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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May 22
U.S. employers spend $1.7B on union avoidance each year and the ICJ declares the right to strike a protected activity.
May 21
UAW backs legal challenge to Trump “gold card” visa; DOL requests unemployment fraud technology funding; Samsung reaches eleventh-hour union agreement.
May 20
LIRR strike ends after three-day shutdown; key senators reject Trump's proposed 26% cut to Labor Department budget; EEOC moves to eliminate employer demographic reporting requirement.
May 19
Amazon urges 11th Circuit to overturn captive-audience meeting ban; DOL scraps Biden overtime rule; SCOTUS to decide on Title IX private right of action for school employees
May 18
California Department of Justice finds conditions at ICE facilities inhumane; Second Circuit rejects race bias claim from Black and Hispanic social workers; FAA cuts air traffic controller staffing target.
May 17
UC workers avoid striking with an 11th-hour agreement; Governor Spanberger vetoes public employee collective bargaining protections; Samsung workers prepare for an 18-day strike.