Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Alaska’s appeal on a policy to allow workers to opt-out of paying union dues, the Center for American Progress highlights ways to increase union membership, and local unions hold out on endorsing Biden’s reelection.
On Tuesday, the justices of the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Alaska on a Republican-backed policy passed in 2019. The original policy, an administrative order by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, barred unions from representing and collecting dues from workers unless those workers filled out an authorization form. Lower courts in Alaska dismissed the case and the Alaskan Supreme Court affirmed in 2023.
The Center for American Progress (CAP) released a report highlighting stagnant union density, and suggesting policy solutions to increase membership. The CAP contributor argues that policy solutions such as the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act would be strong first steps to increasing union membership.
Several local unions, including truck drivers, firefighters, and postal workers, have been holding out on endorsing Biden’s reelection campaign. Union leaders highlight Biden’s intervention to prevent a national railway strike in 2022, and Democrats inability to rally support for the PRO Act as possible reasons for the holdout.
Daily News & Commentary
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October 8
In today’s news and commentary, the Trump administration threatens no back pay for furloughed federal workers; the Second Circuit denies a request from the NFL for an en banc review in the Brian Flores case; and Governor Gavin Newsom signs an agreement to create a pathway for unionization for Uber and Lyft drivers.
October 7
The Supreme Court kicks off its latest term, granting and declining certiorari in several labor-related cases.
October 6
EEOC regains quorum; Second Circuit issues opinion on DEI causing hostile work environment.
October 5
In today’s news and commentary, HELP committee schedules a vote on Trump’s NLRB nominees, the 5th Circuit rejects Amazon’s request for en banc review, and TV production workers win their first union contract. After a nomination hearing on Wednesday, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee scheduled a committee vote on President Trump’s NLRB nominees […]
October 3
California legislation empowers state labor board; ChatGPT used in hostile workplace case; more lawsuits challenge ICE arrests
October 2
AFGE and AFSCME sue in response to the threat of mass firings; another preliminary injunction preventing Trump from stripping some federal workers of collective bargaining rights; and challenges to state laws banning captive audience meetings.