He spent years advocating for construction workers. Now he could shake up the gig economy
Marty Walsh may not seem like the person to overhaul the gig economy. He spent years advocating for construction workers and less time on the intricacies of on-demand work at billion-dollar tech companies.
But now Walsh, a former union leader and the outgoing Mayor of Boston, is on the cusp of becoming the next US Labor Secretary at a pivotal moment for the industry and the broader economy. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs as the health crisis created an economic crisis. And many turned to working with companies like Uber, Instacart, and DoorDash as a backstop for their livelihoods. Instacart alone added hundreds of thousands of contract workers last year to meet demand for grocery delivery spurred by the pandemic.
Walsh cruises through Labor secretary confirmation hearing, pledging to fight for workersâ rights and opportunities
By Jim Puzzanghera Globe Staff,Updated February 4, 2021, 6:47 p.m.
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Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh left after his confirmation hearing on Thursday.Graeme Jennings/Associated Press
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh cruised through his labor secretary confirmation hearing Thursday, calling for protecting workers, particularly those on the front lines of the pandemic, while pledging to collaborate not only with businesses and employees but with Republicans in Congress.
âIf confirmed, you and the American people are going to get 100 percent out of me each and every day, and the American people are made up of workers, of businesses, of industry,â he told members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee during the 2½-hour hearing. âIf we advance the American worker, weâre advancing the American economy.â
After serving as corporation counsel for Boston, Gene O’Flaherty is returning to Chelsea
When his friend and colleague in the House of Representatives, Martin Walsh, the newly elected mayor of Boston, asked him to be corporation counsel for the city of Boston, then-State Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty accepted the new job and the considerable challenge of the position.
And now after seven years of commendable and widely acclaimed service in the key role in the Walsh Administration, O’Flaherty is leaving and will be returning to Chelsea.
Signing the sister agreement drafted by Attorney Gene O’Flaherty in 2014 between Boston and Belfast are Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Belfast Mayor Mairtin O’Muilleoir as
Screenshot: C-SPAN3.
Mayor Martin Walsh breezed through his confirmation hearing Thursday morning in front of the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions in Washington, D.C.
The committee of Senators will review and later vote to approve or deny President Biden s nomination of Walsh to be the US Labor Secretary.
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After more than two and a half hours of statements and questioning, Walsh s confirmation hearing came to a close. While Sen. Patty Murray (D- WA,) committee chair, did not release specifics on when a vote will be scheduled, she indicated that it will likely be soon.