Esther Ritchin is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s news, the holiday season strikes against Amazon and Starbucks both conclude, and Amazon mandates a full-time return to office for its corporate employees.
The strike against Amazon, held at warehouses in the five days leading up to Christmas Eve, ended as scheduled. The strike was officially held at nine different warehouses, but there were protests and demonstrations at at least 200 locations throughout the strike period. While the strike has concluded, the Teamsters “will never let up and workers will never stop fighting for their rights at Amazon.” The complaints that brought workers to strike, including safety violations and unjust pay, continue. Starbucks workers also concluded their strike as scheduled at the end of the holiday season.
In related news, yesterday, the first workday of the new year, marked Amazon’s new mandatory return-to-office policy, five days a week, for its corporate employees. Many employees are frustrated by the policy, especially after inconsistent messaging from leadership on remote work and rumors of Amazon using this policy as a way to lower their number of corporate employees without having to lay people off.
Daily News & Commentary
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July 9
The Second Circuit declines to vacate an arbitration award over a nursing union dispute; federal workers sue the Department of Defense for termination of union contracts; New York City announces settlement with companies for violating New York work laws.
July 8
DOL plans to make changes to the PERM immigration program; three-day hearing on proposed forced-labor tariffs is underway; Mamdani recovers $2.3M in corporate settlements.
July 7
Former EEOC Commissioner drops her wrongful termination lawsuit following the Supreme Court’s ruling on Presidential removal power; unions sue Department of Defense over cancellation of collective bargaining agreements.
July 6
NY home health worker class action settlement secures preliminary approval; the NLRB upholds order finding Amazon violated federal labor law.
July 3
Unions seek a preliminary injunction to prevent USDA downsizing; the D.C. District Court issues a preliminary injunction against new student loan regulations; Matt Bruenig releases an analysis of Starbucks’ ongoing legal battle against Starbucks Workers United.
July 2
First Circuit denies federal worker unions’ mandamus petition; federal court denies preliminary injunction against new union reporting rule; House introduces the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act.