Holt McKeithan is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, the Labor Department charges an Alabama Hyundai plant for use of child labor and UC workers strike over the schools’ handling of Gaza protests.
An investigation revealed that a 13-year old child worked 50-60 hour weeks on a Hyundai assembly line in Luverne, Alabama. The Department of Labor charged three Alabama companies – Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama LLC, SMART Alabama LLC, and Best Practice Service LLC – in connection with the finding. The DOL’s complaint seeks an injunction against the use of child labor and a portion of the profits Hyundai made while employing child labor. Hyundai Alabama is also facing pressure from an organizing campaign. The UAW is organizing a union campaign at an Alabama Hyundai plant. 30% of workers at the Montgomery plant had signed cards as of February.
UCLA and UC Davis workers walked off the job on Tuesday to protest the schools’ responses to Gaza protests. In response to a request from UCLA, police in riot gear arrested more than 200 students. Now, researchers, graduate students, and other workers affiliated with the UAW have walked off the job. Union leaders are demanding no arrests, expulsions, suspensions, or other disciplinary action against protestors, as well as divestment of university funds associated with the war in Gaza. The university has claimed the strike is unlawful.
Daily News & Commentary
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June 25
Supreme Court grants petition to hear a case on the scope of ADA standing; Texas federal district court blocks DOL rule expanding wage requirements for construction contractors, and South Korean Hyundai workers authorize strike.
June 24
Workers across the country face extreme heat exposure with minimal government protections; Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2 reaches a tentative agreement with Con Edison narrowly avoiding a strike; the Tenth Circuit grants a continuation of a freeze on a wage increase for some federal contractors
June 23
Teamsters president will speak at RNC; Supreme Court weighs in on overtime exemptions; Honda faces ULP allegations.
June 21
The Amazon Labor Union voted to affiliate with the Teamsters; a Pennsylvania jury was unable to decide Uber Black drivers are employees; a recent article questioned the legality of southern governors’ anti-union activities.
June 20
NLRB issues Cemex order requiring casinos to recognize union; Amazon fined nearly $6 million for violating California’s Warehouse Quotas law; Waffle House commits to raise wages after pressure from labor advocates.
June 18
EEOC regulations requiring abortion accommodations survive; Bird Union seeks first contract; NLRB applies standard for when misconduct loses protection of Section 7.