Why 1933? In 1933, Frances Perkins was appointed United States Secretary of Labor; she was the first woman to serve in a President’s Cabinet. Frances Perkins helped pass groundbreaking policies including minimum wage, overtime, the Wagner Act and the Social Security Act. She championed immigrant rights, workplace safety, and the right to organize unions. Frances Perkins was a tenacious and innovative advocate and policy maker for worker rights, both inside and outside of government. Workshop builds on her legacy.