Hannah Finnie is a writer in Washington, D.C. interested in the intersections of work and culture. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School.
A new piece in the American Prospect hosts a conversation between Professor Benjamin Sachs and Professor Kate Andrias, about a law review article they recently co-authored. The conversation also features Steve Kest and Bob Kuttner dissecting the content of the article. The piece focuses on various ways to use the law to allow for the building of countervailing power, relying on labor law and past social movements to point to future opportunities.
Workers at two Amazon warehouses have announced their intent to unionize with the Amazon Labor Union, an independent union that successfully sprung up to win the unionization drive at the Staten Island Amazon warehouse. Over in New Jersey, Amazon abruptly canceled its plans to build a hub in Newark after advocacy and outcry by local union and other organizations.
At the federal level, the Department of Labor (DOL) released a new policy to try to counteract a tactic employers frequently use to shut down undocumented workers raising workplace issues: threatening their immigration status. The new policy essentially would allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the authority to grant undocumented workers at a workplace where there is a labor dispute immigration relief. That relief could take different forms – from requesting the DOL’s support for a worker’s petition for deferred action or parole to authorizing their employment.
Finally, over in The Nation, labor reporter Kim Kelly wrote a piece about the Biden administration’s Mine Safety and Health Administration’s new policy to reduce silica, which causes black lung in miners. The policy is mostly aimed at requiring mine operators to increase the safety of miners by reducing the effects of silica and using inspections and targeting repeat offenders to be effective. Workers at the Warrior Met coal mine have been on strike for 15 months in their fight to reach a new contract.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
May 5
Unemployment rates for Black women go up under Trump; NLRB argues Amazon lacks standing to challenge captive audience meeting rule; Teamsters use Wilcox's reinstatement orders to argue against injunction.
May 4
In today’s news and commentary, DOL pauses the 2024 gig worker rule, a coalition of unions, cities, and nonprofits sues to stop DOGE, and the Chicago Teachers Union reaches a remarkable deal. On May 1, the Department of Labor announced it would pause enforcement of the Biden Administration’s independent contractor classification rule. Under the January […]
May 2
Immigrant detainees win class certification; Missouri sick leave law in effect; OSHA unexpectedly continues Biden-Era Worker Heat Rule
May 1
SEIU 721 concludes a 48-hour unfair labor practice strike; NLRB Administrative Law Judge holds that Starbucks committed a series of unfair labor practices at a store in Philadelphia; AFSCME and UPTE members at the University of California are striking.
April 30
In today’s news and commentary, SEIU seeks union rights for rideshare drivers in California, New Jersey proposes applying the ABC Test, and Board officials push back on calls for layoffs. In California, Politico reports that an SEIU-backed bill that would allow rideshare drivers to join unions has passed out of committee, “clear[ing] its first hurdle.” […]
April 29
In today’s news and commentary, CFPB mass layoffs paused again, Mine Safety agency rejects union intervention, and postdoctoral researchers petition for union election. A temporary pause on mass firings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been restored. After a trial court initially blocked the administration from mass firings, the appeals court modified that […]