Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, UAW moves for strike votes at three Detroit automakers, and Trader Joe’s workers protest retaliation against organizers.
United Auto Workers urges 150,000 members to authorize a strike at three Detroit automakers, General Motors, Ford Motors, and Stellantis by August 24. This move would enable workers to strike once their contracts expire on September 14. The union reports that talks with all three automakers have not reached agreement on any economic issues. The union has asked for a 40% raise over a four-year contract. “Our priorities are clear, the companies can afford them, and there’s plenty of time for the Big Three to get serious about these negotiations,” the union explained. The three automakers have reported a combined $250 billion in profits over the past ten years.
Trader Joe’s workers rallied outside of the company’s Boston headquarters yesterday to protest firing of union leader Steven Andrade. Andrade had worked for Trader Joe’s for 18 years but was fired in June 2022 after union engagement. Andrade and the union claim this firing was in retaliation for his union support. “If Trader Joe’s wasn’t scared of worker power, they would come to the table and negotiate a fair contract,” one union leader explained.
Daily News & Commentary
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December 22
Worker-friendly legislation enacted in New York; UW Professor wins free speech case; Trucking company ordered to pay $23 million to Teamsters.
December 21
Argentine unions march against labor law reform; WNBA players vote to authorize a strike; and the NLRB prepares to clear its backlog.
December 19
Labor law professors file an amici curiae and the NLRB regains quorum.
December 18
New Jersey adopts disparate impact rules; Teamsters oppose railroad merger; court pauses more shutdown layoffs.
December 17
The TSA suspends a labor union representing 47,000 officers for a second time; the Trump administration seeks to recruit over 1,000 artificial intelligence experts to the federal workforce; and the New York Times reports on the tumultuous changes that U.S. labor relations has seen over the past year.
December 16
Second Circuit affirms dismissal of former collegiate athletes’ antitrust suit; UPS will invest $120 million in truck-unloading robots; Sharon Block argues there are reasons for optimism about labor’s future.