Labor unions will almost certainly have a seat within the Biden administration, as the President-elect has announced that Boston Mayor and union member Marty Walsh has been nominated to serve as the Secretary of Labor.
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the insurrection that occurred at the U.S. Capitol Building last week and the nomination of Mayor Walsh.
Bloomingdale said he believes the insurrection occurred because far-right conservatives could not believe and did not want to believe that Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump, arguably one of the most popular presidents among Republicans.
He said these people are dangerous because they rarely venture outside of their echo chamber of right-wing media. These people believed they would be able to take matters into their own hands.
Conversation switched to another driving theory behind these violent actions, voter fraud. Bloomingdale said many have been sold on the notion that Biden was only victorious because of an elaborate voter fraud scheme, echoed by Republican leaders and those in the media.
Boston Mayor and member of the Laborers International Union of North America has been nominated by President-elect Biden, giving union members one of their own within the administration.
Bloomingdale believes this is good because it will help focus on reversing the anti-union actions of Labor Secretary Scalia.
The nomination is also good for the message of building back better and protecting the workers who are pushing the U.S. forward.
Finally, Mayor Walsh is expected to focus on increasing union membership as a way of helping Americans secure family-supporting careers that provide good wages and benefits.