Anita Alem is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary: the Communication Workers of America reportedly blocked a tech watchdog report regarding Microsoft’s support for the United States military, Seattle school teachers enter their third day on strike, and California fast food employers have already begun organizing against the state’s new labor law.
The Intercept reported a labor official belonging to the UNI Global Union, a federation that includes the Communication Workers of America, stated the CWA has prevented a watchdog from publishing a report criticizing Microsoft’s role in supporting the United States military. According to the anonymous official, the UNI had initially commissioned the watchdog report. However, in June 2022, Microsoft and the CWA reached a neutrality agreement indicating that Microsoft will not oppose unionization efforts at Activision. As a result, the official said, the CWA could no longer pursue the report at risk of damaging its relationship with Microsoft. The CWA and the UNI have denied any knowledge of the report.
School teachers in Seattle Public Schools are entering the third day of their strike, in a district with greater than 50,000 students and 6,000 union members. The union is demanding not only higher pay, but also improved mental health support for students and structural supports for special education students such as lower student-teacher ratios. The teachers’ strike is not legally protected, however, and the district could potentially seek penalties against the striking teachers. Negotiations are ongoing between the parties.
As Iman reported on Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsome of California recently signed a bill to facilitate sectoral bargaining in the fast food industry to improve wages and benefits. However, employers have already begun organizing against the bill, titled the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act. The National Restaurant Association and the Franchise Association are seeking to fight the bill through a direct voter referendum in November 2024, and have begun collecting signatures for the petition.
Daily News & Commentary
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June 18
Companies dispute NLRB regional directors' authority to make rulings while the Board lacks a quorum; the Department of Justice loses 4,500 employees to the Trump Administration's buyout offers; and a judge dismisses Columbia faculty's lawsuit over the institution's funding cuts.
June 17
NLRB finds a reporter's online criticism of the Washington Post was not protected activity under federal labor law; top union leaders leave the Democratic National Committee amid internal strife; Uber reaches a labor peace agreement with Chicago drivers.
June 16
California considers bill requiring human operators inside autonomous delivery vehicles; Eighth Circuit considers challenge to Minnesota misclassification law and whether "having a family to support" is a gendered comment.
June 15
ICE holds back on some work site raids as unions mobilize; a Maryland judge approves a $400M settlement for poultry processing workers in an antitrust case; and an OMB directive pushes federal agencies to use union PLAs.
June 13
Termination of grants promoting labor standards abroad at the District Court; Supreme Court agrees to hear case about forced labor; more states pass legislation to benefit striking workers
June 12
An administrative law judge holds that Yapp USA violated the NLRA; oral arguments for two labor cases before the Eighth Circuit.