Testifying before a House of Representatives subcommittee, Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta highlighted apprenticeships and job training. These topics also seem to be current priorities for President Trump. Secretary Acosta’s testimony predictably signaled efforts to change the overtime rule and the fiduciary rule (which we described here and here), both from the Obama era.
In Massachusetts, worker Jose Flores broke his femur in an on-the-job accident and filed for worker’s compensation against his employer. When he went to a meeting arranged by the employer, Flores encountered ICE agents, who detained him and started deportation proceedings. Commentary on Flores’ case highlights how fear of immigration consequences chills reporting (which we discussed here) and illuminates the need for such reporting: wage theft is rampant, 40% of workplace injuries and illnesses are not paid for by worker’s compensation, and workplace deaths are on the rise.
July 1, 2017 will see a paid sick leave requirement take effect in both Chicago and Cook County. The city passed its ordinance in June 2016 and proposed regulations in May 2017. Comment on those regulations remains open until June 16. Cook County passed its ordinance in October 2016, with regulations approved last month. Municipalities may opt out of the county’s requirement before July 1, 2017, and many already have.
In the New York Times’ opinion pages, Jared Bernstein argues that “a robust, highly progressive agenda has been coming together” among Congressional Democrats. This agenda includes a stipend for families with children, direct job creation, expansion of the earned-income tax credit, and a higher national minimum wage. Hoyt N. Wheeler responds that such an agenda must include efforts to revive the American labor movement.
Daily News & Commentary
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June 6
In today’s news and commentary, Governor Jared Polis directs Colorado’s labor agency to share information with ICE; and the Supreme Court issues two unanimous rulings including exempting a Catholic charity from paying unemployment compensation taxes and striking down the heightened standard for plaintiffs belonging to a majority group to prove a Title VII employment discrimination […]
June 5
Nail technicians challenge California classification; oral arguments in challenge to LGBTQ hiring protections; judge blocks Job Corps shutdown.
June 4
Federal agencies violate federal court order pausing mass layoffs; Walmart terminates some jobs in Florida following Supreme Court rulings on the legal status of migrants; and LA firefighters receive a $9.5 million settlement for failure to pay firefighters during shift changes.
June 3
Federal judge blocks Trump's attack on TSA collective bargaining rights; NLRB argues that Grindr's Return-to-Office policy was union busting; International Trade Union Confederation report highlights global decline in workers' rights.
June 2
Proposed budgets for DOL and NLRB show cuts on the horizon; Oregon law requiring LPAs in cannabis dispensaries struck down.
June 1
In today’s news and commentary, the Ninth Circuit upholds a preliminary injunction against the Trump Administration, a federal judge vacates parts of the EEOC’s pregnancy accommodation rules, and video game workers reach a tentative agreement with Microsoft. In a 2-1 decision issued on Friday, the Ninth Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction against the Trump Administration […]