Deanna Krokos is a student at Harvard Law School
Last week, Annie reported on the Vox Media Union’s walkout following a 14-month bargaining process. After 29 final hours of negotiation, the union, represented by Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), reached a tentative agreement on Friday. The union sought to “set a standard” for digital journalism and bargained for competitive salaries, raises, and a stronger severance package. The agreement, the union’s first since being recognized in early 2018, must be ratified by the union before becoming final. The same day, photo and editorial staff in the Fast Company Union, also represented by WGAE, ratified their contract that included salary floors, increased benefits, paid family leave, and other victories.
The Department of Labor issued the most recent jobs report Friday, recording the addition of 75,000 jobs during May. This underperformed projections, with some economists expecting closer to 175,000. It also fell below last year’s monthly average of 223,000. The report also revised down the numbers reported for April. The New York Times reports that hiring in the retail sector hit a 3-year low, while healthcare and professional services held steady. While the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.6%, the report also revealed disappointing wage growth, lagging behind last year’s figures.
California’s Private Attorney General Law is facing a constitutional challenge by business groups. Often called PAGA, the law allows individuals to sue employers over labor violations in the role of a state enforcement agency. The law, unique to California, allows individuals to vindicate their rights in court despite employers’ increasingly common inclusion of arbitration clauses or class waivers in employment contracts. The case was brought by the California Business & Industrial Alliance, whose remaining claims turn on a theory that the law violates employers’ procedural due process rights. The law provided the basis for a ruling against Walmart last week that awarded $102 million to employees after the company issued illegal paystubs. Filed in November, California Bus. & Indus. All. v. Becerra was allowed to proceed after a bench ruling on Thursday.
Finally, Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced bipartisan legislation last week to study and measure the anticipated effects of automation on the American workforce. If enacted, the Workforce Data for Analyzing and Tracking Automation Act would create a new advisory board at the Department of Labor to track the impact of automation on the American workforce, with attention to the need for job training and adjustment assistance for working people.
Daily News & Commentary
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April 20
In today’s news and commentary, the Supreme Court rules for Cornell employees in an ERISA suit, the Sixth Circuit addresses whether the EFAA applies to a sexual harassment claim, and DOGE gains access to sensitive labor data on immigrants. On Thursday, the Supreme Court made it easier for employees to bring ERISA suits when their […]
April 18
Two major New York City unions endorse Cuomo for mayor; Committee on Education and the Workforce requests an investigation into a major healthcare union’s spending; Unions launch a national pro bono legal network for federal workers.
April 17
Utahns sign a petition supporting referendum to repeal law prohibiting public sector collective bargaining; the US District Court for the District of Columbia declines to dismiss claims filed by the AFL-CIO against several government agencies; and the DOGE faces reports that staffers of the agency accessed the NLRB’s sensitive case files.
April 16
7th Circuit questions the relevance of NLRB precedent after Loper Bright, unions seek to defend silica rule, and Abrego Garcia's union speaks out.
April 15
In today’s news and commentary, SAG-AFTRA reaches a tentative agreement, AFT sues the Trump Administration, and California offers its mediation services to make up for federal cuts. SAG-AFTRA, the union representing approximately 133,000 commercial actors and singers, has reached a tentative agreement with advertisers and advertising agencies. These companies were represented in contract negotiations by […]
April 14
Department of Labor publishes unemployment statistics; Kentucky unions resist deportation orders; Teamsters win three elections in Texas.