Holt McKeithan is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News & Commentary, the Senate cleared the way for the GOP to take control of the NLRB next year, and the NLRB classifies “Love is Blind” TV contestants as employees.
The Senate halted President Biden’s renomination of National Labor Relations Board Chair Lauren McFerran on Wednesday. McFerran’s nomination failed 49-50, with independents Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema joining Republicans to vote no. McFerran’s tenure as NLRB Chair is set to expire this month. The Democrats’ attempt to renominate her for another five-year term would have meant Democrat-control of the NLRB through 2026. Democrats could push for another attempt to hold a nomination vote, but Wednesday’s results indicate that it would not pass.
The NLRB has filed a complaint against reality TV show “Love is Blind,” arguing the contestants on the show should be characterized as employees and eligible for worker protections. Two contestants, Renee Poche and Nick Thompson, had previously filed an unfair labor practices claim against the show and pushed for classification as employees. The contract contestants must sign to participate in “Love is Blind” is restrictive, including a non-disclosure agreement and a $50,000 penalty for withdrawing from the show before filming wraps. This is the first time the NLRB has deemed reality TV contestants “employees,” and opens the door for unionization of the industry.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
May 22
U.S. employers spend $1.7B on union avoidance each year and the ICJ declares the right to strike a protected activity.
May 21
UAW backs legal challenge to Trump “gold card” visa; DOL requests unemployment fraud technology funding; Samsung reaches eleventh-hour union agreement.
May 20
LIRR strike ends after three-day shutdown; key senators reject Trump's proposed 26% cut to Labor Department budget; EEOC moves to eliminate employer demographic reporting requirement.
May 19
Amazon urges 11th Circuit to overturn captive-audience meeting ban; DOL scraps Biden overtime rule; SCOTUS to decide on Title IX private right of action for school employees
May 18
California Department of Justice finds conditions at ICE facilities inhumane; Second Circuit rejects race bias claim from Black and Hispanic social workers; FAA cuts air traffic controller staffing target.
May 17
UC workers avoid striking with an 11th-hour agreement; Governor Spanberger vetoes public employee collective bargaining protections; Samsung workers prepare for an 18-day strike.