April 3, 2023

More than 30 business and conservative advocacy organizations sent a letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee expressing concerns about Julie Su’s fitness to be the next U.S. Secretary of Labor.

Among the issues raised is that when Su led the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, she “spearheaded initiatives that jeopardized millions of independent contract relationships,” and was “integral in the formation and implementation of A.B. 5,” which the letter characterizes as a law that “effectively banned [independent contractor relationships] in California.” The letter also notes that Su “led California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) during the mismanagement of COVID-19-related unemployment insurance funds” and highlights that the EDD issued an estimated $30 billion in fraudulent payments, while thousands of Californians were improperly denied benefits. Concerns are also expressed about how Su will handle pending labor negotiations critical to the functioning of the nation’s supply chain, including the West Coast Port negotiations.

Among the signatories to the letter are the Associated Builders and Contractors, the National Association of Homebuilders, the Independent Electrical Contractors, and the Leading Builders of America. The full letter is available here.

© 2024 Signatory Wall and Ceiling Contractors Alliance (SWACCA). All rights reserved.