Gilbert Placeres is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News & Commentary, the UAW’s federal monitor criticized for involving himself in the Union’s Gaza stance, EPA staffers win scientific integrity protections, and a DOJ working group asks for stronger federal protections against sexual misconduct.
In In These Times, former Congressman Andy Levin and law professor Sanjukta Paul ask why the UAW’s federal monitor is involving himself in the Union’s stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The monitor was appointed by a federal judge in 2021 as part of a settlement to resolve fraud and corruption charges against the Union and several of its officers. (The charges concerned a bribery and kickback scheme between Union officials and Chrysler (now Stellantis). Another provision of the settlement was direct elections, the first of which led to the rise of a reform slate and current President Shawn Fain.) Although the monitor’s scope is related to those charges, he has twice expressed concern to the UAW about their stance against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. First, he called Fain personally and, later, forwarded a letter from the Anti-Defamation League. Levin and Paul argue the monitor has unethically used his position to influence the Union and the judge should seriously consider replacing him.
Staff at the Environmental Protection Agency ratified a new contract that aims to insulate their scientific work from inappropriate interference, including political meddling. Staffers will now be protected from retaliation in reporting scientific integrity violations. The move is seen as aimed to guard against a potential second Trump presidency and the targeting of civil service protections that could follow.
Elsewhere in the federal workforce, a Justice Department working group wrote a letter urging the Biden administration to take action against sexual misconduct in federal workplaces. The DOJ Gender Equality Network argues there are not currently adequate response systems to sexual misconduct across all federal agencies. The letter comes after a string of federal sexual misconduct reports, including at the Drug Enforcement Agency. The group calls for regular climate surveys and centralized reporting systems and investigations.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
October 13
Texas hotel workers ratify a contract; Pope Leo visits labor leaders; Kaiser lays off over two hundred workers.
October 12
The Trump Administration fires thousands of federal workers; AFGE files a supplemental motion to pause the Administration’s mass firings; Democratic legislators harden their resolve during the government shutdown.
October 10
California bans algorithmic price-fixing; New York City Council passes pay transparency bills; and FEMA questions staff who signed a whistleblowing letter.
October 9
Equity and the Broadway League resume talks amid a looming strike; federal judge lets alcoholism ADA suit proceed; Philadelphia agrees to pay $40,000 to resolve a First Amendment retaliation case.
October 8
In today’s news and commentary, the Trump administration threatens no back pay for furloughed federal workers; the Second Circuit denies a request from the NFL for an en banc review in the Brian Flores case; and Governor Gavin Newsom signs an agreement to create a pathway for unionization for Uber and Lyft drivers.
October 7
The Supreme Court kicks off its latest term, granting and declining certiorari in several labor-related cases.