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
April 17
Los Angeles teachers reach tentative agreement; labor leaders launch Union Now; and federal unions challenge FLRA power concentration.
April 16
DOD terminates union contracts; building workers in New York authorize a strike; and the American Postal Workers Union launches ads promoting mail-in voting.
April 15
LAUSD school staff reach agreement; EBSA releases deregulatory priorities; Trump nominates third NLRB Republican.
April 14
Meatpacking workers ratify new contract; NLRB proposes Amazon settlement; NLRB's new docketing system leading to case dismissals.
April 13
Starbucks' union files new complaint with NLRB; FAA targets video gamers in new recruiting pitch; and Apple announces closure of unionized store.
April 12
The Office of Personnel Management seeks the medical records of millions of federal workers, and ProPublica journalists engage in a one-day strike.