News & Commentary February 8, 2023

[Omaha Steve]

https://onlabor.org/february-8-2023/

By Jason Vazquez

Jason Vazquez is a student at Harvard Law School.

In today’s news and commentary, the U.S. Labor Secretary is reported to be stepping down in the coming days; Biden emphasizes economic dignity in his State of the Union remarks; a new report reveals that unions prevailed in a record number, and proportion, of elections last year; and a conservative Senator pens an op-ed proposing labor law reform.

Marty Walsh is reportedly set to depart from his role as the U.S. Secretary of Labor in the coming days and slated to be installed as the next Executive Director of the NHL Players’ Association, the union representing professional hockey players in the United States and Canada. Although the precise date of his departure remains uncertain, Walsh, according to media reports, currently finds himself in the process of negotiating a contract with the NHLPA. Sources contend that an official announcement of his appointment may come before the end of the week, likely in the wake of Biden’s State of the Union address, which was delivered last night. The Daily Faceoff, the hockey-related publication that broke the news, suggests that Walsh became interested in the position after being passed over as Biden’s next chief of staff.

Several substantial regulatory initiatives remain pending in the Department as Walsh prepares to step down, including one proposed rule seeking to expand eligibility for the mandatory overtime premium and another to revise the definition of independent contractor under the FLSA. Walsh’s exit, which would constitute the first by a member of Biden’s cabinet, would leave Deputy Secretary Julie Su as the acting head of the DOL. Neither the White House nor the Labor Department has yet issued a statement on the situation.

As referenced above, President Joe Biden delivered his 2023 State of the Union address last night, the second such speech of his presidency. Biden’s remarks prominently featured themes of economic justice, or, as he somewhat uninspiringly phrases it, “restoring the dignity of work,” and he insisted that federal law must enable workers to join unions and earn a living wage.

FULL story at link above.