1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,720 Speaker 1: Joining us now from Washington is Judy Sue, the acting 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: US Secretary of Labor, responding to the labor market report 3 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: from about an hour and fifteen minutes ago. Secretary, so 4 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:10,399 Speaker 1: fantastic to catch up with you. Just your first reaction 5 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:13,120 Speaker 1: to the payrolls report from earlier this morning, and whether 6 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: we're seeing broad based strength in this economy or something 7 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 1: that's showing us things are slowing down. 8 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 2: Good morning, Jonathan, Thank you very much. This is a 9 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 2: good jobs report. It represents steady and stable growth, which 10 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 2: is what we want. It shows that the president's policies, Bidenomics, 11 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 2: is working. It's combined with a three point six percent 12 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,480 Speaker 2: unemployment rate. Many predictions were that it would not get 13 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 2: below four percent right after the pandemic induced economic crisis 14 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 2: for a long time, and these policies have defied that, 15 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,880 Speaker 2: and in fact, we've seen less than four percent unemployment 16 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: for seventeen consecutive months now, which is the longest duration 17 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 2: since the nineteen sixties. 18 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: We know we've got a bit of tension out there 19 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: in the labor market at the moment, and you've been 20 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: involved in some of that, so I want to build 21 00:00:57,560 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 1: on some of it with you. We have a tenstive 22 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 1: agreement in West Coast port workers. That's been an issue 23 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: for one. I know you've had some involvement, so congratulations 24 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 1: for that. We now have a new issue, so let's 25 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: talk about that one, the potential for three hundred thousand 26 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: UPS workers to go on strike. How involved are you 27 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: in those discussions with the union and UPS? 28 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, thank you, Johnathan. Thanks for mentioning the port because 29 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 2: those parties worked very hard for over a year and 30 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 2: did reach a tentative agreement recently. It still has to 31 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 2: be ratified to the process is not over, but it 32 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 2: demonstrates that collective bargaining works and that you can reach 33 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:33,839 Speaker 2: agreements that are as the President often says, good for workers, 34 00:01:34,319 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 2: where companies can profit, and that's good for the economy 35 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:40,119 Speaker 2: as a whole. And there remain other negotiations that are 36 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:43,040 Speaker 2: going on right That's what it means to be in 37 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 2: an economy where workers have some power, where unions are 38 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 2: at the table and we are monitoring the negotiations, but 39 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 2: trust that the parties are going to do what they. 40 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: Need to do. Have you spoken to UPS? Have you 41 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: spoken to the union involved this week? 42 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've been in touch with both parties. I've also 43 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 2: just in my role as Acting Secretary, talk to parties 44 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: to these negotiations as well as unions and employers across 45 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 2: the economy. And so again I'm hopeful and know that 46 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,399 Speaker 2: that they're going to continue to do what they need 47 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 2: to do and that a fair contract is something that 48 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 2: everybody hopes that there's there can be win wins as 49 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 2: we sow at the ports. 50 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: So I've heard that word thrown around quite a lot 51 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: by this administration. This word fair and language is important, 52 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: it's meaningful. What would fair be? 53 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 2: Right? So this president has been very clear that fairness 54 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 2: and equity is very important and that we can build 55 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,799 Speaker 2: an economy to this fair and equitable meaning from the 56 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 2: bottom up, in the middle out right, where nobody gets 57 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 2: left behind, where we invest in the middle class. You know, 58 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 2: Bidenomics is all about investing in America and in particular 59 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 2: industries like semiconductors and manufacturing and infrastructure, but also investing 60 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 2: in American workers and also increasing competition to decrease prices. 61 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 2: All those things are part of what President Biden believes 62 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:01,359 Speaker 2: is fair and what we believe. This jobs report demonstrates 63 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 2: that a strong and fair economy can be. 64 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: That's so great but we have to define what it 65 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: means for ups specifically, and this agreement they're going to 66 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: try and strike with this union, what would a fair 67 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 1: wayite increase be? Can you put a number on it? 68 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 2: Well, I will say the same thing that I said 69 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 2: when I was out the ports talking to the parties. 70 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 2: A fair contract is one that the members are going 71 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 2: to ratify. So a fair contract is something that workers 72 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 2: choose at the end of the day. And again that 73 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 2: process is important for the parties to be able to negotiate, 74 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 2: to be able to stay at the bargaining table, and 75 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 2: to be able to resolve issues. And I do believe 76 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 2: and as has been shown time and time again, there 77 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 2: are win win solutions there. 78 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: Then we have to be careful there though, if we 79 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: start saying things like fair is whatever the union wants, right. 80 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 2: So I mean at the bargaining table, right, there's all 81 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 2: kinds of issues that we have seen throughout history that 82 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 2: when workers can bargain alongside employers who are committed to 83 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 2: you know, employers who understand that the best investment they 84 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 2: can make as an investment in their workers, there's all 85 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 2: kinds of things that can happen when it comes to wages. 86 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 2: And working conditions and benefits, and those are the kinds 87 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,800 Speaker 2: of things we want for every American worker, right. We 88 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: want stable work, we want a path to the middle class. 89 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 2: We want security and retirement, we want health benefits, we 90 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,720 Speaker 2: want leave. Those are all things that the President has prioritized, 91 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 2: and I think those are all elements of what it 92 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 2: means to have a good job. 93 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: There issues you're working on, Secretary, So I know that 94 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 1: your nomination hasn't been progressing. So that take you from 95 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: Acting Secretary of Labor to Secretary of Labor. What's going 96 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 1: on with that? Can you give us some information on 97 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: the timeline you're hoping that this gets out with. 98 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 2: So the President has expressed great confidence in me. He's 99 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 2: nominated me to serve as US Labor Secretary. I am 100 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 2: doing that job. The confirmation question is certainly one for 101 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 2: the Senate, but I've also appreciated the broad support I've 102 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 2: had from a number of Senators, and we remain hopeful 103 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 2: about confirmation. And meanwhile, I am here to do the 104 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:56,160 Speaker 2: job and do what the President asks, which is help 105 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 2: him finish the job. And we're again seeing progress and 106 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 2: continue growth. We know where more work to do, and 107 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 2: I'm all in to help get that done. 108 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 1: Do you concern it's holding up the department's agenda? 109 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 2: So no, So the work the department continues full steam. 110 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 2: We are you know, we have enforcement work to do 111 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 2: to ensure that every worker gets the wages that they're 112 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 2: that they're owed and comes home healthy and safe at 113 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 2: the end of the day. We are laser focused on 114 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 2: connecting employers who need workers to the good jobs that 115 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 2: are being created in the economy to working people who 116 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,479 Speaker 2: are looking for those jobs. So that's another big party 117 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 2: for us. And those are very important and uh and 118 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:37,840 Speaker 2: and we will continue to do them. And I'm proud 119 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 2: to lead the department in these efforts. 120 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: A secretly say we're happy to catch up with you 121 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 1: this morning following the payroll report. Thanks for being with us.