In today’s news and commentary King Soopers workers announce a strike, Congressman Biggs introduces a bill to abolish OSHA, the UAW announces willingness to support Trump’s tariffs, and Yale New Haven Health System faces a wage and hour class action.

Workers at unionized King Soopers stores, a grocery chain owned by Kroger, are set to begin a ULP strike after over four months of failed contract negotiations that began in October 2024. Around 10,000 workers at 77 locations, represented by UFCW Local 7, will strike for two weeks starting on February 6th. King Soopers workers allege that the company is attempting to force a new contract with worse terms despite issues with staffing and low wages. The overwhelming majority of workers—96%—voted to authorize the strike.

Republican Congressman Andy Biggs has introduced a bill to abolish OSHA. Titled “NOSHA”, the entirety of the bill reads “The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 is repealed. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is abolished.” In his press release, Congressman Biggs stated that OSHA, an agency signed into law by President Nixon, is an example of a “bloated federal government” and “should not have existed in the first place.” Some commentators, however, are skeptical about the bill’s ability to pass the House and the Senate and regard the move as a publicity stunt.

The UAW announced in a statement that they were willing to support President Trump’s tariffs as a means to prevent manufacturing plant closures and curb corporate power that pits “US workers against workers in other countries.” The statement, however, explicitly rejects using these tariffs as leverage for negotiating immigration or drug policies with other nations. Although the UAW had previously advocated against a Trump presidency, the union and its president, Shawn Fain, have previously signaled their interest in working with any administration that prioritizes workers. The statement urges President Trump to renegotiate trade deals such as USMCA and NAFTA to bring back American jobs and stop the exploitation of workers at home and abroad.

Finally, Yale New Haven Health System, Connecticut’s second largest employer with 31,000 employees, is facing a federal lawsuit alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Connecticut Minimum Wage Act. Workers allege that Yale New Haven failed to pay employees for all hours worked, including overtime, and improperly deducted time for breaks that were missed, interrupted, or not fully taken. The lawsuit seeks to recover unpaid regular and overtime wages plus damages for thousands of current and former employees allegedly subject to the improper pay practices.