Biden Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh will soon leave the building amid plenty of discussion of his outgoing legacy. He exits what claims to be the most union-friendly administration in U.S. history, although neither President Biden nor Walsh can escape criticism for their roles in brokering a railway fiasco that averted a nationwide strike but ended with unhappy union members lacking their core demand of sick pay.
Beyond yesterday’s news, however, Biden already revealed his replacement nominee, current Deputy Secretary Of Labor Julie Su. She is a former Labor Secretary for the State of California, which should tell you plenty about her progressive leanings; accordingly, she boasts the backing of Governor Gavin Newsom. Biden also credits her as instrumental in brokering that controversial railway deal.
Those who cheer Su’s nomination point towards her 1990s work as a public interest lawyer who fought for undocumented immigrants trapped in sweatshop work. However, her critics point towards her recent work with Newsom and allege that she didn’t foresee and halt “$11 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims during the pandemic.”
Further, Su is the subject of widespread criticism after she supported a California law that essentially eliminated independent contractors and has caused lingering chaos in the trucking industry. Critics justifiably worry that she’ll push these California policies upon the nation at large. However, it remains to be seen whether the Senate will confirm her after she narrowly achieved confirmation for her deputy position in 2021.
