
Holt McKeithan is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News & Commentary, Philadelphia’s largest city workers union authorizes a strike, video game union at Microsoft completes one-day strike, and Massachusetts teachers’ unions are fined.
District 33, a union of Philadelphia city workers, has authorized a strike. The union represents 9,000 mostly blue-collar workers, including sanitation workers. Workers are dissatisfied with the city’s latest contract offer, which amounted to only $50 more per pay period, failing to keep pace with inflation. “Our money is spent on Philadelphia. We live in Philadelphia, and we love Philadelphia. How about showing us the money,” Fred Gillespie, another city worker, added. The union has been working without a contract since July. While the union is not yet striking, the authorization vote allows for the union leaders to call for a vote any time.
Massachusetts teachers in Beverly and Gloucester struck last week, as Elyse covered. Those unions were fined for refusing to return to the classroom. Judges imposed fines of $50,000 per day. Massachusetts state law bans public sector employee strikes. The Beverly Teachers Association (BTA) is negotiating for smaller class sizes, 12 weeks of paid parental leave and living wages for paraprofessionals and teachers assistants. The Union of Gloucester Educators says it has been negotiating for safe, fully staffed schools, paid parental leave, competitive wages, and respect, but the School Committee has stalled and rejected nearly all proposals.
ZeniMax Workers United struck on Wednesday. The union represents video game makers at a company owned by Microsoft. When the union was recognized in January 2023, it was Microsoft’s first. The workers struck over concerns regarding outsourcing jobs and return to office mandates.
Daily News & Commentary
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September 26
Trump’s DOL seeks to roll back a rule granting FLSA protections to domestic care workers; the Second Circuit allows a claim of hostile work environment created by DEI trainings to proceed; and a GAO report finds alarming levels of sexual abuse in high school Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs.
September 25
Fenway workers allege retaliation; fired Washington Post columnist files grievance; Trump administration previews mass firings from government shutdown.
September 24
The Trump administration proposes an overhaul to the H-1B process conditioning entry to the United States on a $100,000 fee; Amazon sues the New York State Public Employment Relations Board over a state law that claims authority over private-sector labor disputes; and Mayor Karen Bass signs an agreement with labor unions that protects Los Angeles city workers from layoffs.
September 23
EEOC plans to close pending worker charges based solely on unintentional discrimination claims; NLRB holds that Starbucks violated federal labor law by firing baristas at a Madison, Wisconsin café.
September 22
Missouri lawmakers attack pro-worker ballot initiatives, shortcomings in California rideshare deal, some sexual misconduct claimants prefer arbitration.
September 21
USFS and California seek to improve firefighter safety, Massachusetts pay transparency law to take effect, and Trump adds new hurdles for H-1B visa applicants