Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found merit to allegations that Chipotle Mexican Grill violated federal labor law, over 4,000 Fred Meyers workers began a strike in Portland, Oregon, and unionized software workers filed a labor complaint against Activision Blizzard and Microsoft.
The NLRB announced on Monday that a complaint against Chipotle by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters alleging unlawful discipline of a worker has merit. Teamsters assert that Chipotle denied raises to an employee based on union activity in violation of federal labor law. If Chipotle and Teamsters do not reach a settlement, the NLRB general counsel threatened to file charges against the company. This is not the first time Chipotle violated labor law. The company retaliated against unionizing employees last year by closing a store in Augusta, Georgia.
Over 4,000 workers in 28 Fred Meyers stores around Portland began a strike early this morning. The union says that the strike will continue until September 3rd or until Fred Meyers negotiates a deal. The employee’s union, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, and Fred Meyers remain unable to reach a contract after several bargaining sessions. The union explains that a strike is necessary to add pressure on key bargaining issues like pensions and wages.
Unionized software workers at Raven Software filed a National Labor Relations Board complaint against their parent companies, Activision Blizzard and Microsoft. The workers allege that both companies bargained in bad faith and retaliated, discharged, and disciplined workers for union activity.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
January 9
TPS cancellation litigation updates; NFL appeals Second Circuit decision to SCOTUS; EEOC wins retaliation claim; Mamdani taps seasoned worker advocates to join him.
January 8
Pittsburg Post-Gazette announces closure in response to labor dispute, Texas AFT sues the state on First Amendment grounds, Baltimore approves its first project labor agreement, and the Board formally regains a quorum.
January 7
Wilcox requests en banc review at DC Circuit; 9th Circuit rules that ministry can consider sexual orientation in hiring decisions
January 5
Minor league hockey players strike and win new deal; Hochul endorses no tax on tips; Trump administration drops appeal concerning layoffs.
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.