WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is naming current deputy and former California official Julie Su as his next Labor secretary, replacing former Boston mayor Marty Walsh.
Su, a civil rights attorney and former California union head, was instrumental in negotiations between the union’s railroads and freight companies late last year, working to avert an economically debilitating strike . He also worked to expand employee training programs and fight wage theft. If confirmed by the Senate, Su would also be the first Asian-American in the Biden administration to join the cabinet at the secretary level.
Biden, in a statement Tuesday, called her a “champion of workers.”
“Julie is a proven and experienced leader who will continue to build a stronger, more resilient and more inclusive economy that gives Americans a fair return for their work and an equal chance to get ahead,” said she. “It has helped avoid national rail shutdowns, improved access to good jobs without discrimination through my Good Jobs Initiative, and ensures that the jobs we create in critical industries like semiconductor manufacturing , strip life and health care are well-paid, stable and affordable. all.”
via the Associated Press
Su was considered to lead the department when Biden won the White House, but instead became the department’s deputy. Walsh announced his intention to leave the administration earlier this month to lead the National Hockey League Players Association. Su will serve as acting secretary until the Senate acts on his appointment.
Biden was under pressure from the Congressional Asian-Pacific American Caucus and other Asian-American and Pacific advocates to select Su to lead the department. This administration was the first in more than two decades to not have a cabinet secretary of AAPI descent, despite its usual claims of being the most diverse in history. Vice President Kamala Harris and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai are AAPIs but do not lead a cabinet department.
Su, if confirmed, would also expand the majority of women serving in the president’s cabinet. She was confirmed by the Senate in her current role in 2021 by a vote of 50-47.
His appointment also comes at a key time for unions, which have faced declining membership for decades. Unions have gained some momentum as workers at major employers like Amazon and Starbucks push to join the union. But Biden — an avowedly pro-union president — had to work with Congress to force a contract for rail workers last year to avoid a possible strike.
The Labor Department said only 10.1 percent of workers last year were union members. That figure has halved since 1983 and could fall further as younger workers are less likely to join unions.
Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.
I’m a passionate and motivated journalist with a focus on world news. My experience spans across various media outlets, including Buna Times where I serve as an author. Over the years, I have become well-versed in researching and reporting on global topics, ranging from international politics to current events.