Esther Ritchin is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s news and commentary, the Bronx Defenders Union announces a tentative collective bargaining agreement, Amazon workers continue a strike in Skokie, and Bangladeshi students continue protests over government job quotas.
On July 18, the Bronx Defenders Union announced a tentative collective bargaining agreement. The union wrote that bargaining took 17 hours and concluded past two in the morning, but the resulting agreement includes 8-10% salary increases for the Bronx Defender staff, a two-year contract, the right to strike for wages after the first year, a flexible remote work policy, and a free speech provision. As Holden reported, the union had authorized a strike earlier this week in response to the employer’s unwillingness to bargain in good faith.
In Skokie, a suburb just north of Chicago, Amazon workers have been on strike since June 26. The workers, organized with the Teamsters Local 705, are demanding union recognition and a fair contract. Workers hope to gain a fair wage, affordable healthcare, and safer working conditions. The strike was strong in advance of Prime Day, during which Amazon advertises sales for its Prime members.
Bangladesh has closed schools–high schools, colleges, and seminaries–in response to the student protests, where violence between police and protestors has led to at least 25 casualties. The students are protesting the current quota system in which 30% of government jobs are reserved for the children and grandchildren of people who fought for Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan. The students are advocating for the “freedom fighter” quota to be replaced with merit-based positions. They are not calling for an end to the other quota categories (including jobs reserved for women and ethnic minorities, among other categories). The quota had been halted in 2018, after a wave of student protests, but the Bangladesh High Court reinstated the quota system last month. The Supreme Court has suspended the High Court’s ruling and says it plans to rule on the quotas by August 7.
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April 20
In today’s news and commentary, the Supreme Court rules for Cornell employees in an ERISA suit, the Sixth Circuit addresses whether the EFAA applies to a sexual harassment claim, and DOGE gains access to sensitive labor data on immigrants. On Thursday, the Supreme Court made it easier for employees to bring ERISA suits when their […]
April 18
Two major New York City unions endorse Cuomo for mayor; Committee on Education and the Workforce requests an investigation into a major healthcare union’s spending; Unions launch a national pro bono legal network for federal workers.
April 17
Utahns sign a petition supporting referendum to repeal law prohibiting public sector collective bargaining; the US District Court for the District of Columbia declines to dismiss claims filed by the AFL-CIO against several government agencies; and the DOGE faces reports that staffers of the agency accessed the NLRB’s sensitive case files.
April 16
7th Circuit questions the relevance of NLRB precedent after Loper Bright, unions seek to defend silica rule, and Abrego Garcia's union speaks out.
April 15
In today’s news and commentary, SAG-AFTRA reaches a tentative agreement, AFT sues the Trump Administration, and California offers its mediation services to make up for federal cuts. SAG-AFTRA, the union representing approximately 133,000 commercial actors and singers, has reached a tentative agreement with advertisers and advertising agencies. These companies were represented in contract negotiations by […]
April 14
Department of Labor publishes unemployment statistics; Kentucky unions resist deportation orders; Teamsters win three elections in Texas.