U.S. Rep. Andy Levin a likely contender for Biden’s labor secretary
Union and workforce development leaders are expressing support for U. S. Rep. Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Township) in hopes he will appointed PresidentElect Joe Biden’s secretary of labor.
According to The Detroit News, union leaders are starting to rally behind Levin, hoping President- elect Joe Biden taps the Democratic progressive congressman as his labor secretary.
This week, the Communication Workers of America endorsed Levin for the top cabinet position. At least one top United Autoworkers Union official is urging Levin to pursue the position, according to The Detroit News.
A spokesperson for the UAW told The Oakland Press that the union has not formally endorsed Levin for the position, yet. The spokesperson added that Levin is “highly respected by the UAW.
Levin declined to disclose any conversations he’s had with the Biden transition team but said it’s an honor even to be mentioned as a candidate.
“So, if President- elect Biden asked me to serve in his administration, I would certainly have to consider it, especially if it was to continue my lifelong fight to increase the voice and power of working people in this country,” Levin told The Detroit News.”
Last week, Levin defeated his Republican general election opponent, Charles Langworthy, by over 78,000 votes
to earn a second term in Congress. Levin currently serves as vice chair of the House Education and Labor Committee.
The congres sman added that people he’s worked with for decades in the labor movement are “very much advocating for this.”
“When’s the last time we had a labor secretary who actually came out of the labor movement?” he said. “How many cabinet secretaries really come from the heartland? People in Michigan and people in the Midwest would like to see more representation.”
A source with strong ties to Michigan’s labor movement told The Oakland Press they would be thrilled to have someone with past labor experience in that high-ranking post.
“Congressman Levin certainly is someone who has a record of standing up and fighting for working people,” the source
said.
Before being elected to Congress in 2018, Levin served as director of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth, now the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, from 2007-2011 under Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
During the Great Recession, Levin created and directed the state’s “No Worker Left Behind” program, which provided training to 162,000 unemployed and underemployed Michiganders.
After leaving state government in 2011, Levin founded his own clean energy company, Levin Energy Partners, LLC, which aims to reduce carbon emissions while improving public health and water quality. During the 1990’s, Levin spent time as a staff attorney for former President Bill Clinton’s labor law reform commission.