Maddy Joseph is a student at Harvard Law School.
“Organized labor, once seen as fractured and feckless in the Trump era, gave the Democrat Conor Lamb his edge in Pennsylvania,” says a New York Times analysis of last night’s special election. A Politico analysis also noted Lamb’s strong support from unions, noting that Lamb’s opponent, Rick Saccone, was a strong supporter of “right to work” laws. In the days leading up to the election, NBC detailed Lamb’s labor support here.
Just weeks after the NLRB vacated its decision in Hy-Brand, the Board is being asked to vacate a second decision, in favor of Boeing’s no photos in work areas rule, because of concerns about a conflict of interest by Member William Emanuel. As Bloomberg reports, the ruling “permitted [Boeing] under federal labor law to ban workers from using devices to take photos at certain job sites[,] . . . overturning the NLRB’s 2004 decision in Lutheran Heritage Village-Livonia.” Emanuel’s firm represented Boeing, not in this matter, but in others that raised similar issues.
Strikes continue at universities in the United Kingdom over a plan to convert pensions from defined benefits to a stock-market dependent defined contribution scheme. Members of the University and College Union voted earlier this week to reject a deal that had been negotiated. Their strike will continue for at least a week and may pick up again during student exam period if a deal is not reached before then.
An article in next month’s issue of The Nation argues that the West Virginia teachers won a bigger victory than we’ve been appreciating, emphasizing that the teachers won not just raises but lasting, structural victories, including seats for organized labor on the insurance board and on a health care task force.
Daily News & Commentary
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March 31
In today’s news and commentary, the Supreme Court hears a case about Federal Court jurisdiction over arbitration, a UPS heat inspection lawsuit against OSHA is dismissed, and federal worker unions and NGOs call on the EPA to cease laying off its environmental justice staffers. A majority of Supreme Court justices signaled support for allowing federal […]
March 30
Trump orders payment to TSA agents; NYC doormen look to authorize a strike; and KPMG positions for mass layoffs.
March 29
The Department of Veterans Affairs re-terminates its collective bargaining agreement despite a preliminary injunction, and the Federal Labor Relations Authority announces new rules increasing the influence of political appointees over federal labor relations.
March 27
“Cesar Chavez Day” renamed “Farmworkers Day” in California after investigation finds Chavez engaged in rampant sexual abuse.
March 26
Supreme Court hears oral argument in an FAA case; NLRB rules that Cemex does not impose an enforceable deadline for requesting an election; DOL proposes raising wage standards for H-1B workers.
March 25
UPS rescinded its driver buyout program; California court dismissed a whistleblower retaliation suit against Meta; EEOC announced $15 million settlement to resolve vaccine-related religious discrimination case.