisodes/...
Trump’s Terrible Tariffs with Economist Thea Lee — Democracy in Color
Thea Lee, economist and former deputy undersecretary for international labor affairs at the Department of Labor, provides insight to Trump’s economic madness and the global chaos unleashed.
democracyincolor.com
April 17, 2025 at 4:03 PM
OUT NOW: The Tariffs 101 episode you need!
Economist @theameilee.bsky.social provides insight into Trump’s economic madness and explains what actual strategies in support of American workers and people of color could look like.
Listen now!
democracyincolor.com/podepisodes/...
Economist @theameilee.bsky.social provides insight into Trump’s economic madness and explains what actual strategies in support of American workers and people of color could look like.
Listen now!
democracyincolor.com/podepisodes/...
We’re fighting back!
US labor groups sue over ‘ignorant’ cuts of programs fighting child labor abroad
US labor groups sue over ‘ignorant’ cuts of programs fighting child labor abroad
April 16, 2025 at 9:27 AM
We’re fighting back!
US labor groups sue over ‘ignorant’ cuts of programs fighting child labor abroad
US labor groups sue over ‘ignorant’ cuts of programs fighting child labor abroad
Join this great webinar April 16 at 8:15 pm ET on Litigating Against DOGE! With @RepRaskin @SkyePerryman @LizShuler and others.
ula-aflcio.glueup.com/en/organizat...
ula-aflcio.glueup.com/en/organizat...
Litigating Against DOGE and How You Can Help Webinar April 16, 2025 8:15 p.m. ET
ula-aflcio.glueup.com
April 15, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Join this great webinar April 16 at 8:15 pm ET on Litigating Against DOGE! With @RepRaskin @SkyePerryman @LizShuler and others.
ula-aflcio.glueup.com/en/organizat...
ula-aflcio.glueup.com/en/organizat...
Reposted by Thea Mei Lee
The Trump administration's attacks on immigrant workers don’t just harm individual families—they undermine the care economy we all depend on. From child care to nursing homes, losing them means longer waits, higher costs, and a nation that fails its most vulnerable.
Attacks on Immigrant Workers Undermine the U.S. Care Economy
The United States has long been a place where families hoping for a better life could work to make those dreams a reality. As a direct result, their
tcf.org
April 7, 2025 at 6:36 PM
The Trump administration's attacks on immigrant workers don’t just harm individual families—they undermine the care economy we all depend on. From child care to nursing homes, losing them means longer waits, higher costs, and a nation that fails its most vulnerable.
What’s the point of bringing jobs back to the United States if the administration is openly destroying unions, dismantling worker safety and wage and hour protections, and gutting child labor laws? Asking for a friend.
April 6, 2025 at 11:31 AM
What’s the point of bringing jobs back to the United States if the administration is openly destroying unions, dismantling worker safety and wage and hour protections, and gutting child labor laws? Asking for a friend.
Today is the Hands Off protest in DC and around the country! I’ll be there. The only challenge is how to fit everything I want to say onto a two-sided posterboard. I got a big one!
Many people have asked how we will stop the current administration’s anti-worker, illegal, hate-filled policies. In this moment, every action, every voice matters. You can take action this Saturday at a rally near you. (🧵1/3)
April 5, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Today is the Hands Off protest in DC and around the country! I’ll be there. The only challenge is how to fit everything I want to say onto a two-sided posterboard. I got a big one!
Reposted by Thea Mei Lee
Elon Musk has apparently declared war on worker safety.
In addition to destroying NIOSH, Musk's DOGE team is trying to close 11 OSHA offices. Ostensibly to save a small amount of money, this will disrupt the functioning of under-resourced offices, resulting in more injuries, illnesses and deaths.
In addition to destroying NIOSH, Musk's DOGE team is trying to close 11 OSHA offices. Ostensibly to save a small amount of money, this will disrupt the functioning of under-resourced offices, resulting in more injuries, illnesses and deaths.
