BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Union leaders in Boston are celebrating President-elect Joe Biden's nomination of Mayor Marty Walsh to U.S. Labor Secretary.
If confirmed with the incoming Biden Administration, Marty Walsh would be the first U.S. Labor Secretary in 50 years to also be a union member.
Read More: Biden Nominates Boston Mayor Walsh As Next U.S. Labor Secretary
Sean O'Brien is the President and principle officer of Teamster's Local 25, the largest Teamsters union in New England with more than 12,000 members. O'Brien said he can't wait for January 20th.
"Well, to be a union leader under Trump over last four years has been nothing but disappointing," he told WBZ NewsRadio.
In a statement released Friday night, O'Brien said Walsh did an admirable job navigating the City of Boston through a building boom as mayor, providing leadership that benefited local workers and business.
"The incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden is going to be a breath of fresh air following four long years of a Labor Department run by corporate attorneys and hostile toward workers," O'Brien said. "At a time when greedy corporations are still doing all they can to avoid giving fair wages and adequate healthcare and retirement benefits to workers, we welcome the Biden administration and a Labor Department led by Marty Walsh that cares about the working class."
O'Brien told WBZ NewsRadio he has issues with the people behind President Trump's Department of Labor, who he said are only concerned about the bottom line and balance sheets of big business.
"I don't think anybody wants big business to fail, but we want big business to recognize who's responsible for their success," O'Brien said. "And more importantly, respect the workers who make them a success."
In Sean's mind, his old friend Marty is the perfect guy to do just that.
"Mayor Walsh definitely has the background to not only listen, but to make some changes," O'Brien said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Matt Shearer reports:
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Written by Brit Smith
(Photo: Getty Images)