Anjali Katta is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s news and commentary, SAG-AFTRA reaches a tentative agreement, AFT sues the Trump Administration, and California offers its mediation services to make up for federal cuts.
SAG-AFTRA, the union representing approximately 133,000 commercial actors and singers, has reached a tentative agreement with advertisers and advertising agencies. These companies were represented in contract negotiations by the Joint Policy Committee, which bargained on their behalf. The new agreement covers union members’ work in advertisements and commercials and comes after several extensions of the previous contract’s expiration date. Details of the agreement will be released following a review by the SAG-AFTRA National Board on April 26. If the board approves the tentative deal, union members will then vote on its ratification.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and 10 other unions have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in an effort to prevent the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)’s dismantling. FMCS is a federal agency that mediates labor disputes in both public and private sectors and has played a key role in workplace negotiations at companies like Starbucks, Boeing, and Apple. Following the administration’s March 14 executive order, which directed FMCS to significantly downsize, the agency placed 90% of its employees on administrative leave and shut down all of its field offices. The lawsuit alleges that the administration’s actions are unconstitutional and that FMCS’s compliance with the order violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
Relatedly, in response to cuts at the FMCS, California’s State Mediation and Conciliation Service (SMCS) is stepping in and taking cases that would have usually been handled by the federal government. SMCS is part of California’s Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), a state agency that administers labor laws for public employees. FMCS’s abrupt downsizing coincided with contract negotiations at several major California employers, including grocery chains and hospitals, prompting state intervention. Additionally, there have been other efforts to expand PERB’s authority. For example, in January 2025, California lawmakers proposed legislation that would empower PERB to certify union elections and rule on unfair labor practice cases in the private sector if the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) fails to respond in a timely manner.
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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 […]