Anjali Katta is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, Whole Foods workers in Philly file for first-ever union election under Amazon’s ownership, Waffle House sues the NLRB, and Amazon workers across the world threaten to strike and protest on Black Friday.
Whole Foods workers in Center City, Philadelphia, have announced their intention to unionize with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1776 and have filed a petition with the NLRB. If successful, this effort would result in the first ever Whole Foods union under Amazon’s ownership. The union would represent 300 workers. These workers would join the 800,000 grocery store members already represented by UFCW including workers from Kroger, Albertsons, Safeway, and Stop & Shop. Since Amazon acquired Whole Foods in 2017, workers have faced harsher working conditions, decreased benefits, and increased surveillance.
Waffle House, a fast-food chain, is suing the NLRB over an unfair labor practice charge filed by the Service Employees’ International Union (SEIU). Waffle House argues that the NLRB’s administrative procedures are unconstitutional and deprives the company of due process. Waffle House also claims that that the NLRB’s Administrative Law Judges and Board members are too insulated from Presidential removal. By suing the NLRB, Waffle House joins a growing list of employers—including SpaceX, Amazon, and the ACLU— who have also challenged the NLRB’s structure as unconstitutional.
Amazon workers in 20 countries across the globe are planning to protest and strike between Black Friday (November 29) and Cyber Monday (December 2) as part of the Make Amazon Pay Campaign. The campaign, which includes over 80 labor unions, anti-poverty organizations, and labor rights groups, is calling for fair wages, the right to join a union without interference, for Amazon to pay its fair share of taxes, and for commitments to environmental sustainability. November 29, 2024 will mark the fifth consecutive Black Friday that the Make Amazon Pay campaign has organized a global action. The largest strike is expected in Germany, where up to 3,000 workers across six Amazon facilities are planning to join the protests.
Daily News & Commentary
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May 6
HHS canceled a scheduled bargaining session with the FDA's largest workers union; members of 1199SEIU voted out longtime union president George Gresham in rare leadership upset.
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.” […]