The
criticism from Republican opponents in the U.S. Congress is tied
to her work as California's labor commissioner from 2011 through
2018 to classify gig workers as employees. Last week, 33
Republicans urged President Joe Biden to pull her nomination as
labor chief, citing her work on that California state law.
Her nomination has been pending for two months since a Senate
committee voted along party lines to advance her nomination.
U.S. Representative Kevin Kiley, a California Republican who
chairs the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, has opposed Su
saying she has "refused" to commit to whether she believes that
state law - known as AB 5 - "is a model for the nation."
The California law is fiercely opposed by gig economy employers
such as Uber, Lyft and independent trucking contractors. It is
supported by unions and many gig workers because it would
guarantee benefits and protections, including a minimum wage.
Truckers who want to remain independent say it would saddle them
with a flurry of business-related expenses.
The White House is standing by her nomination. Democrats control
the Senate 51-49 and her nomination may be hinge on some
undecided Democrats.
Senator Bernie Sanders, who chaired Su's confirmation hearing,
said she is "prepared to take on powerful special interests and
stand up for the needs of the working class of this country."
White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients said in a statement to
Reuters that Biden's decision "to have Julie in the job was
instrumental for the hardworking port workers, for management,
and for our supply chains." He said both sides trusted Su
completely. "Neither side thought of her as a tool for the
other."
Su told Reuters in her first interview after the June 14 deal
covering West Coast seaports that handle roughly 40% of U.S.
container import volume that the stakes were high for employers
and workers.
"These are workers who helped carry the economy through the
worst crisis that we've seen, which was COVID," Su said.
(Reporting by David Shepardson and Lisa Baertlein; Editing by
David Gregorio)
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