The Seattle City Council has approved a $15 hourly minimum wage — the highest minimum wage in the nation. As the Seattle Times reports, the unanimously approved program will be implemented over the next seven years. City projections predict that “by 2025… all workers will be earning a minimum wage of $18.13 an hour, nearly double the state’s current $9.32 an hour.” Commentators at New York Magazine, the L.A. Times, and Forbes discuss potential implications of the new law.
The United Auto Workers voted to raise dues by 25% to compensate for their dwindling strike fund, representing the first UAW dues increase since 1967. The Detroit Free Press reports, discussing the debates which led up to the decision. The Wall Street Journal notes that a likely next president of the UAW – Dennis Williams, current UAW Secretary-Treasurer – seems ready to change the two-tier wage system that separates workers in Detroit plants.
At Vox, Matthew Yglesias discusses the pending Harris v. Quinn decision – a decision Yglesias notes “could essentially turn all states into right to work states for the purposes of the public employees.”
The New York Post offers criticism of how the Department of Labor calculates the numbers in its jobs report, arguing that the use of “performance enhancing estimates” allow a jobs outlook which is stronger than perhaps merited.
Recently, the NLRB struck down a non-solicitation policy contained in an employee handbook. In Food Services of America, Inc. and Paul Louis Carrington, 360 NLRB No. 123, the Board determined that handbook language which “expressly provides that solicitations are limited to non-working hours and … non-work areas” was an impermissible restriction on Section 7 activity. The National Law Journal reports, and the NLRB opinion is available here.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
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 […]