Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, University of Michigan health workers unionize, a Major League Soccer (MLS) referee lockout ends, and a Domino’s Pizza owner is sued for child labor violations.
Over 2,300 employees at University of Michigan have joined SEIU Healthcare Michigan. One new member explained that the differences in working conditions between the University’s unionized and non-unionized employees became more apparent during COVID-19. Now, about 80% of Michigan Medicine staff belong to a union. The new union includes a range of healthcare positions like patient care techs, patient service employees, and phlebotomists.
An employer lockout which kept Major League Soccer referees from working the first six matches of the season ended yesterday with a new collective bargaining agreement. But coaches, players, and broadcasters noted frustration at referees’ absence so far. Replacement referees during the first games of the season made questionable or incorrect decisions according to spectators, despite guidance circulated by MLS instructing commentators not to discuss the lockout while broadcasting.
Pennsylvania Department of Labor fined the owner of multiple Domino’s pizza shops for over 700 child labor violations. Violations included excessive working ours, employment outside of legal working hours for children during the school year, not getting parent authorization, and failing to provide breaks. Each violation can hold a fine of up to $5,000.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
November 24
Labor leaders criticize tariffs; White House cancels jobs report; and student organizers launch chaperone program for noncitizens.
November 23
Workers at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority vote to authorize a strike; Washington State legislators consider a bill empowering public employees to bargain over workplace AI implementation; and University of California workers engage in a two-day strike.
November 21
The “Big Three” record labels make a deal with an AI music streaming startup; 30 stores join the now week-old Starbucks Workers United strike; and the Mine Safety and Health Administration draws scrutiny over a recent worker death.
November 20
Law professors file brief in Slaughter; New York appeals court hears arguments about blog post firing; Senate committee delays consideration of NLRB nominee.
November 19
A federal judge blocks the Trump administration’s efforts to cancel the collective bargaining rights of workers at the U.S. Agency for Global Media; Representative Jared Golden secures 218 signatures for a bill that would repeal a Trump administration executive order stripping federal workers of their collective bargaining rights; and Dallas residents sue the City of Dallas in hopes of declaring hundreds of ordinances that ban bias against LGBTQ+ individuals void.
November 18
A federal judge pressed DOJ lawyers to define “illegal” DEI programs; Peco Foods prevails in ERISA challenge over 401(k) forfeitures; D.C. court restores collective bargaining rights for Voice of America workers; Rep. Jared Golden secures House vote on restoring federal workers' union rights.