According to Reuters, five Volkswagen workers have filed a petition asking to intervene in the United Auto Worker’s pending election objection before the National Labor Relations Board. The five Chattanooga workers argue that the UAW and Volkswagen colluded in the run up to the election.
Los Angeles County supervisors approved a contract deal with the Service Employees International Union Local 721, the largest public employee union in Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Times, the contract includes a 6% raise over three years and an agreement to hire 450 new social workers to ease caseloads for the Department of Children and Family Services.
Yesterday marked the last National Labor Relations Board hearing date for the nascent College Athletes Players Association, which is attempting to represent and collectively bargain on behalf of Northwestern University’s football players on scholarship. The Players Association argues that playing football in exchange for scholarship constitutes a ‘condition of employment’ according to the Chicago Tribune.
The Washington Post profiles public sector pension concerns in San Jose, CA. The article details various legislative fixes to looming retirement cost expansion as well as attempts to create plans for more workers, including the California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Trust Act, which would create a state-managed retirement savings plan for California’s private sector workers.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) opposes any minimum wage below $10.10 an hour. Senator Reid delayed a vote amid rumors that some Democratic politicians were inclined to compromise on the increase.
In international news, Reuters reports that Croatian public and private sector unions engaged in a two-hour strike across the nation in opposition to the ruling government’s proposed loosening of labor laws.
Between 15,000 and 40,000 labor union members rallied in Seoul, South Korea yesterday to protest the one-year anniversary of President Park Geun-Hye taking office. According to the Wall Street Journal, the protesters demands include rejecting a free-trade agreement with China and investigating the presidential elections from the previous year.
The Associated Press reports that hundreds of Greek dockworkers engaged in a 24-hour strike in Athens to protest the privatization of the Piraeus Port Authority, the largest port in the country.
Daily News & Commentary
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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.
October 21
DOL withdraws tipped-worker rule; Instacart settles hiring-bias claims; Phillips 66 locks out New Jersey refinery workers.