Former OSHA Chief Dr. David Michaels: Closing OSHA Offices Will Increase Worker Injuries, Illnesses, Deaths
In this exclusive op/ed for ISHN magazine, former OSHA leader says “closing OSHA area offices may be penny-wise, but it is well-beyond pound-foolish.”
www.ishn.com
April 4, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Elon Musk has apparently declared war on worker safety.
In addition to destroying NIOSH, Musk's DOGE team is trying to close 11 OSHA offices. Ostensibly to save a small amount of money, this will disrupt the functioning of under-resourced offices, resulting in more injuries, illnesses and deaths.
In addition to destroying NIOSH, Musk's DOGE team is trying to close 11 OSHA offices. Ostensibly to save a small amount of money, this will disrupt the functioning of under-resourced offices, resulting in more injuries, illnesses and deaths.
Reposted by Thea Mei Lee
Why cuts to @ILAB_DOL are a horrible idea....by Fairtrade America, the International Cocoa Initiative and The Rainforest Alliance.... #ChildLabor @alt-dol.altgov.info @theameilee.bsky.social
cocoaradar.com/us-cuts-to-c...
cocoaradar.com/us-cuts-to-c...
US cuts to child labor programmes a ‘blow to core values’ say NGOs
EXCLUSIVE: Fairtrade America, International Cocoa Initiative, and The Rainforest Alliance concerned by latest DOGE move to slash US government spending
cocoaradar.com
April 4, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Why cuts to @ILAB_DOL are a horrible idea....by Fairtrade America, the International Cocoa Initiative and The Rainforest Alliance.... #ChildLabor @alt-dol.altgov.info @theameilee.bsky.social
cocoaradar.com/us-cuts-to-c...
cocoaradar.com/us-cuts-to-c...
New from @JulieSuLabor @tcfdotorg : Musk and DOGE are gutting @USDOL’s ILAB, which stops international companies from undercutting American workers by crushing worker rights and using forced and child labor. tcf.org/content/repo...
What Cuts to the Department of Labor Will Mean for You
Imagine this: Thirteen-year-old children working the night shift cleaning the kill floors of meatpacking plants, their small hands barely able to hold the
tcf.org
April 4, 2025 at 10:51 AM
New from @JulieSuLabor @tcfdotorg : Musk and DOGE are gutting @USDOL’s ILAB, which stops international companies from undercutting American workers by crushing worker rights and using forced and child labor. tcf.org/content/repo...
The cuts announced last week to ALL of the Department of Labor's international programs are both ignorant and self-defeating. Thanks to Julie Su and Katherine Tai for their excellent article in The American Prospect. prospect.org/labor/2025-0...
Global Working Conditions Matter for American Workers
The Trump administration has cut programs that help prevent forced labor and child labor. This will suppress wages everywhere, including the U.S.
prospect.org
March 31, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The cuts announced last week to ALL of the Department of Labor's international programs are both ignorant and self-defeating. Thanks to Julie Su and Katherine Tai for their excellent article in The American Prospect. prospect.org/labor/2025-0...
Another short-sighted and self-defeating move from DOGE. American workers and businesses can’t thrive in a global economy where workers’ rights are trampled and disrespected.
Https://www.yahoo.com/news/stain-humanity-canceled-ilab-grants-192842737.html
Https://www.yahoo.com/news/stain-humanity-canceled-ilab-grants-192842737.html
‘A Stain on Humanity’: What Canceled ILAB Grants Mean for Fashion Production
The U.S. Department of Labor is axing $577 million in grants that strengthen workers’ rights and combat child and forced labor in global supply chains.
www.yahoo.com
March 28, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Another short-sighted and self-defeating move from DOGE. American workers and businesses can’t thrive in a global economy where workers’ rights are trampled and disrespected.
Https://www.yahoo.com/news/stain-humanity-canceled-ilab-grants-192842737.html
Https://www.yahoo.com/news/stain-humanity-canceled-ilab-grants-192842737.html