Confirmation of Marty Walsh as the Secretary of the Department of Labor

March 22, 2021

As a former union member himself, Marty Walsh will bring the Department of Labor back to its main purpose of lifting the rights and power of workers. Throughout his career, he has done incredible work tackling the inequities faced by working families and rebuilding the middle class. He has championed issues such as raising the minimum wage, instituting stronger worker protections, and expanding paid family leave.

It is important that the Secretary of Labor is dedicated to strengthening the federal government’s response to the pandemic, including tougher worker protection standards, renewed paid family-leave benefits, and expanded access to unemployment insurance. Workers cannot afford more inaction as the coronavirus continues to rampage through workplaces and workers are falling ill or dying due to their employers lack of protection. The COVID pandemic has also shown just how important it is that workers have a voice on the job and be able to organize and join unions to fight for their rights, and Walsh has made clear that he will work to strengthen worker power. And more specifically, he has committed to ensuring that workers employed by federal contractors, including those covered by the Service Contract Act, are treated fairly and are able to exercise their rights on the job. There is no doubt that Walsh will fight tirelessly for the best interest of workers and ensure all workers are protected, both during and after the pandemic.