In immigration news, the crisis of unaccompanied minors at the border continues. According to the Wall Street Journal, President Obama met with the presidents of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador to discuss a solution that addresses longer-term regional problems that drive the children to come to America. Salvadoran Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez said, “[t]he sheer size of transnational organized crime is not something that can be tackled by one nation.” Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that religious groups in the United States have mobilized in support of providing aid to the immigrant children. According to the Times, the child immigration issue may be pushing otherwise conservative religious groups to support broader immigration reform.
In Massachusetts, the Boston Globe reports that unions are a stronger force in Massachusetts’s politics than at any time in the past 25 years. Unions have played a key role in raising the minimum wage, passing “new workplace protections for state employees, a bill of rights for housekeepers and other domestic workers,” and supporting more victories for workers.
In sports news, the New York Times reports that student-athletes have won several long-sought concessions from the N.C.A.A. and universities. Schools and the N.C.A.A. have stated that these changes have been in the works for some time, but outside observers see this is a reaction to some players’ attempts to unionize, as well as an anti-trust lawsuit against the N.C.A.A. Some universities are now guaranteeing multi-year rather than one-year scholarships, improving medical coverage and providing greater financial support. The N.C.A.A. is also no longer asking players to sign a waiver giving the organization the right to use their likeness without compensation. We’ve covered the student-athlete attempts to unionize previously, including here, here, and here.
National Geographic has a feature on the “The New Face of Hunger” in America. The magazine explores why “[o]ne-sixth of Americans don’t have enough food to eat” through profiles of families in Iowa, Texas, and New York.
In international news, Iberia airlines reached an agreement with its union to cut its staff by 1,427, according to the Wall Street Journal. The reduction in staff will last through at least 2015.
Daily News & Commentary
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August 12
Third Circuit affirms dismissal of driver’s bias and retaliation claims against CBS and Teamsters; employment litigation surges in Washington state; MIT Sloan professor argues the rise of “disposable workers” is transforming American employment.
August 11
Rideshare drivers nearing union certification in California; UFCW campaigns against electronic shelf labels; Teamsters support NYC delivery driver bill.
August 10
Employee sues for a fossil-fuel-free 401(k) plan as a religious accommodation; DHS submits a proposed rule eliminating 60-day grace period for H-1B workers; Eighth Circuit dismisses constitutional challenge to the FMSHRC.
August 7
Starbucks beats claims it denied shifts to union workers; Center for State Labor Innovation aims to address labor law shortcomings.
August 6
Taylor Farms faces scrutiny over labor practices; Bipartisan labor bill gains momentum.
August 5
Clash over potential change to Canada’s labor code; Harvard’s Center for Labor and a Just Economy releases model sectoral bargaining laws; NJ sues Amazon for antitrust violations.