
John Fry is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s news and commentary, the Boeing strike ends; Wells Fargo begins contract negotiations; Grindr is accused of retaliatory RTO; and NYT tech workers go on strike.
Unionized Boeing workers have accepted the company’s latest contract offer, ending what CNN reports has been “the costliest strike in the United States in more than 25 years.” The deal includes a 38% pay raise over four years (the company’s previous offer was 35%) and a one-time ratification bonus of $12,000 (the company’s previous offer was $7,000). While the union did extract significant concessions over the course of the nearly two-month-long strike, Boeing did not agree to reinstitute the workers’ pension plans, instead insisting on retaining its current 401(k) system. Rank-and-file workers’ anger at the loss of the pension plan—which the union agreed to give up in a much-maligned 2014 contract—is widely understood to be one reason why this strike lasted so long, with members twice voting to reject tentative agreements between the company and the union.
Wells Fargo is beginning union negotiations for the first time today, as the store sits down with workers at a New Mexico branch who voted to join the Communications Workers of America last year. More than 20 of the bank’s locations have unionized, including branches in California, Delaware, and Florida. While the union hopes to bargain one nationwide contract for all unionized branches (similar to the effort currently underway at Starbucks), the company intends to bargain store-by-store. Pro-union employees cite the company’s history of illegal activity (for example, a 2016 scandal in which the bank was revealed to create fake bank accounts for millions of its customers) as one reason why a union is necessary.
The NLRB has alleged that Grindr’s return-to-office push last year was an attempt to punish union organizing at the company. After a bargaining unit of about half of Grindr employees announced their intent to join CWA, the company mandated two days of in-person work per week, according to the unfair labor practice charges. The NLRB is seeking to order the company to bargain with the union, while Grindr denies the charges. Meanwhile, even if the policy is found to be unlawful, it may have already succeeded: CWA reports that roughly 2/3 of the desired bargaining unit has left Grindr since the mandate was announced.
Unionized tech workers at the New York Times went on strike yesterday, threatening the paper’s election-day coverage. While the workers voted to unionize over two years ago, they have not yet obtained a first contract with the company. Reported sticking points in contract negotiations include just-cause protections from termination, pay equity measures, and the details of the company’s return-to-office policy. The Times has cautioned readers that the strike may disable its famed election-night prediction “Needle.”
Daily News & Commentary
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July 6
Municipal workers in Philadelphia continue to strike; Zohran Mamdani collects union endorsements; UFCW grocery workers in California and Colorado reach tentative agreements.
July 4
The DOL scraps a Biden-era proposed rule to end subminimum wages for disabled workers; millions will lose access to Medicaid and SNAP due to new proof of work requirements; and states step up in the noncompete policy space.
July 3
California compromises with unions on housing; 11th Circuit rules against transgender teacher; Harvard removes hundreds from grad student union.
July 2
Block, Nanda, and Nayak argue that the NLRA is under attack, harming democracy; the EEOC files a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former EEOC Commissioner Jocelyn Samuels; and SEIU Local 1000 strikes an agreement with the State of California to delay the state's return-to-office executive order for state workers.
July 1
In today’s news and commentary, the Department of Labor proposes to roll back minimum wage and overtime protections for home care workers, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by public defenders over a union’s Gaza statements, and Philadelphia’s largest municipal union is on strike for first time in nearly 40 years. On Monday, the U.S. […]
June 30
Antidiscrimination scholars question McDonnell Douglas, George Washington University Hospital bargained in bad faith, and NY regulators defend LPA dispensary law.