In light of the upcoming oral arguments in Harris v. Quinn, the Los Angeles Times and NPR review the context surrounding this First Amendment challenge to the collection of mandatory union dues. The Los Angeles Times quotes Professor Sachs as observing that it would be radical for the Court to invalidate fair share fees under the constitution, and noting the parallel between the union dues cases and the Court’s bar association precedent. The Wall Street Journal and Chicago Tribune offer their opinions of the case, while labor attorney Moshe Marvit discusses his take in the Washington Post. An OnLabor summary of Harris v. Quinn can be found here.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the United Nations’ International Labor Organization (ILO) has released a report predicting a rise in international unemployment figures over the next two years despite global economic recovery. The ILO expects that young people and workers in Asia will be particularly hard hit, while unemployment is expected to stay about the same in the European Union and fall in the United States.
The American Federation of Government Employees is concerned that a measure in the federal appropriations bill passed last week will privatize airport-screening, the Washington Post reports. The union explains that while there are currently 48,000 TSA screeners, the bill caps federal funding to only 46,000 employees
The New York Times reports that yesterday Police arrested Rep. Charles Rangle (D-NY) and 31 other people marching at La Guardia Airport in support of airport contract workers’ efforts to get a paid holiday on Martin Luther King Day. The march was part of a larger SEIU 32BJ campaign to improve wages and benefits for airport contract workers.
Meanwhile, the New York Times Editorial Board takes issue with the $16 billion allocated for immigration enforcement in the House appropriations bill that passed last week. The Board writes “Millions of Americans can’t find work and have lost their unemployment benefits because Congressional Republicans insist the government can’t afford to help them. But there is no shortage of money when it comes to hunting down unauthorized immigrants.”
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
August 1
The Michigan Supreme Court grants heightened judicial scrutiny over employment contracts that shorten the limitations period for filing civil rights claims; the California Labor Commission gains new enforcement power over tip theft; and a new Florida law further empowers employers issuing noncompete agreements.
July 31
EEOC sued over trans rights enforcement; railroad union opposes railroad merger; suits against NLRB slow down.
July 30
In today’s news and commentary, the First Circuit will hear oral arguments on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) revocation of parole grants for thousands of migrants; United Airlines’ flight attendants vote against a new labor contract; and the AFL-CIO files a complaint against a Trump Administrative Executive Order that strips the collective bargaining rights of the vast majority of federal workers.
July 29
The Trump administration released new guidelines for federal employers regarding religious expression in the workplace; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers is suing former union president for repayment of mismanagement of union funds; Uber has criticized a new proposal requiring delivery workers to carry company-issued identification numbers.
July 28
Lower courts work out meaning of Muldrow; NLRB releases memos on recording and union salts.
July 27
In today’s news and commentary, Trump issues an EO on college sports, a second district court judge blocks the Department of Labor from winding down Job Corps, and Safeway workers in California reach a tentative agreement. On Thursday, President Trump announced an executive order titled “Saving College Sports,” which declared it common sense that “college […]