Henry Green is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s news and commentary, Lori Chavez-Deremer’s confirmation hearing, striking King Soopers workers return to the bargaining table, and UAW members at Rolls-Royce authorize a strike.
Lori Chavez-Deremer, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Labor, faces a Senate confirmation hearing today. Chavez-Deremer may face more No votes from Republicans than other Trump cabinet members. Rand Paul, a senior member on the committee that must advance her nomination, called for her to publicly renounce her support for the PRO Act. Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama said he could support Chavez-Deremer if she comes out as “pro-right-to-work.” Across the aisle, John Fetterman has said he will support Chavez-Deremer, meaning she can lose as many as four Republicans and still be confirmed.
Striking King Soopers workers will return to the bargaining table, UFCW Local 7 announced Monday night. The workers had been on strike since February 6, after their contract ended January 17. Striking workers risked losing health insurance coverage starting in April if the strike continued; under the return-to-work agreement, King Soopers agreed to maintain their coverage. King Soopers is a Colorado grocery chain owned by Kroger. Local 7 is also negotiating a new contract with Albertsons, which attempted to merge with Kroger last year.
UAW members at a Rolls-Royce plant in Indianapolis have authorized a strike if necessary as their contract’s expiration date approaches. The Rolls-Royce complex employs over 800 members of UAW Local 933 and “is the primary Rolls-Royce facility making aircraft engines for U.S. government contracts,” according to a UAW press release. The workers’ contract expires on February 26. On Thursday, workers voted by 99.5% to authorize a strike, with 86% of the membership participating in the vote. A UAW video calls for ending tiers and notes that new employees at the plant pay as much as $16,000 a year for health insurance.
Daily News & Commentary
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June 22
Pro-labor candidate wins DC mayoral primary; Department of Labor secures court order regarding back wages.
June 21
The Bolivian government declares a state of emergency in response to union-led protests, and hotel workers in Philadelphia strike amidst World Cup celebrations.
June 19
The Supreme Court declines to hear a challenge to a Ninth Circuit decision upholding Thryv remedies, and tech workers receive mixed messaging about AI use.
June 18
Teamsters re-elect Sean O'Brien; Teamsters and DOJ move to end federal monitorship.
June 17
Bezos predicts AI will create labor shortage; Canada introduces legislation to strengthen forced labor import ban.
June 16
Hyundai workers approach strike; NTEU sues the IRS for First Amendment violation; former federal employees run for Congress in Trump pushback