Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, Donald Trump plans to meet with the Teamsters, UPS announces layoffs, and the United Auto Workers (UAW) continues its campaign to organize non-union autoworkers.
Trump will meet with Teamsters this afternoon in an effort to decrease Biden’s union backing. Teamsters workers and the former president will participate in a roundtable discussion of issues critical to workers in Midwestern swing states. President Biden’s support from union leadership, however, remains strong, with endorsements from the AFL-CIO and UAW President Shawn Fain.
UPS announced yesterday that it would cut 12,000 jobs, in part citing higher union labor costs. These cuts represent less than 3% of the company’s workforce and include only non-union workers. In July, the UPS signed a contract with the Teamsters to push pay for full-time drivers up to $49 per hour. Despite these pay increases, the company reported $24.92 billion in fourth quarter revenue in 2023.
The UAW announced on Monday that 10,000 non-union autoworkers have signed UAW cards since the union ratified its contract with Big Three automakers. The UAW estimates that it will need to reach around 150,000 people in its organizing campaign to bring in non-union workers. “These workers are standing up for themselves, for their families, and for their communities,” said UAW president Shawn Fain of these newly organized workers.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
August 1
The Michigan Supreme Court grants heightened judicial scrutiny over employment contracts that shorten the limitations period for filing civil rights claims; the California Labor Commission gains new enforcement power over tip theft; and a new Florida law further empowers employers issuing noncompete agreements.
July 31
EEOC sued over trans rights enforcement; railroad union opposes railroad merger; suits against NLRB slow down.
July 30
In today’s news and commentary, the First Circuit will hear oral arguments on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) revocation of parole grants for thousands of migrants; United Airlines’ flight attendants vote against a new labor contract; and the AFL-CIO files a complaint against a Trump Administrative Executive Order that strips the collective bargaining rights of the vast majority of federal workers.
July 29
The Trump administration released new guidelines for federal employers regarding religious expression in the workplace; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers is suing former union president for repayment of mismanagement of union funds; Uber has criticized a new proposal requiring delivery workers to carry company-issued identification numbers.
July 28
Lower courts work out meaning of Muldrow; NLRB releases memos on recording and union salts.
July 27
In today’s news and commentary, Trump issues an EO on college sports, a second district court judge blocks the Department of Labor from winding down Job Corps, and Safeway workers in California reach a tentative agreement. On Thursday, President Trump announced an executive order titled “Saving College Sports,” which declared it common sense that “college […]