Hannah Finnie is a writer in Washington, D.C. interested in the intersections of work and culture. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School.
A Black contract worker at Tesla who alleged he was racially discriminated against at the California-based Tesla factory he worked at won his lawsuit, though a federal judge this week pared down the damages that a jury awarded him. The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing is suing the same factory for racial discrimination and harassment.
A lawsuit against Fox News alleging sexual harassment will test whether or not a new law carving out sexual harassment and assault claims from arbitration agreements will apply retroactively, according to a Bloomberg Law article. The question centers on whether or not the law, which was enacted in March, 2022, covers arbitration agreements made before the law was passed.
Since it was revealed that Starbucks hired Democrat-affiliated PR firm Global Strategy Group (GSG) to help prepare its anti-union strategy, a campaign has continued to get pro-labor Democrats in Congress to stop working with the organization. For example, Rep. David Cicilline, who supports the pro-labor PRO Act, continues to work with Global Strategy Group and has recently been targeted for the continuing connection. Other progressive groups have dropped their ties with Global Strategy Group, including MoveOn.
Finally, President Biden’s Department of Labor released an Equity Action Plan describing both actions the department has already taken to “embed equity in everything the department does” and how it plans to continue doing so moving forward. The plan is available here.
Daily News & Commentary
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October 12
The Trump Administration fires thousands of federal workers; AFGE files a supplemental motion to pause the Administration’s mass firings; Democratic legislators harden their resolve during the government shutdown.
October 10
California bans algorithmic price-fixing; New York City Council passes pay transparency bills; and FEMA questions staff who signed a whistleblowing letter.
October 9
Equity and the Broadway League resume talks amid a looming strike; federal judge lets alcoholism ADA suit proceed; Philadelphia agrees to pay $40,000 to resolve a First Amendment retaliation case.
October 8
In today’s news and commentary, the Trump administration threatens no back pay for furloughed federal workers; the Second Circuit denies a request from the NFL for an en banc review in the Brian Flores case; and Governor Gavin Newsom signs an agreement to create a pathway for unionization for Uber and Lyft drivers.
October 7
The Supreme Court kicks off its latest term, granting and declining certiorari in several labor-related cases.
October 6
EEOC regains quorum; Second Circuit issues opinion on DEI causing hostile work environment.