Leora Smith is a student at Harvard Law School.
“Brexit” is happening. The BBC highlights five huge challenges ahead. Among them – significant changes in the UK’s approach to immigration. 2.2. million EU workers currently live in the UK and about 2 million UK nationals live in EU countries. All of these workers’ statuses will need to be clarified in the coming months. The BBC predicts tightened rules for newcomers’ benefits, and barriers for “low-skilled” workers looking to enter the United Kingdom.
In the United States, millions of families, and workers are also in a precarious position after the Supreme Court tied 4-4 in United States v. Texas. The Court’s deadlock means a ruling from the Fifth Circuit stands and President Obama’s executive actions that created “DAPA” (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans) and expanded “DACA” (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) cannot be enforced. The Fifth Circuit held that the president exceeded his authority in creating the programs. The states who brought the lawsuit acknowledged in their briefs that the president has the authority to defer deportations, but argued that the president does not have the power to confer any kind of legal status on people who do not have proper documentation of legal status. The Migration Policy Institute estimated that DAPA would have provided eligibility for work authorization for 3.6 million people, and that more than 10 million people live in households with at least one DAPA-eligible adult.
In better news for workers, New Jersey’s state Senate voted yesterday to approve legislation that will gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2021, and ties future increases to the Consumer Price Index. It is unclear whether Governor Chris Christie will veto the new law or let it go into action. And in Chicago, (almost) all businesses (construction businesses excepted) must now provide a minimum of five paid sick days to all employees.
And a nice Friday-afternoon break – some beautiful vignettes of small business owners in an immigrant-rich, working-class neighborhood in New York City.
Daily News & Commentary
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July 2
Block, Nanda, and Nayak argue that the NLRA is under attack, harming democracy; the EEOC files a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former EEOC Commissioner Jocelyn Samuels; and SEIU Local 1000 strikes an agreement with the State of California to delay the state's return-to-office executive order for state workers.
July 1
In today’s news and commentary, the Department of Labor proposes to roll back minimum wage and overtime protections for home care workers, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by public defenders over a union’s Gaza statements, and Philadelphia’s largest municipal union is on strike for first time in nearly 40 years. On Monday, the U.S. […]
June 30
Antidiscrimination scholars question McDonnell Douglas, George Washington University Hospital bargained in bad faith, and NY regulators defend LPA dispensary law.
June 29
In today’s news and commentary, Trump v. CASA restricts nationwide injunctions, a preliminary injunction continues to stop DOL from shutting down Job Corps, and the minimum wage is set to rise in multiple cities and states. On Friday, the Supreme Court held in Trump v. CASA that universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that […]
June 27
Labor's role in Zohran Mamdani's victory; DHS funding amendment aims to expand guest worker programs; COSELL submission deadline rapidly approaching
June 26
A district judge issues a preliminary injunction blocking agencies from implementing Trump’s executive order eliminating collective bargaining for federal workers; workers organize for the reinstatement of two doctors who were put on administrative leave after union activity; and Lamont vetoes unemployment benefits for striking workers.