Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, the Writers’ Guild of America concluded the second longest strike in the union’s history today, the Big Three Automakers’ reputations plummet, and President Biden joins the UAW picket line.
The Writers’ Guild of America ended a 148-day strike at 12:01 am today. Union leadership emphasizes that while this means writers may go back to work, it does not mean that the tentative agreement with studios is set in stone. Union membership still plans to vote on ratification of the agreement between October 2, and October 9. SAG-AFTRA, the other half of Hollywood’s historic labor stoppage, still remains on strike with no scheduled dates to resume bargaining. Even with writers back at work, production on many projects will remain stalled.
In a recent survey by Caliber, Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors have all taken a reputational hit since the UAW began their strike. 58% of Americans surveyed supported auto-workers, including 72% of Democrats. A further 87% of Americans had heard about the UAW strike. According to the survey Americans are also less likely to consider purchasing from the Big Three, recommending their products to others, or working for them.
President Biden also joined this historic auto-strike on Tuesday, joining striking workers on the picket line. This marked the first time any sitting U.S. president joined a picket line. Biden’s team explains that this is part of making good on his promise to be the most “pro-union president in history.”
Daily News & Commentary
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May 5
Unemployment rates for Black women go up under Trump; NLRB argues Amazon lacks standing to challenge captive audience meeting rule; Teamsters use Wilcox's reinstatement orders to argue against injunction.
May 4
In today’s news and commentary, DOL pauses the 2024 gig worker rule, a coalition of unions, cities, and nonprofits sues to stop DOGE, and the Chicago Teachers Union reaches a remarkable deal. On May 1, the Department of Labor announced it would pause enforcement of the Biden Administration’s independent contractor classification rule. Under the January […]
May 2
Immigrant detainees win class certification; Missouri sick leave law in effect; OSHA unexpectedly continues Biden-Era Worker Heat Rule
May 1
SEIU 721 concludes a 48-hour unfair labor practice strike; NLRB Administrative Law Judge holds that Starbucks committed a series of unfair labor practices at a store in Philadelphia; AFSCME and UPTE members at the University of California are striking.
April 30
In today’s news and commentary, SEIU seeks union rights for rideshare drivers in California, New Jersey proposes applying the ABC Test, and Board officials push back on calls for layoffs. In California, Politico reports that an SEIU-backed bill that would allow rideshare drivers to join unions has passed out of committee, “clear[ing] its first hurdle.” […]
April 29
In today’s news and commentary, CFPB mass layoffs paused again, Mine Safety agency rejects union intervention, and postdoctoral researchers petition for union election. A temporary pause on mass firings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been restored. After a trial court initially blocked the administration from mass firings, the appeals court modified that […]