Washington, D.C. – March 22, 2021 – North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) President Sean McGarvey released the following statement applauding the confirmation of Marty Walsh as U.S. Secretary of Labor:

“North America’s Building Trades Unions applaud the U.S. Senate for confirming Marty Walsh as President Biden’s Secretary of Labor. From the start of his career, Mayor Walsh has been known as a natural leader and a tough advocate for the American dream, always looking to pull people up and never tear them down.

“As a proud second-generation member of the Laborers’ Union, the former president of the Boston Building Trades Council, and the mayor of a large and diverse metropolitan city, Mayor Walsh has a deep understanding of the struggles working families experience, and what is needed to strengthen and expand America’s middle class. Mayor Walsh’s leadership will ensure America’s workforce has an ally at the Department of Labor who supports a strong “workers first” safety agenda at OSHA and increased funding for workforce development and training, so that after earning a hard day’s wage and middle class benefits, they can come home safely to their loved ones.

“People in Congress are seeing what we’ve seen for years – a hardworking leader with vast executive experience that will champion working families, while also partnering with business to help create ladders of opportunity for anyone that wants a chance to succeed in this country. At this time in our history, we need trustworthy and action-oriented officials to lead. In addition to his accomplishments to date, this is what makes Mayor Walsh the right choice for Labor Secretary. We look forward to him being promptly sworn in, so that he can begin leading the Department on behalf of all American working families.”

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