More than he bargained for? Labor Secretary Marty Walsh asked for questions. Refuses to answer #FightForFreelancers?
With 59 million Americans' livelihoods at risk, freelancers want answers.
On Tuesday afternoon, Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh asked his 33.5k Twitter followers for questions.
“Tomorrow marks one year since I was sworn in by @VP to serve as your Labor Secretary. As the son of Irish immigrants and a second generation Laborer, this has been a dream come true.
I want to hear from you. What questions do you have for me?”
In response to his invitation for questions, freelancers and so-called “gig workers”—millions of whose livelihoods may be in jeopardy due to legislation Secretary of Labor Walsh fervently supports—took to Twitter and asked Walsh some rather pointed questions.
For example, Kim Kavin, one of the leaders of Fight for Freelancers USA—a group concerned about the consequences that the ‘ABC Test1’ will have on the 59 million Americans (and growing2) who do “gig work—asked Secretary Walsh two pointed questions:
“When can we expect your first tweet in support of America's independent contractors?” Kavin asked. “And when will you and your colleagues stop pushing the ABC Test to destroy our chosen careers?”
“Will you acknowledge the contributions of 59M freelancers who contribute $1.3T to the economy in annual earnings and recognize we don’t want to be forcibly unionized?” Gabriella Hoffman, another well-known full-time freelancer wrote. “That would be swell, Mr. Secretary.”
“Why are you in favor of misclassifying the smallest of small-business owners as employees when upwards of 80% of independent contractors wish to remain independent?” asked Jen Singer.
“As a member of a pro-union IBEW family, I’m interested in how you are planning to protect the rights of the 59+ million American freelancers who choose not to be employees. Thank you!” wrote Alison Doyle, a job search and career expert.
Lila Stromer, a freelance editor, asked Walsh a total of four questions:
“Q: What do you say to me, a 63-year-old woman who has been in a good solo business for herself for 11 years. She does not want to be W2 or in a union. She wants to keep her business, her clients, and her work-life balance. Why are you attacking me with the ABC Test?”
“Q: Have you done any homework to know who are ICs? Do you realize we're small biz owners, not gig workers? Translators, graphic designers, financial advisors, journalists, wedding planners, realtors, photographers, beauticians, comedians, virtual assistants, 100s more.” and…
“Q: Why are you attacking freelancers w/ the nearly 100-year-old ABC Test? Nothing from 100 years ago works in today's work world. There are 59M ICs. Most are white collar, professional, college educated.” and…
“Q: Why haven't you met with any of us? Hint: Freelancers Union doesn't count”
A copywriter named Joe Cunningham also asked Walsh a couple of pointed questions:
“Why are you trying to legislate the ABC Test, even when workers organized against it in California because it destroyed their careers?” and…
“When will you publicly support freelancers? We’re American workers, too. And we’ve already classified ourselves.”
“Why are you in favor of misclassifying independent contractors many of who are moms like me?” asked Deborah Lynn Blumberg, a freelance health writer. “When will you work to find an alternative to the abc test so us independent contractors don’t lose work/the careers we’ve built to support our families? Please represent all Americans.”
No answers?
A full nine hours after posting his request for questions, Secretary Walsh has not answered a single one…even from his supporters.
Note: This post will be updated if Secretary Walsh answers any of the freelancers’ questions.
The so-called ‘ABC Test,’ which redefines what constitutes an “independent contractor” versus an “employee” has already been enacted in California in a law called 'AB5’ and had catastrophic consequences for “gig workers” with thousands of workers in hundreds of professions losing their livelihoods.
According to Fast Company, “by 2027, 86.5 million people will be freelancing in the United States. That’s half of the total U.S. workforce.”