Biden’s Secretary Nominee For Labor Department Faces Confirmation Battle

By Casey Harper (The Heart Sq.)

The U.S. Senate HELP Committee is predicted Wednesday to vote on the nomination of Julie Su, President Joe Biden’s decide to steer the Division of Labor, sending it out of committee and to the Senate for consideration.

The Senate confirmed Su to function deputy secretary for the federal company in July of 2021, however she’s going to doubtless face a more durable course of to steer the company this time round.

Critics say Su’s California labor coverage is just too far to the left for the remainder of the U.S.

“Appointing Julie Su to steer the Division of Labor can be an affront to American employees and taxpayers,” Rachel Greszler, a labor coverage knowledgeable on the conservative-leaning Heritage Basis, instructed The Heart Sq.. “Su’s document in California stands alone as purpose to reject her nomination. As head of California’s Employment Improvement Division, Su didn’t comply with the state auditor’s recommendation, which resulted in large stolen identities and billions of taxpayers’ {dollars} despatched to criminals.”

Su confronted a HELP committee listening to final week, the place Republicans raised issues about Su’s assist of Meeting Invoice 5 in California, a measure that may have banned impartial contractor relationships within the state. The PRO Act, an identical legislative effort on the federal degree, has gained assist however not sufficient to turn out to be legislation.

“As secretary for the California Labor and Workforce Improvement Company, Ms. Su was the chief enforcer of AB5 – a controversial legislation that dismantles the gig financial system akin to Uber, Door Sprint, and Lyft, and removes the flexibleness of people to work as impartial contractors,” U.S. Sen. Invoice Cassidy, R-La., mentioned throughout final week’s listening to. “Impartial contractors, or freelancers, make their very own hours and select the kind of work they want to do.

“They’re shielded from compelled or coerced unionization that may strip that flexibility away. This has made eliminating freelancing a high precedence for big labor unions who need extra employees paying compelled union dues.”

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Democrats have boosted Su, pointing to her document serving to American employees as deputy secretary within the Labor Division.

“Julie Su is a powerful champion for employees all over the place. After years of exemplary public service to California and the nation, she is greater than certified to steer the Division of Labor,” Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., mentioned at Su’s affirmation listening to final week. “As deputy secretary of Labor, and now appearing secretary, Su has helped the administration add a document 12.6 million jobs to the American financial system since President Biden took workplace. I’m assured that her service will essentially strengthen American labor within the years forward and I urge my colleagues to affix me in supporting her nomination.”

The Small Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Council has vocally opposed Su’s nomination. The group despatched a letter to Democratic and Republican management expressing related issues about AB5.

“Ms. Su’s actions and statements are clear in her need to pressure self-employed, impartial freelancers into employment relationships they don’t need,” the letter mentioned. “Small companies – all companies – depend on people with impartial companies to conduct vital initiatives and work that don’t require full-time staff. Furthermore, many of the entrepreneurs and free-lancers who conduct this work wish to work this fashion – they need the flexibleness and freedom that impartial contracting supply.”

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Huge labor union teams have expressed assist for Su, drawing acquainted battle traces on this affirmation course of.

“What’s most spectacular about Su is that she understands the nuances of labor legislation so completely and interprets that data to significant coverage that adjustments lives,” the AFL-CIO mentioned in a web-based petition to rally public assist for Su.

Whether or not Su will probably be confirmed stays to be seen.

“Furthermore, Su actively supported laws that’s destroyed jobs and small companies in California and as head of the Division of Labor, she would take California’s failed insurance policies nationwide,” Greszler mentioned.

Syndicated with permission from The Heart Sq..