
Sharon Block is a Professor of Practice and the Executive Director of the Center for Labor and a Just Economy at Harvard Law School.
On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order purporting to boost the Department’s apprenticeship program. In announcing his plans to make available more federal grant money for new apprenticeship programs, Trump also announced that he would diminish federal oversight of these new programs. Traditionally, DOL has required grantees to register their apprenticeship programs with DOL or the appropriate state agency in order “to safeguard the welfare of apprentices, ensure equality of access to apprenticeship programs, and provide integrated employment and training information to sponsors and the local employment and training community.” Calling regulations that protect the quality and integrity of apprenticeship programs “obstacles“, the Trump Administration instead will allow employers and other third parties to police their own quality control. Trump’s weakening of the apprenticeship registration system is significant because in the past, including during the Obama Administration, job training had been one bright spot of bipartisanship. The reaction from Democrats to today’s announcement was mixed. While the White House touted the initiative as pro-worker because it includes a proposal to approximately double the amount of money for apprenticeship grants, the proposed increase would come from cuts to other DOL job training programs and pales in comparison to Trump’s proposed $2 billion in cuts to the overall workforce training budget.
Daily News & Commentary
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July 4
The DOL scraps a Biden-era proposed rule to end subminimum wages for disabled workers; millions will lose access to Medicaid and SNAP due to new proof of work requirements; and states step up in the noncompete policy space.
July 3
California compromises with unions on housing; 11th Circuit rules against transgender teacher; Harvard removes hundreds from grad student union.
July 2
Block, Nanda, and Nayak argue that the NLRA is under attack, harming democracy; the EEOC files a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former EEOC Commissioner Jocelyn Samuels; and SEIU Local 1000 strikes an agreement with the State of California to delay the state's return-to-office executive order for state workers.
July 1
In today’s news and commentary, the Department of Labor proposes to roll back minimum wage and overtime protections for home care workers, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by public defenders over a union’s Gaza statements, and Philadelphia’s largest municipal union is on strike for first time in nearly 40 years. On Monday, the U.S. […]
June 30
Antidiscrimination scholars question McDonnell Douglas, George Washington University Hospital bargained in bad faith, and NY regulators defend LPA dispensary law.
June 29
In today’s news and commentary, Trump v. CASA restricts nationwide injunctions, a preliminary injunction continues to stop DOL from shutting down Job Corps, and the minimum wage is set to rise in multiple cities and states. On Friday, the Supreme Court held in Trump v. CASA that universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that […]