Linh is a student at Harvard Law School.
On Wednesday, the National Labor Relations Board unanimously struck down a settlement between Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United, a union representing its workers in Biddeford, Maine. The settlement stems from original allegations that Starbucks managers were enforcing workplace policies more strictly for union supporters, resulting in disciplinary action against organizers. Concluding that the ALJ had erred in granting the settlement, the Board ruled that the judge had not given proper consideration to the union’s concerns and did not adequately address the alleged unlawful activity.
Several app-based companies, including Lyft, Uber and Doordash, are proposing to lawmakers a federal system that would give independent contractors access to workplace benefits currently unavailable to this class of workers. The proposal was released by Flex, the industry group representing leading app-based rideshare and delivery platforms, on Wednesday. The proposal marks the first time these companies have agreed on a national approach to provide their independent contractors with benefits that have traditionally been denied to workers not classified as employees, such as health benefits, retirement savings, and paid leave.
Texas just passed an unprecedented new law that will prohibit local governments from making local rules that are stronger than the state’s in broad policy areas, including labor, finance, and occupations. The impact of this preemption law will be broad, as private entities will be emboldened to challenge a variety of city laws they don’t like, such as local tenant and worker protection laws. The law, which will take effect on September 1, is the latest effort in a years-long Republican effort to limit the power of Texas’s more progressive metropolitan areas like Dallas, Austin, and Houston.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
July 2
University of California strikes end while legal dispute continues; Disneyland workers raise awareness with park visitors; bus workers in Alabama set example for labor policy
July 1
Labor law impacts of Loper Bright and Jarkesy rulings; Unions push for workforce board represntation.
June 30
Explaining the turnaround in Starbucks-union negotiations; overtime rule implementation against Texas enjoined; California reforms PAGA
June 28
Gig driver classification deal reached in Massachusetts; Amazon drivers in Illinois strike over ULP; CEO pay accelerates.
June 27
The economy and immigration expected to play a central role in the upcoming presidential debate and Washington gets involved in AI regulation of the entertainment industry.
June 26
California judge fines companies for child labor violations; IATSE reaches tentative deal with studios; Texas judge likely to block Biden Administration's overtime rule