Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, the Big Three Automakers continue to lay off striking workers, SEIU nursing home workers strike in Michigan, and commentators wonder: what is making this recent wave of strikes so successful?
Since the UAW began their strike at Big Three automakers four weeks ago, the three employers have laid off over 5,000 workers. Automakers claim that they are forced to lay off these workers because their jobs are tied to struck factories. However, talks continue between automakers and the UAW. UAW President Shawn Fain said Friday that negotiations are heading in the right direction.
Three Detroit nursing homes representing nearly 250 SEIU workers went on strike Tuesday for higher wages and benefits. Striking workers gathered at the Four Seasons Nursing home and were joined by U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib. “For you to walk out demand better it takes courage and you are inspiring some many other people to take that step. You do deserve better. You all take care of the most vulnerable among us,” Tlaib said speaking to striking workers.
Amid a wave of aggressive and successful strikes and union action, including those by the Writer’s Guild and United Parcel Services, commentators wonder, what has made this recent string of labor action so successful? And what has led management to underestimate unions’ resolve? Experts point to post-covid shift in workers mentality, strong new union leadership, and public opinion on big business, which is at its lowest point in decades.
Daily News & Commentary
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May 24
A majority of House Representatives sign a discharge petition for the Faster Labor Contracts Act, and the House Transportation Committee adopts a railroad safety amendment in the Build America 250 Act.
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.