Robert Reich, the former labor secretary, dropped by to show support.

The labor secretary plans to make the first compensation payment today, a $150,000 check.

Also still up in the air is the post of Labor Secretary.

Of the major economic posts, only Labor Secretary remains open.

Most of the nine other members are former labor secretaries or academicians.

Ms. Herman would not comment on specific reviews that took place while she was labor secretary.

Labor Secretaries, he said, "are often judged by how they've handled these major moments."

He returned to the post after resigning as Labor Secretary.

The labor secretary pounced on it as "very significant."

"I felt a little appalled that a labor secretary would come to the meeting prepared to attack the labor movement," he said.