Marty Walsh’s quarter-century career in Massachusetts politics and organized labor is defined by a reputation for seeking compromise and building consensus, attributes that will be tested if he’s confirmed as U.S. labor secretary.
The two-term Boston mayor’s confirmation hearing Thursday offers a preview of the immense pressure he would face as head of the U.S. Labor Department to secure deals around hot-button issues favored by unions, such as raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, expanding unemployment benefits, and upping occupational safety enforcement.
While the Democratic edge in the divided Senate is likely to result in his approval, the ...