Holt McKeithan is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, national media explores Tim Walz’s connection with labor, American Apple store workers get their first contract, and tenant organizers launch a national federation.
Minnesota governor Tim Walz is the first union member to appear on a presidential ticket since Ronald Reagan. Steven Greenhouse for Slate explains why the former public school teacher is a good choice for workers. During Walz’s term as governor, Minnesota passed a broad slate of progressive reforms that included expanding parental leave, banning noncompete clauses and prohibiting captive audience meetings. Labor played a role in helping him get the spot on the bottom of the Democratic presidential ticket. The presidents of the American Federation of Teachers and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees both released public statements supporting Walz.
On Tuesday, unionized workers at a Towson, Maryland, Apple store ratified the company’s first labor contract in the United States. The 85 workers, who are affiliated with the Machinists, won an average raise of 10% over the next three years. The contract includes guaranteed severance pay and an increase in benefits to match those Apple withheld from unionized stores to discourage organization in 2022. The contract comes two years after the store first became unionized. Following Towson’s lead, Apple workers in Oklahoma City voted to unionize in 2022. However, campaigns at other stores have failed.
Tenant organizers around the country formed the Tenant Union Federation on Tuesday. TUF, which calls itself a “union of unions”, was formed by five founding unions in Louisville, Kansas City, Montana, Connecticut, and Chicago. Those unions have seen success in their respective cities, including banning new short-term rentals in Bozeman, Montana, negotiating a collective bargaining agreement with a large Connecticut landlord, and winning an anti-displacement ordinance in Chicago. The federation aims to build tenant organizations around the country by training and supporting new groups. It will consider dues-based membership models.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
August 5
In today’s news and commentary, a pension fund wins at the Eleventh Circuit, casino unionization in Las Vegas, and DOL’s work-from-home policy changes. A pension fund for unionized retail and grocery workers won an Eleventh Circuit appeal against Perfection Bakeries, which claimed it was overcharged nearly $2 million in federal withdrawal liability. The bakery argued the […]
August 4
Trump fires head of BLS; Boeing workers authorize strike.
August 3
In today’s news and commentary, a federal court lifts an injunction on the Trump Administration’s plan to eliminate bargaining rights for federal workers, and trash collectors strike against Republic Services in Massachusetts.
August 1
The Michigan Supreme Court grants heightened judicial scrutiny over employment contracts that shorten the limitations period for filing civil rights claims; the California Labor Commission gains new enforcement power over tip theft; and a new Florida law further empowers employers issuing noncompete agreements.
July 31
EEOC sued over trans rights enforcement; railroad union opposes railroad merger; suits against NLRB slow down.
July 30
In today’s news and commentary, the First Circuit will hear oral arguments on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) revocation of parole grants for thousands of migrants; United Airlines’ flight attendants vote against a new labor contract; and the AFL-CIO files a complaint against a Trump Administrative Executive Order that strips the collective bargaining rights of the vast majority of federal workers.