Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, South Korea’s largest labor union began a general strike calling for the President’s removal, a Wisconsin judge reinstated bargaining rights for the state’s public sector workers, and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued another ruling against Starbucks for anti-union practices.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions issued a call late Tuesday night for its 1.1 million members to join an indefinite general strike. This action came as a response to South Korea’s president declaring martial law, suspending government functions, and implementing military control over the country.
A Wisconsin Judge on Monday struck down a 2011 law that stripped most of the state’s public sector workers of the right to form a union. The President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO explained that this ruling would restore union freedoms to the state and strengthen the state’s middle class. State Republicans had passed this law after winning control of the state government in 2010.
An NLRB administrative judge in Seattle held yesterday that Starbucks’ holiday parties violated labor law by impermissibly excluding union workers. The judge explained that Starbucks hosted an elaborate ice-skating event for the holiday season with complimentary food and drinks but advertised this event only at non-union Starbucks stores. The judge ordered Starbucks to pay each union worker $40 in compensation for labor discrimination.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
October 23
Ninth Circuit reaffirms Thryv remedies; unions oppose Elon Musk pay package; more federal workers protected from shutdown-related layoffs.
October 22
Broadway actors and producers reach a tentative labor agreement; workers at four major concert venues in Washington D.C. launch efforts to unionize; and Walmart pauses offers to job candidates requiring H-1B visas.
October 21
Some workers are exempt from Trump’s new $100,000 H1-B visa fee; Amazon driver alleges the EEOC violated mandate by dropping a disparate-impact investigation; Eighth Circuit revived bank employee’s First Amendment retaliation claims over school mask-mandate.
October 20
Supreme Court won't review SpaceX decision, courts uphold worker-friendly interpretation of EFAA, EEOC focuses on opioid-related discrimination.
October 19
DOL issues a new wage rule for H-2A workers, Gov. Newsom vetoes a bill that regulates employers’ use of AI, and Broadway workers and management reach a tentative deal
October 17
Third Circuit denies DOL's en banc rehearing request; Washington AG proposes legislation to protect immigrant workers; UAW files suit challenging government surveillance of non-citizen speech