Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, eBay faces unfair labor practice charges, the Department of Labor issued a rule requiring federal contractors to disclose use of anti-union consultants or law firms, and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) will restart talks later this week after a three-month standoff.
Union workers at eBay owned company TCGplayer filed multiple unfair labor practice complaints with the NLRB against both organizations. The complaints allege that eBay refused to bargain with the union after it was recognized in March of this year. They further allege that eBay refused to provide relevant information to the union, refused to maintain the status quo at work in violation of workers’ Weingarten Rights, and refused to negotiate on unilateral changes. Workers at TGAplayer explain that they have not received a cost-of-living raise in three years and have been forced to sit through captive audience meetings hosted by anti-union law firm Littler Mendelson.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a rule on Friday requiring that all federal contractors disclose their work with anti-union consultants and law firms in LM-10 forms. The rule explains that greater transparency for workers about who their employers’ hire could allow workers to make informed decisions about union participation. “[W]ith the knowledge that the source of the information received is an anti-union campaign managed by an outsider, workers will be better able to assess the merits of the arguments directed at them and make an informed choice about how to exercise their rights,” the DOL explained. The new rule has predictably faced backlash from contractors and employer-side labor firms.
Three months after negotiations between the WGA and studios fell apart in May, the parties plan to reconvene for talks this Friday. The WGA explains that studio negotiator, Carol Lombardini, reached out to the WGA to discuss negotiations. A chair of the WGA negotiating committee addressed a video to fellow members emphasizing that the union remains unified and powerful; tens of thousands of actors and workers joined together on picket lines this month for the first simultaneous walk-out since the 1960s.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
July 3
Unions seek a preliminary injunction to prevent USDA downsizing; the D.C. District Court issues a preliminary injunction against new student loan regulations; Matt Bruenig releases an analysis of Starbucks’ ongoing legal battle against Starbucks Workers United.
July 2
First Circuit denies federal worker unions’ mandamus petition; federal court denies preliminary injunction against new union reporting rule; House introduces the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act.
July 1
Trump nominates Keith Sonderling as Labor Secretary; DOL eliminates disparate-impact liability from Title VI regulations; OPM finalizes rule allowing suitability-based removal of federal employees for post-appointment conduct.
June 30
SCOTUS ends removal protections for agencies; staff at NYC cocktail bar vote to unionize.
June 29
In today’s News and Commentary, student-athletes file a class action suit challenging the NCAA’s new Age-Based Rule, a federal judge declines to issue a preliminary injunction against FEMA’s reduction in force but expedites proceedings, and Gavin Newsom opposes California’s proposed billionaire tax in favor of a federal approach. On Thursday, DeJuan Campbell, at basketball player […]
June 28
Philadelphia utility workers announce July 4 strike; national parks workers vote to unionize; Michigan considers “right to disconnect” bill.