United planes weren’t flying the friendly skies today—at least in terms of labor relations. A majority of the 9,000 mechanics at United Continental Holdings Inc. voted to reject a new labor contract. The Teamsters members turned down the six-and-a-half year deal, which would have increased salaries for top mechanics but created a “B-scale” with different wages and days off for mechanics hired after the contract went into effect. The United mechanics are in good company. According to the Wall Street Journal, pilots at Delta and flight attendants at Southwest also rejected proposals in the last year.
Almost 50 carwash workers in Brooklyn voted to unionize, becoming the largest union in the industry nationwide. SLS Car Wash is the 11th carwash to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, reports New York Daily News. The carwasheros seek a contract with minimum wages, tips, overtime, fair scheduling, paid personal days ad other protections—a far cry from the 80-hour weeks and exposure to dangerous chemicals they endured before the union.
Reporters continue to hypothesize about the future for organized labor without Justice Scalia on the Supreme Court. Charlotte Garden at the Atlantic forecasts the Friedrichs decision, and Justin Miller at the American Prospect imagines how Friedrichs will affect other anti-union cases. Politico asks if organized labor will like President Obama’s next nominee, especially if he chooses frontrunner Sri Srinivasan. But Labor is unlikely to affect the nomination, given the president’s past willingness to break from unions on other major issues.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
November 27
Amazon wins preliminarily injunction against New York’s private sector bargaining law; ALJs resume decisions; and the CFPB intends to make unilateral changes without bargaining.
November 26
In today’s news and commentary, NLRB lawyers urge the 3rd Circuit to follow recent district court cases that declined to enjoin Board proceedings; the percentage of unemployed Americans with a college degree reaches its highest level since tracking began in 1992; and a member of the House proposes a bill that would require secret ballot […]
November 25
In today’s news and commentary, OSHA fines Taylor Foods, Santa Fe raises their living wage, and a date is set for a Senate committee to consider Trump’s NLRB nominee. OSHA has issued an approximately $1.1 million dollar fine to Taylor Farms New Jersey, a subsidiary of Taylor Fresh Foods, after identifying repeated and serious safety […]
November 24
Labor leaders criticize tariffs; White House cancels jobs report; and student organizers launch chaperone program for noncitizens.
November 23
Workers at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority vote to authorize a strike; Washington State legislators consider a bill empowering public employees to bargain over workplace AI implementation; and University of California workers engage in a two-day strike.
November 21
The “Big Three” record labels make a deal with an AI music streaming startup; 30 stores join the now week-old Starbucks Workers United strike; and the Mine Safety and Health Administration draws scrutiny over a recent worker death.