Leora Smith is a student at Harvard Law School.
Politico reported yesterday on the lack of union support for the Democratic presidential ticket, which outperformed the Trump campaign by only 8% in union households (households with at least one union member), which is the narrowest margin since 1984. Support among union members themselves was likely higher than that from union households, but some speculate that union members were put off by the Democrats’ strong support for free trade deals. Supporting that theory, United Auto Workers President Dennis Williams said yesterday that he would like to meet with President-elect Trump to dicuss cancelling or renegotiating NAFTA. Though he expressed alliance with Trump’s views on trade, Williams stated that the he and the union will continue to support progressive views on social issues.
And, in light of federal election results, California legislative leadership chose to draw a line in the sand. The state’s Senate President and Assembly Speaker put out a joint statement vowing to “defend its people” and to investigate the impact that Trump’s presidency might have on funding of state programs, trade and federal enforcement of laws. Other states are likely doing the same, though none have made similarly bold statements yet.
Daily News & Commentary
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October 14
Census Bureau layoffs, Amazon holiday hiring, and the final settlement in a meat producer wage-fixing lawsuit.
October 13
Texas hotel workers ratify a contract; Pope Leo visits labor leaders; Kaiser lays off over two hundred workers.
October 12
The Trump Administration fires thousands of federal workers; AFGE files a supplemental motion to pause the Administration’s mass firings; Democratic legislators harden their resolve during the government shutdown.
October 10
California bans algorithmic price-fixing; New York City Council passes pay transparency bills; and FEMA questions staff who signed a whistleblowing letter.
October 9
Equity and the Broadway League resume talks amid a looming strike; federal judge lets alcoholism ADA suit proceed; Philadelphia agrees to pay $40,000 to resolve a First Amendment retaliation case.
October 8
In today’s news and commentary, the Trump administration threatens no back pay for furloughed federal workers; the Second Circuit denies a request from the NFL for an en banc review in the Brian Flores case; and Governor Gavin Newsom signs an agreement to create a pathway for unionization for Uber and Lyft drivers.