
Greg Volynsky is a student at Harvard Law School.
In Today’s News & Commentary, Kaiser Permanente reached a tentative agreement with 75,000 workers, SF public school teachers authorized a strike, and Michigan law allows retired teachers to go back to work while still collecting retirement benefits.
On Friday, Kaiser Permanente and a union representing 75,000 of its frontline healthcare workers—primarily medical assistants, laboratory technicians, receptionists and sanitation staff—announced a tentative agreement, a week after a disruptive three-day strike. This labor conflict is among several recently experienced by health care institutions, exacerbated by acute staffing challenges post-pandemic. For instance, on Tuesday, 1,500 health workers began a five-day strike against a medical center in California, as some Walgreens pharmacy staff across four states initiated a walk-out on the same day. Workers under the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions expressed gratitude for the involvement of acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su in facilitating the agreement. Kaiser Permanente provides health plans and services for 13 million individuals across eight states.
On Thursday, the San Francisco public school teachers’ union announced members had overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike. The union represents approximately 6,500 teachers from the San Francisco Unified School District. The vote follows 10 months of negotiations and comes as the district faces a staffing crisis, with a quarter of teaching positions unfilled. Teachers seek a $12,000 raise over two years, while the district has proposed $10,000; teachers have also voiced deep dissatisfaction with a new, multimillion dollar payroll system the district rolled out last year. A week ago, SF custodial and other staff members also voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. A second vote is necessary to actually initiate a walk-out.
On Wednesday, Governor Whitmer of Michigan signed legislation allowing retired teachers to go back to work while still collecting retirement benefits.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
August 1
The Michigan Supreme Court grants heightened judicial scrutiny over employment contracts that shorten the limitations period for filing civil rights claims; the California Labor Commission gains new enforcement power over tip theft; and a new Florida law further empowers employers issuing noncompete agreements.
July 31
EEOC sued over trans rights enforcement; railroad union opposes railroad merger; suits against NLRB slow down.
July 30
In today’s news and commentary, the First Circuit will hear oral arguments on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) revocation of parole grants for thousands of migrants; United Airlines’ flight attendants vote against a new labor contract; and the AFL-CIO files a complaint against a Trump Administrative Executive Order that strips the collective bargaining rights of the vast majority of federal workers.
July 29
The Trump administration released new guidelines for federal employers regarding religious expression in the workplace; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers is suing former union president for repayment of mismanagement of union funds; Uber has criticized a new proposal requiring delivery workers to carry company-issued identification numbers.
July 28
Lower courts work out meaning of Muldrow; NLRB releases memos on recording and union salts.
July 27
In today’s news and commentary, Trump issues an EO on college sports, a second district court judge blocks the Department of Labor from winding down Job Corps, and Safeway workers in California reach a tentative agreement. On Thursday, President Trump announced an executive order titled “Saving College Sports,” which declared it common sense that “college […]