Labor and Workforce Development Agency Appoints New General Counsel
Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary Victoria Bradshaw yesterday announced that John Rea has been appointed to the position of General Counsel.
For more than three years, Rea has served as the acting Director and Chief Deputy Director for the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). Prior to that, he was DIR Chief Counsel, a position he held for more than 22 years during which time he represented DIR in labor litigation before state and federal courts.
"I have enjoyed my time here and being a client, but I am happy to be going back to being a lawyer," Rea said after the announcement. "I want to thank everyone at DIR for their achievements, and we plan to continue moving the organization forward."
In August of 2004, Rea was inducted into the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers as a fellow, honoring him for sustained outstanding performance in the profession and exemplifying integrity, dedication, and excellence.
A 1971 graduate of New York University School of Law, Rea served as a trial attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in San Francisco for eight years, prior to joining DIR. He began his career as DIR Chief Counsel under the Brown administration and worked for more than six DIR directors from both political parties before being named acting Director in 2003.