Jack Goldsmith is the Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, where he teaches and writes about national security law, international law, internet law, and, recently, labor history. Before coming to Harvard, Professor Goldsmith served as Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel from 2003-2004, and Special Counsel to the Department of Defense from 2002-2003.
Earlier this year, labor historian Melvyn Dubofsky gave a very pessimistic assessment of the prospects for the American labor movement. “Given the current alignment of forces domestically and globally,” he concluded, “I find it hard to conceive of any tactics or broader strategy through which the labor movement might re-establish its former size, place, and power.” Rick Yeselson has written an implicit response. He proposes a “Fortress Unionism” strategy during the period of labor’s stasis and decline, a period he thinks will end only when “the workers themselves militantly signal that they want unions.” Fortress Unionism has five tenets: (1) Defend the remaining high-density regions, sectors, and companies; (2) Strengthen existing union locals; (3) Ask one key question about organizing drives: Will they increase the density or power of existing strongholds?; (4) Sustain coalition work with other progressive organizations; (5) Invest heavily in alt-labor organizations, especially Working America.
With the possible exception of (5), Fortress Unionism seems like a defeatist strategy that will worsen’s labor’s plight. Jimmy Hoffa would have agreed with Yeselson’s commentator Cato Uticensis: “the answer to ‘what is to be done’ is the same as it ever was: organize and fight.” But perhaps a better (though not a complete) answer for the modern labor movement is provided in the comments by Jefferson Cowie, author of the great 1970s labor history, Stayin’ Alive, who said: “As for the future, one word: immigrants.”
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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 […]