Jon Weinberg is a student at Harvard Law School.
Today The Los Angeles Times published a story on the gig economy and the 2016 presidential election, noting attempts by Republican candidates to rally behind gig economy firms “as prime examples of free-market entrepreneurship and workplace deregulation” while Democrats struggle to “avoid appearing resistant to the popular new ventures while highlighting their potential negative effect on workers’ pay and benefits.” OnLabor Co-Founder Professor Benjamin Sachs was quoted about the implications of the debate for labor policy:
“Layered on top of all of this is the important question: What’s at stake here?” said Benjamin Sachs, a professor of labor and industry at Harvard Law School. “Are the forms of protection and social welfare that we’ve provided since 1935 — are people going to just lose all of that because we have technological change? … How do we make sure that workers share in the sharing economy?”
OnLabor continues to follow developments in the gig economy and the status of gig economy workers.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
August 16
New documents show that federal surveillance operations targeted Minnesota labor unions during the ICE surge, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission denies halting federal class discrimination complaints.
August 14
Hollywood unions diverge in response to the Paramount-Warner merger saga; Tesla defeats a years-long strike in Sweden, and labor scholars advocate for state sectoral bargaining policy innovation.
August 13
EEOC complaint process expected to harm federal workers; former UAW leaders endorse Fain challenger; Xbox employees protest layoffs.
August 12
Third Circuit affirms dismissal of driver’s bias and retaliation claims against CBS and Teamsters; employment litigation surges in Washington state; MIT Sloan professor argues the rise of “disposable workers” is transforming American employment.
August 11
Rideshare drivers nearing union certification in California; UFCW campaigns against electronic shelf labels; Teamsters support NYC delivery driver bill.
August 10
Employee sues for a fossil-fuel-free 401(k) plan as a religious accommodation; DHS submits a proposed rule eliminating 60-day grace period for H-1B workers; Eighth Circuit dismisses constitutional challenge to the FMSHRC.