Jacqueline Rayfield is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, New York Times tech workers authorize a strike, labor organizers and Palestine activists work together on college campuses, and Samsung workers continue a strike in India.
Over 600 New York Times tech workers voted yesterday to authorize a strike. Contract negotiations between their union, the New York Times Tech Guild, and the newspaper management stalled over contract topics including wages, remote work policy, and just cause protection. The Guild represents the largest union of tech workers in the country and saw an 89% participation rate in Tuesday’s vote.
Across the country, student unions and Palestinian liberation activists have been working together on college campuses since the spring. Dartmouth union members and Palestinian activists describe their collaboration: “[I]t’s the same people working for the same vision.” On Dartmouth’s campus, this collaboration launched both a student encampment and a general strike in tandem. Students hope that this model will spread to other schools and prepare for union negotiations and the ongoing struggle for Palestinian liberation in the new school year.
Unionized workers at Samsung Electric in India continue one of the largest strikes in the nation in recent years. As the strike enters its third day, union leaders insist that the strike will continue until Samsung meets key demands regarding wages and working conditions. The struck Samsung plant contributes over 20% of Samsung’s $12 billion revenue in India annually.
Daily News & Commentary
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October 28
The Writers Guild of America East provides writers with access to software that protects their work from AI scraping, and city workers in Oregon reach a tentative agreement after a six-day strike.
October 27
Some California union locals defy their statewide leadership to back the state’s billionaire tax proposal; a Brown University technology center releases a map of the hidden global workforce behind AI; the National Women's Soccer League and its players union settle six grievances.
October 26
Harvard dining workers authorize strike; New York City bans horse carriages; Brooklyn nurses rally in support of colleague.
October 25
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders unionize; Bureau of Prisons again pushes for union contract cancellation; CSU faculty votes on strike authorization.
October 23
Employers increasingly shift health care costs onto workers and NYC proposes placing restrictions on fully automated customer service.
October 22
SCOTUS declines Wilcox appeal; Penn State research assistants win bargaining rights; SEIU sued over military leave firing.