White House Pro-Worker Task Force Gains Momentum

A high-level committee headed by Vice President Kamala Harris continues its investigation into leveraging the federal government’s power to promote unions and collective bargaining. An October meeting included Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

The group is at work on a report expected to be completed in late October.

“This unprecedented task force – involving almost all of the highest-ranking people in the executive branch – is President Biden’s most comprehensive approach yet to lift up workers and unions,” President Stephenson said upon the launch of the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment in April. “The magnitude of his efforts can’t be overstated. We’ve literally never seen anything like it.”

In June, Vice President Harris and Secretary Walsh held the first task force meeting at Pittsburgh Local 5’s union hall, and heard from Local 5 organizer Bill Garner and members of other unions.