Donald Trump has angered yet another constituency: his own employees. Since workers at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas voted to join the Culinary Workers Union and the Bartenders Union last December, Trump’s managers have fought unionization. Besides filing 15 objections with the National Labor Relations Board, hotel managers have refused to negotiate for a contract. The Los Angeles Times discusses Trump’s switch from his supporting unions to refusing to negotiate with them.
Koch Industries and the Obama administration usually face off from across the political aisle, but they’re uniting to knock down barriers to employment for ex-convicts. According to Bloomberg, executives from 19 major companies, including Facebook, Alphabet and American Airlines, have signed a pledge to end the practice of asking job applicants whether they have criminal records. In a time when Wall Street often resents the White House for additional regulations, the President hopes to draw in more corporate partners in its criminal justice and rehabilitation initiatives.
It’s been a tough year for Volkswagen, and executives are about to feel the sting. Under pressure from shareholders and labor leaders, the company’s board might call on executives to give up a portion of their bonuses, reports the Wall Street Journal. Volkswagen management is also trying to assuage the company’s works council by jointly developing a long-term strategy for the brand alongside labor representatives.
After leading the charge for a $15 minimum wage in California, some unions are seeking an exemption for their members. The Guardian explains that union leaders argue the exemption “would give businesses and unions the freedom to negotiate for better agreements,” with flexibility to balance lower wages against better benefits. Critics of the exemption declare unions are merely trying to get more members and dues to support their political agenda. But SEIU president Mary Kay Henry brushed off the criticisms that the Fight for $15 campaign costs too much. She told the Guardian that the movement has changed the conversation in the country and raising wages for millions of workers, and “there is not a price tag you can put on” that change.
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February 4
Lawsuit challenges Trump Gold Card; insurance coverage of fertility services; moratorium on layoffs for federal workers extended
February 3
In today’s news and commentary, Bloomberg reports on a drop in unionization, Starbucks challenges an NLRB ruling, and a federal judge blocks DHS termination of protections for Haitian migrants. Volatile economic conditions and a shifting political climate drove new union membership sharply lower in 2025, according to a Bloomberg Law report analyzing trends in labor […]
February 2
Amazon announces layoffs; Trump picks BLS commissioner; DOL authorizes supplemental H-2B visas.
February 1
The moratorium blocking the Trump Administration from implementing Reductions in Force (RIFs) against federal workers expires, and workers throughout the country protest to defund ICE.
January 30
Multiple unions endorse a national general strike, and tech companies spend millions on ad campaigns for data centers.
January 29
Texas pauses H-1B hiring; NLRB General Counsel announces new procedures and priorities; Fourth Circuit rejects a teacher's challenge to pronoun policies.