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
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June 22
California lawmakers challenge Garmon preemption in the absence of an NLRB quorum and Utah organizers successfully secure a ballot referendum to overturn HB 267.
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.