Emily Miller is a student at Harvard Law School.
The National Labor Relations Board has recommended that a new election be held for Harvard graduate students who sought to unionize last November, according to the Harvard Crimson. The Board found that Harvard had not complied with requirements to provide a list of eligible voters, and that they may need to hold a new election if the results of a new vote count are not in favor of unionization. Harvard maintains that the election held in November was fair. The Board’s recommendation will be reviewed by Regional Director John J. Walsh Jr., who will issue a final decision on the matter.
Although North Carolina has been a right-to-work state since 1947, voters may soon be deciding on whether the policy belongs in the State constitution. A new bill, which recently passed North Carolina’s House Judiciary Committee, would require a voter referendum on the issue in November, 2018, according to the News & Observer. North Carolina is one of 28 right-to-work states.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority voted recently to require all companies that do business at Reagan National and Dulles International airports to pay contract workers at least $11.55 an hour starting next year. The decision results from a two-year push to increase wages at the airports as part of the nationwide “Fight For $15,” and both SEIU and Unite Here helped negotiate for the contract workers. The increase will help 4,500 workers at the airports who are responsible for cleaning terminals and plane cabins, moving bags, serving meals, and helping people with disabilities, reports the Washington Post.
A New York Times piece looks into the lives of workers on H-1B visas, permits aimed at highly-skilled workers which President Trump has recently called for new restrictions on. One estimate shows that one in eight tech workers has an H1-B visa, and they account for 15% of the workforce at Facebook and Qualcomm.
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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
October 16
NLRB seeks injunction of California’s law; Judge grants temporary restraining order stopping shutdown-related RIFs; and Governor Newsom vetoes an ILWU supported bill.
October 15
An interview with former NLRB chairman; Supreme Court denies cert in Southern California hotel case
October 14
Census Bureau layoffs, Amazon holiday hiring, and the final settlement in a meat producer wage-fixing lawsuit.