Edward Nasser is a student at Harvard Law School.
The Atlantic reports that the #metoo movement has yet to deliver justice for low-wage workers who are victims of sexual harassment. The piece explains that sexual harassment is rampant in low-wage industries–50% of workers in the restaurant industry reported facing “scary” or “unwanted” sexual advances in a 2014 report–the difficulty in proving claims and risk of retaliation causes many to stay quiet.
The New York Times. Workers at these companies face uncertain labor conditions, with the constant looming threat of layoffs or wage cuts. In the last few months, 50 employees at Mashable were let go after the digital publisher Ziff Davis bought the website for $50 million, BuzzFeed fired 100 editorial employees after missing its revenue targets, and Refinery29 laid off 34 staff members.
The NLRB abandoned its 2011 ruling in Specialty Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center of Mobile on the issue of which employees can vote to form or join an existing union. In that case, the NLRB announced that unions could organize “micro units” of “readily identifiable” employees who shared employment commonalities. The Board announced it would revert to a “community of interest” test to determine who can be in a bargaining unit based on how workers are classified and organized, the types of jobs they do, and their skills and training.
While the Trump administration seems set to continue rolling back Obama-era protections for workers, some states are taking it upon themselves to pick up the slack. In recent years, New York has increased its minimum wage, expanded overtime eligibility, mandated more scheduling regularity, and enacted a paid family leave program. In part to combat the Trump administrations proposed “tip pooling” rule, New York is considering changing a law that allows employers to pay tipped workers less than the standard minimum wage provided that the difference is made up in tips.
Daily News & Commentary
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October 12
Workers at the Obama Foundation begin organizing; MLB submits its latest collective bargaining agreement proposal; Brigham & Women's nurses postpone strike.
October 11
UAW President Shawn Fain succeeds in his reelection bid, and Spanish unions call for a general strike.
October 9
DHS proposes a $100k fee for the foreign grad employment program; Trump suspends tech company access to green card program; and private equity perpetuates poor working conditions for home care workers.
October 8
NLRB judge finds UPS unlawfully restricted union insignia; Harvard graduate workers authorize second strike; OSHA orders Union Pacific to pay $300,000 in damages in whistleblower case.
October 7
DOL scraps plan to remove decades-old wage-and-hour guidance from federal regulations; New York enacts personnel records access law; Starbucks loses bid to dismiss Workers United trademark suit.
October 6
Protect College Sports Act dampens athlete unionization outlook; Stanford RA union decides to withdraw petition