Sunah Chang is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s news and commentary: Boeing workers prepare for a rally, and the Supreme Court receives an emergency application to consider NLRB’s constitutionality.
Today, Boeing workers will stage a large rally in Seattle as their strike enters its fifth week. Since September 13th, 33,000 factory workers have been on strike against the planemaker in pursuit of a 40% wage increase over the next four years. The relationship between the parties has soured throughout the strike; just last week, Boeing withdrew its “best and final” offer proposed to striking workers after the union pushed back on the offer. Notably, today’s rally comes just one day after U.S. Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su met with Boeing and union leaders in an effort to encourage the parties to return to the bargaining table.
As the strike drags on, Boeing has taken drastic measures to keep the company afloat. The month-long strike has halted Boeing’s commercial airline production and crippled the company’s finances. Just this morning, the company announced plans to borrow $10 billion from banks. The company is also planning to raise $25 billion by selling stock and debt. Additionally, Boeing has announced plans to cut down 17,000 jobs and will begin sending out 60-day notices to employees in mid-November.
Meanwhile, the constitutional fight against the NLRB’s structure has arrived at the steps of the Supreme Court. Yesterday, an auto parts company called Yapp USA Automotive Systems filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court in an effort to block an NLRB case against the company. Yapp has been accused of illegally interfering with a union election at its Michigan factory and faces a hearing before an NLRB administrative law judge, which is set to begin today. Last month, a federal judge in Michigan refused to grant an injunction to block the NLRB case. Yapp appealed the case to the Sixth Circuit, which on Sunday declined to grant the company’s motion to stay the administrative case pending the appeal. Facing the imminent NLRB hearing, Yapp has filed an emergency application for a writ of injunction with the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court chooses to grant the application or requests additional briefing, the case could have existential consequences for the future of the NLRB.
To stay up to date on all the legal challenges against the NLRB, read up on John’s series: “Tracking Attacks on the NLRB.”
Daily News & Commentary
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October 15
Boeing workers prepare for rally; Supreme Court receives an emergency application to consider NLRB’s constitutionality.
October 14
Wells Fargo employees vote to unionize; Apple store employees organize while the company faces unfair labor practice charges; Boston University graduate student workers consider ratifying a contract that will end their strike
October 13
Boeing and Machinists' talks stall; Sweden rebukes Tesla; AFL-CIO secures worker participation in AI research.
October 11
In today’s News & Commentary, Uber drivers protest the deactivation policy, Amazon workers continue the fight for fair treatment, and Florida companies face criticism for putting workers in harm’s way while facing Hurricane Milton. Drivers with the Activate Respect campaign have long protested Uber’s “deactivation” policy, where the app terminates a driver’s ability to work […]
October 10
DOL obtains a federal consent decree against Tennessee sawmill for employing children as young as 13- and 14-years-old, Michigan Governor Whitmer signs legislation to restore bargaining rights to home care workers, and the all-male Chippendales Dancers seek to unionize with the Actors’ Equity Association.
October 9
A 5th Circuit Appeals court panel suggested that companies lack standing to sue over a 2022 memo from National Labor Relations Board General Counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, Chippendales Dancers seek to unionize under the Actors’ Equity Association, and the AFL-CIO urges members to vote for Vice President, Kamala Harris.