Anjali Katta is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, Whole Foods workers in Philly file for first-ever union election under Amazon’s ownership, Waffle House sues the NLRB, and Amazon workers across the world threaten to strike and protest on Black Friday.
Whole Foods workers in Center City, Philadelphia, have announced their intention to unionize with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1776 and have filed a petition with the NLRB. If successful, this effort would result in the first ever Whole Foods union under Amazon’s ownership. The union would represent 300 workers. These workers would join the 800,000 grocery store members already represented by UFCW including workers from Kroger, Albertsons, Safeway, and Stop & Shop. Since Amazon acquired Whole Foods in 2017, workers have faced harsher working conditions, decreased benefits, and increased surveillance.
Waffle House, a fast-food chain, is suing the NLRB over an unfair labor practice charge filed by the Service Employees’ International Union (SEIU). Waffle House argues that the NLRB’s administrative procedures are unconstitutional and deprives the company of due process. Waffle House also claims that that the NLRB’s Administrative Law Judges and Board members are too insulated from Presidential removal. By suing the NLRB, Waffle House joins a growing list of employers—including SpaceX, Amazon, and the ACLU— who have also challenged the NLRB’s structure as unconstitutional.
Amazon workers in 20 countries across the globe are planning to protest and strike between Black Friday (November 29) and Cyber Monday (December 2) as part of the Make Amazon Pay Campaign. The campaign, which includes over 80 labor unions, anti-poverty organizations, and labor rights groups, is calling for fair wages, the right to join a union without interference, for Amazon to pay its fair share of taxes, and for commitments to environmental sustainability. November 29, 2024 will mark the fifth consecutive Black Friday that the Make Amazon Pay campaign has organized a global action. The largest strike is expected in Germany, where up to 3,000 workers across six Amazon facilities are planning to join the protests.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
September 22
Judge blocks ICE raids in Alabama; Chicago hotel workers vote to strike; AutoZone workers look to create first union
September 21
In today’s News and Commentary, the Seventh Circuit raises the bar for the NLRB to obtain preliminary injunctions, the California Primary Care Association sues SEIU-UHW for racketeering, and the Seventh Circuit finds that an employer group and think tank do not have standing to challenge an Illinois law banning captive audience meetings. On Friday, the […]
September 20
Culinary Workers Union members protests union leadership; lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft reveal internal concerns about the threat of AI training to human labor.
September 17
Unions push to block Google from buying Spirit Airlines employment records; U.S. Department of Labor sues Oklahoma coffee chain over alleged wage violations.
September 16
Trump nominates Catherine Eschbach as EEOC general counsel; NLRB declines to resolve union work-assignment dispute; Allina Health physicians begin four-day strike.
September 15
Documents reveal the inner workings of Amazon's union avoidance program; Washington state public sector unions reach tentative deals amid a difficult bargaining cycle; hundreds of Nevada Culinary Union members protest their union's health care changes.