
Jason Vazquez is a staff attorney at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 2023. His writing on this blog reflects his personal views and should not be attributed to the IBT.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is considering whether to insert a provision in its contracts precluding consulting firms dealing with the Democratic Party from helping employers thwart labor organizing efforts. The news surfaces a few weeks after media outlets exposed that Global Strategy Group (GSG), a major Democratic consulting firm, had been hired by Amazon to orchestrate the e-commerce giant’s expensive, though unsuccessful, antiunion campaign against the Amazon Labor Union on Staten Island. The contemplated provision, which some labor leaders have applauded, would obligate consulting firms contracting with the Democratic Party to certify that they won’t help any client “persuade employees or workers to not form or join a union” or assist any client “in a labor dispute” or in lobbying for legislation “opposed by the labor movement.” For its part, GSG has offered a belated apology for its unionbusting activities, and insists that it has unilaterally adopted the DNC’s proposals in its own contracts.
In New York City, efforts to organize tech behemoth Apple, the largest company in the world, appear to be accelerating, as employees at the firm’s flagship store in Grand Central Terminal, as well as three other locations, have initiated unionization drives. The road ahead remains arduous, for organizers reportedly remain in the process of collecting authorization cards and have yet to file an election petition with the Board. On the other side of the Hudson, the NLRB revealed Monday that employees at an Amazon facility in New Jersey, DNK5, petitioned for a union election. For reasons unascertainable at this time, however, it was withdrawn yesterday.
On Tuesday, a tentative agreement was revealed between the union representing thousand of residential building doormen in the Big Apple and the major real estate firms which employ them. The contract, if ratified, would forestall a looming strike that would have begun later this week. It grants the tens of thousands of doormen, who in effect serve as security and personal assistants to the wealthy inhabitants of luxurious residential complexes in the city, large wage increases and cash bonuses.
Finally, Nintendo employees recently filed a charge with the Board accusing the firm of unlawfully interfering with their right to organize, the latest signal that labor activism in the gaming industry continues to generate momentum. The unfair labor practice charge includes allegations of threats, surveillance, retaliation, and discharge.
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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 […]
June 27
Labor's role in Zohran Mamdani's victory; DHS funding amendment aims to expand guest worker programs; COSELL submission deadline rapidly approaching