Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, a Kroger worker strike hints at broader dissatisfaction among retail workers, and the American Federation of Teachers filed the latest in a string of lawsuits against Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
In Colorado, over 10,000 workers at the Kroger-owned supermarket, King Soopers, reached nearly a week on strike. The workers’ union, UFCW Local 7, began bargaining with Kroger and King Soopers in October, but the union reported that both retail chains refused to bargain in good faith. UFCW called an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike on February 6 in response to the retail chain’s refusal to bargain. Yesterday, King Soopers responded to the ongoing strike by seeking a temporary restraining order against thousands of their own striking employees, claiming that these workers have created unsafe conditions outside their stores. Commentators note that despite low overall union density, retail workers continue to express interest in joining unions, and their union membership rate has increased gradually in the past year. Workers at Starbucks, Amazon, and Whole Foods have made headlines over the past year for their unionization efforts against union-hostile employers.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) filed a lawsuit on Monday alleging that Elon Musk’s new government department, DOGE, violated federal law by disclosing U.S. citizens’ personal information. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, named after the Shiba Inu-themed meme and cryptocurrency, aims to reduce government spending and regulation. The AFT’s suit against DOGE is one of many filed by labor unions alleging that the Trump administration has breached the Privacy Act.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
July 28
Lower courts work out meaning of Muldrow; NLRB releases memos on recording and union salts.
July 27
In today’s news and commentary, Trump issues an EO on college sports, a second district court judge blocks the Department of Labor from winding down Job Corps, and Safeway workers in California reach a tentative agreement. On Thursday, President Trump announced an executive order titled “Saving College Sports,” which declared it common sense that “college […]
July 25
Philadelphia municipal workers ratify new contract; Chocolate companies escape liability in trafficking suit; Missouri Republicans kill paid sick leave
July 24
Texas District Court dismisses case requesting a declaratory judgement authorizing agencies to end collective bargaining agreements for Texas workers; jury awards two firefighters $1 million after they were terminated for union activity; and Democratic lawmakers are boycotting venues that have not rehired food service workers.
July 23
A "lost year" for new NLRB precedent; work stoppage among court appointed lawyers continues in Massachusetts
July 22
In today’s news and commentary, Senate Republicans push back against Project Labor Agreements and two rulings compelling arbitration for workers. Senate Republicans are pushing back against President Trump’s decision to maintain a Biden-era rule requiring project labor agreements (PLAs) for federal construction contracts over $35 million. Supporters of PLAs argue that PLAs facilitate better wages […]