Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, the United Auto Workers Union filed unfair labor practice charges against former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, leader of Tesla and SpaceX, Starbucks appointed an anti-labor CEO, and Vice-Presidential Candidate, Governor Tim Walz made his first solo campaign speech to a union audience.
The United Auto Workers Union (UAW) announced in a thread on X that Trump and Musk violated federal labor law by attempting to threaten and intimidate workers. Musk hosted an interview with Trump on X Monday night. Trump praised Musk in the interview for conducting mass layoffs. “I won’t mention the name of the company, but they go on strike, and you go, ‘You’re all gone,’” Trump said. UAW claims that this statement violates federal labor law since a strike is considered a protected activity for which workers cannot be legally fired. UAW President Shawn Fain commented: “When we say Donald Trump is a scab, this is what we mean.”
Starbucks named Brian Niccol, former CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill as its new CEO on Tuesday. Niccol faced criticism for his negotiations with Teamsters while at Chipotle. Teamsters considered Chipotle’s wage offer in a store in Lansing, Michigan insultingly low. The same year, Chipotle violated federal labor law by closing a store and firing workers who tried to form a union. After the NLRB sided with the union, Chipotle paid $240,000 to aggrieved workers.
Governor Tim Walz gave his first solo speech as vice-presidential nominee on Tuesday night to a union audience in Los Angeles. Walz spoke to members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees about his and Vice President Kamala Harris’ working-class roots. Walz was a union member as a public-school teacher before he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006.
Daily News & Commentary
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December 4
Unionized journalists win arbitration concerning AI, Starbucks challenges two NLRB rulings in the Fifth Circuit, and Philadelphia transit workers resume contract negotiations.
December 3
The Trump administration seeks to appeal a federal judge’s order that protects the CBAs of employees within the federal workforce; the U.S. Department of Labor launches an initiative to investigate violations of the H-1B visa program; and a union files a petition to form a bargaining unit for employees at the Met.
December 2
Fourth Circuit rejects broad reading of NLRA’s managerial exception; OPM cancels reduced tuition program for federal employees; Starbucks will pay $39 million for violating New York City’s Fair Workweek law; Mamdani and Sanders join striking baristas outside a Brooklyn Starbucks.
December 1
California farmworkers defend state labor law, cities consider requiring companies to hire delivery drivers, Supreme Court takes FAA last-mile drivers case.
November 30
In today’s news and commentary, the MSPB issues its first precedential ruling since regaining a quorum; Amazon workers lead strikes and demonstrations in multiple countries; and Starbucks workers expand their indefinite strike to additional locations. Last week, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) released its first precedential decision in eight months. The MSPB had been […]
November 28
Lawsuit against EEOC for failure to investigate disparate-impact claims dismissed; DHS to end TPS for Haiti; Appeal of Cemex decision in Ninth Circuit may soon resume