Hannah Belitz is a student at Harvard Law School.
On Tuesday, the SEIU-backed Fight for $15 movement staged a nationwide “day of disruption” to demand, according to the New York Times and Politico, a $15-an-hour minimum wage, the right to form a union, and health benefits for low-wage workers. The protests mark the four-year anniversary of Fight for $15, and thousands of workers across multiple cities took the streets. The protests included retail workers, Uber drivers, fast food employees, and workers at hospitals and airports.
Donald Trump has chosen Elaine Chao, former secretary of labor under President George W. Bush, to serve as secretary of transportation. The New York Times observes that she is “likely to be one of the more essential players” in the new administration, given that Mr. Trump has stated that infrastructure redevelopment will be a top priority of his first 100 days in office.
In October, the NLRB resolved an action against Bridgewater Associates, and the New York Times has now obtained a document about the agreement. It is so heavily redacted, however, that it is “unclear what, if any, changes were made to Bridgewater’s employee rules and practices.” This past summer, the NLRB challenged certain confidentiality provisions in the contracts that Bridgewater requires each of its full-time employees to sign. The NLRB action was initiated after a former Bridgewater employee filed a sexual harassment complaint. However, after Bridgewater and representatives of the former employee came to a private nonboard agreement, the NLRB withdrew its complaint.
In international news, BBC News reports that the introduction of a National Living Wage in the UK has not affected employment. The Low Pay Commission, the body that monitors low pay for the government, stated that it has found “no clear evidence” of changes in employment or hours since the the introduction of a higher minimum wage in April. In addition, it found that employment has continued to rise even in sectors “most obviously affected, such as cleaning, hotels, horticulture and retail.” BBC News notes that although various economists and think tanks had warned that raising the minimum wage would hurt employment, the Low Pay Commision’s findings “contradict” those warnings.
Daily News & Commentary
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July 4
The DOL scraps a Biden-era proposed rule to end subminimum wages for disabled workers; millions will lose access to Medicaid and SNAP due to new proof of work requirements; and states step up in the noncompete policy space.
July 3
California compromises with unions on housing; 11th Circuit rules against transgender teacher; Harvard removes hundreds from grad student union.
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 […]