Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, striking Hollywood actors and writers filed a grievance with the NLRB claiming NBCUniversal infringed on workers freedom to picket by blocking a picket area, UNITE HERE Local 11 hotel workers accuse hotels of failing to hire Black workers as full-time employees and using the strike-breaking app, Instawork, which penalizes workers who strike, and UPS pilots say they will not cross the picket like if the Teamsters go on strike.
Both the Writers’ Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA actors’ union filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) accusing Comcast-owned NBCUniversal of blocking a public sidewalk used for picketing with construction. The obstruction forced striking workers to picket in busy streets where “two picketers have already been struck by a car,” according to the WGA’s complaint. The guilds say that this construction interferes with members’ right to engage in protected strike activity.
UNITE HERE Local 11 hotel workers attended their first bargaining session on Tuesday since strikes began in early July. The Union accused hotels of failing to hire Black workers in full-time roles, particularly in hotels near neighborhoods with significant Black populations, but bringing in Black workers for part time work during the strike through temporary work apps. The Union also filed a complaint with the NLRB against Instawork, a strike-breaking temporary work app, claiming the app automatically penalizes workers who participate in a legally protected strike. Replacement workers on Instawork who refuse to attend shifts for struck work have faced decreased ratings in the app and have had their future shifts canceled. Hotel representatives left Tuesday’s bargaining session after the union proposed hiring all replacement workers, including a higher percentage of Black workers, as full-time workers at bargaining hotels.
Over 3,300 UPS pilots represented by the Independent Pilots Association (IPA) say they will not cross the picket line if the Teamsters go on strike when their contract expires on August 1. This move could ground most UPS airplanes for the duration of the strike.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
June 20
Three state bills challenge Garmon preemption; Wisconsin passes a bill establishing portable benefits for gig workers; and a sharp increase in workplace ICE raids contribute to a nationwide labor shortage.
June 19
Report finds retaliatory action by UAW President; Senators question Trump's EEOC pick; California considers new bill to address federal labor law failures.
June 18
Companies dispute NLRB regional directors' authority to make rulings while the Board lacks a quorum; the Department of Justice loses 4,500 employees to the Trump Administration's buyout offers; and a judge dismisses Columbia faculty's lawsuit over the institution's funding cuts.
June 17
NLRB finds a reporter's online criticism of the Washington Post was not protected activity under federal labor law; top union leaders leave the Democratic National Committee amid internal strife; Uber reaches a labor peace agreement with Chicago drivers.
June 16
California considers bill requiring human operators inside autonomous delivery vehicles; Eighth Circuit considers challenge to Minnesota misclassification law and whether "having a family to support" is a gendered comment.
June 15
ICE holds back on some work site raids as unions mobilize; a Maryland judge approves a $400M settlement for poultry processing workers in an antitrust case; and an OMB directive pushes federal agencies to use union PLAs.