In the contentious world of education policy, Politico reports that Michelle Rhee, the “outspoken education reformer,” will “host a series of national town hall meetings” in cities across the country. Despite Rhee’s history of clashing with teachers’ unions during her tenure as chancellor of D.C.’s public schools, she will be joined by George Parker, former president of the Washington Teachers’ Union.
For slightly older students and graduates, the debate over unpaid internships continues. Kelli Goff at theWashington Post opines that Sheryl Sandberg, the Facebook COO and author of Lean In, should be ashamed that her non-profit was seeking an unpaid intern, despite herself earning over $90 million in the past year.
Over in California, a court has ordered a 60-day injunction against further BART strikes. William B. Gould IV, a former chairman of the NLRB, argues in the L.A. Times, that both management and labor take inspiration from how Major League Baseball resolved its salary disputes in 1973 and turn to binding arbitration.
In labor news overseas, the Washington Post reports that Samsung has been sued by a Brazilian labor group for poor working conditions at the firm’s assembly lines in Brazil.
The immigration reform battle continues over Congress’ August recess. The Washington Post reports that immigration reform advocates and unions have sent “caravans of cars and buses” to House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy’s (R, CA-22) district to push him to support reform. Rep. McCarthy’s district has a significant agriculture industry, which relies on immigrant labor, making him perhaps more persuadable than other Republican Members of Congress.
Daily News & Commentary
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September 23
EEOC plans to close pending worker charges based solely on unintentional discrimination claims; NLRB holds that Starbucks violated federal labor law by firing baristas at a Madison, Wisconsin café.
September 22
Missouri lawmakers attack pro-worker ballot initiatives, shortcomings in California rideshare deal, some sexual misconduct claimants prefer arbitration.
September 21
USFS and California seek to improve firefighter safety, Massachusetts pay transparency law to take effect, and Trump adds new hurdles for H-1B visa applicants
September 19
LIRR strike averted; DOJ sues RI over student loan repayment program; University of California employees sue Trump for financial coercion
September 18
Senate Democrats introduce a bill to nullify Trump’s executive orders ending collective bargaining rights for federal employees; the Massachusetts Teachers Association faces backlash; and Loyola Marymount University claims a religious exemption and stops recognizing its faculty union.
September 17
A union argues the NLRB's quorum rule is unconstitutional; the California Building Trades back a state housing law; and Missouri proposes raising the bar for citizen ballot initiatives