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
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September 26
Trump’s DOL seeks to roll back a rule granting FLSA protections to domestic care workers; the Second Circuit allows a claim of hostile work environment created by DEI trainings to proceed; and a GAO report finds alarming levels of sexual abuse in high school Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs.
September 25
Fenway workers allege retaliation; fired Washington Post columnist files grievance; Trump administration previews mass firings from government shutdown.
September 24
The Trump administration proposes an overhaul to the H-1B process conditioning entry to the United States on a $100,000 fee; Amazon sues the New York State Public Employment Relations Board over a state law that claims authority over private-sector labor disputes; and Mayor Karen Bass signs an agreement with labor unions that protects Los Angeles city workers from layoffs.
September 23
EEOC plans to close pending worker charges based solely on unintentional discrimination claims; NLRB holds that Starbucks violated federal labor law by firing baristas at a Madison, Wisconsin café.
September 22
Missouri lawmakers attack pro-worker ballot initiatives, shortcomings in California rideshare deal, some sexual misconduct claimants prefer arbitration.
September 21
USFS and California seek to improve firefighter safety, Massachusetts pay transparency law to take effect, and Trump adds new hurdles for H-1B visa applicants