Julie Su

Julie A. Su (born February 19, 1969)[1][2] is an American attorney who has served as United States deputy secretary of labor since 2021.[3] Before assuming that post, she was the California Labor Secretary, serving under Governor Gavin Newsom,[4] and headed California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) under Governor Jerry Brown.[5]

For other uses, see Julie Su (disambiguation).
Julie Su
37th United States Deputy Secretary of Labor
Assumed office
July 17, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
SecretaryMarty Walsh
Preceded byPatrick Pizzella
Secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency
In office
January 7, 2019 – July 17, 2021
GovernorGavin Newsom
Preceded byDavid Lanier
Succeeded byNatalie Palugyai
Personal details
Born (1969-02-19) February 19, 1969
Wisconsin, U.S.
Residence(s)
EducationStanford University (BA)
Harvard University (JD)
Occupation
  • Attorney
  • government official

Early life and education

Su was born in Wisconsin to Chinese immigrants.[6] She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.[7]

She started her legal career at Asian-Pacific American Legal Center. She was a Litigation Director for Advancing Justice L.A., a non-profit civil rights organization. She was the lead attorney for the El Monte Thai Garment Slavery Case.[8] As the lead for civil case brought by the El Monte garment workers, Su successfully pursued a legal theory that held manufacturers responsible for the wage theft, as well as the operators who actually kept the garment workers captive. She and other activists also petitioned for the workers to be able to stay in the United States under a visa program for those who cooperate with the government in criminal trials. This led to the creation of the T-Visa for victims of human trafficking.[9]

Career

During Jerry Brown's tenure as governor, Su headed California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE).[5] Under Governor Gavin Newsom, Su served as Secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.[4]

Potential Labor Secretary Nomination

In November 2020, Su was named as a potential candidate to serve as Secretary of Labor in the Biden administration.[10][11] Su's prospective candidacy was opposed by business groups and congressional Republicans, who referenced her leadership of California's unemployment agency during the COVID-19 pandemic,[12] when millions of applicants had their claims delayed or frozen,[4] while up to $31 billion was sent to fraudulent claimants (including to criminals belonging to national and international crime rings and inmates in the state's prison system).[13][14] Opposition also centered on her enforcement of California's controversial employment law, AB 5.[15][16]

Deputy Labor Secretary nomination

On February 10, 2021, Su was nominated by President Biden to be the Deputy Secretary of Labor under Secretary Marty Walsh. Asian-American leaders, including members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, had lobbied the Biden Administration to appoint her as Deputy Secretary after she wasn't chosen to lead the department.[17]

The Senate HELP Committee held hearings on Su's nomination on March 16, 2021. The committee favorably reported her nomination to the Senate floor on April 21, 2021.[18] On July 13, 2021, Su was confirmed to the role by the Senate, in a 50–47 vote.[19]

Awards

Works
  • "Making the Invisible Visible: The Garment Industry's Dirty Laundry" University of Iowa Journal on Gender, Race & Justice (winter 1997–1998)
  • "Critical Coalitions," (with Eric Yamamoto) Critical Race Theory: An Anthology
  • "Workers at the Crossfire: Immigration Enforcement to Preserve Capital," in Unfinished Liberation (Joy James, ed. Colorado University Press 1999)
  • Social Justice: Professionals, Communities and Law (Martha Mahoney, John O. Calmore, Stephanie M. Wildman 2003).

References
  1. Schmidt, Bob (September 16, 2011). "Newsmaker: Julie Su". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  2. Kent Wong & Julie Monroe (2006). Sweatshop Slaves: Asian Americans in the Garment Industry. Center for Labor Research AND Education, University of California, Los Angeles. ISBN 9780892150007.
  3. LWDA, State of California, Labor and Workforce Development Agebcy. "Secretary Julie A. Su Bio". labor.ca.gov. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  4. "Editorial: California's unemployment system collapsed on Julie Su's watch". Los Angeles Times. 11 February 2021.
  5. "Asian Americans Advancing Justice - LA" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  6. Murphy, Katy; Mueller, Eleanor. "California labor secretary in serious contention for Biden Cabinet". Politico PRO. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  7. "Secretary: Julie A. Su | LWDA". Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  8. "The El Monte Sweatshop Slavery Cases" (PDF). Southwestern Journal of International Law. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  9. "El Monte Sweatshop: Operation, Raid, and Legacy". Smithsonian Institute. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  10. "Who Are Contenders for Biden's Cabinet?". The New York Times. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  11. Yglesias, Matthew (2020-10-15). "Who would Joe Biden pick to fill his Cabinet?". Vox. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  12. https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article249981069.html
  13. "California officials say unemployment fraud now totals more than $11 billion". Los Angeles Times. 25 January 2021.
  14. "CA EDD admits paying as much as $31 billion in unemployment funds to criminals". 26 January 2021.
  15. Hoeven, Emily (2020-12-04). "Inside Newsom's new regional shutdown". CalMatters. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  16. "California labor secretary overcomes unemployment complaints, will join Biden administration".
  17. "President Biden Announces Additional Members of His Energy and Jobs Team". The White House. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  18. "PN122 — Julie A. Su — Department of Labor". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
  19. "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Julie A. Su, of California, to be Deputy Secretary of Labor)". US Senate. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-04-10. Retrieved 2010-04-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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