
Jason Vazquez is a staff attorney at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 2023. His writing on this blog reflects his personal views and should not be attributed to the IBT.
On Monday morning, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. The FDA’s release assured the public that it should feel “very confident” that the vaccine, which has already been administered to more than 100 million individuals in the United States since being authorized for emergency use, “meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product.” The shot’s full approval triggers vaccination mandates for more than one million workers across a range of industries, including hospitals, universities, the public sector, the military, and private enterprises. In addition, the FDA’s approval will likely give rise to more such mandates in the coming weeks. Indeed, following the news, New York City announced stricter vaccination requirements for city employees, and oil giant Chevron ordered its field workers to receive inoculations.
In organizing news, the New York City Council Union secured recognition from the New York City Council on Sunday night. The Union, which represents more than 350 Council aides, commenced its unionization efforts in 2019, although discontent among the poorly-paid staffers had been stewing for more than a decade.
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June 30
Antidiscrimination scholars question McDonnell Douglas, George Washington University Hospital bargained in bad faith, and NY regulators defend LPA dispensary law.
June 29
In today’s news and commentary, Trump v. CASA restricts nationwide injunctions, a preliminary injunction continues to stop DOL from shutting down Job Corps, and the minimum wage is set to rise in multiple cities and states. On Friday, the Supreme Court held in Trump v. CASA that universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that […]
June 27
Labor's role in Zohran Mamdani's victory; DHS funding amendment aims to expand guest worker programs; COSELL submission deadline rapidly approaching
June 26
A district judge issues a preliminary injunction blocking agencies from implementing Trump’s executive order eliminating collective bargaining for federal workers; workers organize for the reinstatement of two doctors who were put on administrative leave after union activity; and Lamont vetoes unemployment benefits for striking workers.
June 25
Some circuits show less deference to NLRB; 3d Cir. affirms return to broader concerted activity definition; changes to federal workforce excluded from One Big Beautiful Bill.
June 24
In today’s news and commentary, the DOL proposes new wage and hour rules, Ford warns of EV battery manufacturing trouble, and California reaches an agreement to delay an in-person work mandate for state employees. The Trump Administration’s Department of Labor has advanced a series of proposals to update federal wage and hour rules. First, the […]