The Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday over whether Amazon must pay its warehouse workers for the time they spend waiting to go through security screening at the end of their shifts, the New York Times reports. A 1947 law, the Portal-to-Portal Act, states that employers do not have to pay workers for “preliminary” or “postliminary” activities. In Steiner v. Mitchell, the Court interpreted the law to mean that companies must pay workers for tasks that are an “integral and indispensable part of the principal activities for which covered workmen are employed.” The Justice Department will ask the Court to rule against the warehouse workers, according to Politico.
The New York Times reports that Walmart will cut healthcare benefits for 30,000 workers beginning January 1, 2015. Walmart said that the passage of the Affordable Care Act had caused larger-than-expected numbers of employers to enroll in its health plan, increasing costs.
The Labor Department will enforce the rule extending minimum wage and overtime pay to home healthcare workers, the Wall Street Journal reports. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2015, and will cover workers who provide home care services, like certified nursing assistants, home health aides, personal care aides, caregivers, and companions. The Labor Department has announced that it will not enforce the law for six months, however, and will “exercise its discretion” in deciding to bring cases against employers.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has been traveling the country, mobilizing voters to support union-backed candidates and reminding them that people can change the economy through their votes. Mr. Trumka said, “Voter turnout is going to be the deciding factor” in the next election. Races in Wisconsin and Kentucky are especially close.
In Atlantic City, New Jersey members of UNITE HERE Local 54 and employees of the Taj Majal blocked traffic last night in a protest to keep their healthcare and pension coverage, the Wall Street Journal reports. Trump Entertainment Resorts is threatening to close the casino if union members do not agree to give up their healthcare and pension plans.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
October 23
Ninth Circuit reaffirms Thryv remedies; unions oppose Elon Musk pay package; more federal workers protected from shutdown-related layoffs.
October 22
Broadway actors and producers reach a tentative labor agreement; workers at four major concert venues in Washington D.C. launch efforts to unionize; and Walmart pauses offers to job candidates requiring H-1B visas.
October 21
Some workers are exempt from Trump’s new $100,000 H1-B visa fee; Amazon driver alleges the EEOC violated mandate by dropping a disparate-impact investigation; Eighth Circuit revived bank employee’s First Amendment retaliation claims over school mask-mandate.
October 20
Supreme Court won't review SpaceX decision, courts uphold worker-friendly interpretation of EFAA, EEOC focuses on opioid-related discrimination.
October 19
DOL issues a new wage rule for H-2A workers, Gov. Newsom vetoes a bill that regulates employers’ use of AI, and Broadway workers and management reach a tentative deal
October 17
Third Circuit denies DOL's en banc rehearing request; Washington AG proposes legislation to protect immigrant workers; UAW files suit challenging government surveillance of non-citizen speech