Holden Hopkins is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, Teamsters authorize Amazon strikes and House Republicans name the next Education and Workforce Committee chair.
Unionized workers at two New York Amazon warehouses voted to authorize a strike unless their employer comes to the bargaining table. This move comes as one of the first major actions following the merger between the Teamsters and the formerly independent Amazon Labor Union. The two warehouses involved are JFK8 in Staten Island and DBK4 in Queens, where a total of over 5,500 workers are employed.
While Amazon has refused to recognize the union during past walkouts, this potential strike comes amid the holiday season, a particularly busy time for the company. In a statement, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien demanded that Amazon come to the bargaining table or face the strike, saying “[i]f these white-collar criminals want to keep breaking the law, they better get ready for a fight.”
On Thursday, it was announced that Representative Tim Wahlberg (R-MI) would be the next chairperson of the House Education and Workforce Committee. In a statement released by his office, the Representative vowed to “empower parents, incentivize workforce training, improve government efficiency, and unburden American innovators and job creators.” In the past, Wahlberg has introduced legislation to “rein-in” the NLRB, which he has criticized heavily under President Biden. In his fifteen-plus years in office, Wahlberg has been graded by the AFL-CIO to vote with working people twelve percent of the time.
Daily News & Commentary
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June 8
BLS releases May jobs reports; US Trade Representative proposes new tariffs.
June 7
SAG-AFTRA members ratify a four-year CBA and the International Trade Union Confederation releases its 2026 Global Rights Index.
June 4
Third Circuit tosses DOL’s $35.8 million healthcare wage award; Trump’s Republican NLRB nominee gets Senate hearing; Harvard graduate students end strike.
June 3
JOLTS data shows mixed labor market as personal income declines; New York Fed research links remote work to rising youth unemployment; Virginia Governor Spanberger signs sweeping employment reform package.
June 2
Illinois passes rideshare driver unionization bill; DOL issues new union financial reporting rule; unions push back against AI data center regulations.
June 1
Federal judge declines to block New Jersey cannabis labor peace requirements; EEOC issues proposed rescission of rule protection companies undertaking voluntary affirmative action plans; Connecticut governor signs AI law requiring employers to give notice about use of AI in employment decision-making.