Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has set his sights on joining the Biden administration as Labor Secretary, with a source close to the White House confirming that the Democratic presidential candidate is actively pursuing the role. If appointed, de Blasio would succeed current Labor Secretary Martin Walsh, who is reportedly planning to step down and take on the position of Executive Director of the NHL Players’ Association.

The job of Labor Secretary involves ensuring that all wage earners in the United States are provided with safe working conditions and fair opportunities for employment. During de Blasio’s eight-year tenure as mayor, the number of city employees rose from 297,349 in June 2014 to an all-time high of 326,739 in June 2019. Despite this large increase, total payroll spending grew by 30%, largely due to a retroactive 2%, 2.25% and 3% salary raise given to nearly 100,000 members of District Council 37 supported by de Blasio.

However, while labor unions may have enjoyed a good relationship with de Blasio during his time in office, some analysts have suggested that he was overly generous with pay raises and are now concerned that taxpayers will be left footing the bill now that he’s gone. Veteran Democratic political consultant Hank Sheinkopf voiced this opinion saying, “The Republican argument against him is: He was too pro-labor and his contract-negotiation style is costing tens of billions of dollars right now. The bad aroma in the post-de Blasio years could be enough to toss him over the side.” Citizens Budget Commission President Andrew Rein echoed similar sentiments when he said de Blasio had failed to use labor negotiations as an opportunity to become more efficient and save money.

Despite facing competition from former congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, who has been backed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, sources suggest that de Blasio remains hopeful about his prospects for becoming Labor Secretary under Joe Biden’s administration. If successful, this would mark a return to government service for de Blasio following his recent stint as a Resident Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School Institute of Politics where one student confronted him over his decision to try and end test admissions at elite high schools in New York City, something which could have greatly disadvantaged first generation college students like himself whose parents are immigrants.

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore