Melissa Greenberg is a student at Harvard Law School.
Politico reports that the Senate will likely vote to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, Alexander Acosta, today. President Trump also appointed current National Labor Relations Board member Philip A. Miscimarra to serve as chairman of the National Labor Relations Board. Miscimarra has been serving as acting chairman of the Board beginning in January 23, 2017. The National Law Review suggests that being named to this position “while largely administrative, may bode well for Miscimarra’s renomination to a new term.” His term expires in December of 2017.
Yesterday, President Donald Trump assured Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he would seek to renegotiate NAFTA rather than exit the agreement right away. The White House had indicated earlier on Wednesday that President Trump would sign an executive order officially withdrawing from the trade agreement. The New York Times suggested the initial White House announcement on withdrawal was “an example of Mr. Trump’s deal-making in real time.” Under NAFTA Article 2205, the United States must provide six months advanced warning before terminating the trade agreement. It remains unclear whether President Trump might still sign an executive order initiating withdrawal from the agreement at some point in order to begin the notification process and gain leverage in negotiations. Read more here.
In other news from the White House, President Donald Trump vowed to appeal an order by Judge William H. Orrick of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California. The order temporarily restrains the Administration from withholding federal funds from sanctuary cities. Although the federal government has yet to flesh-out the definition of a sanctuary city, the term is generally defined as a jurisdiction that does not fully cooperate with efforts by the federal government to enforce its immigration policy. Read more about the decision here.
Daily News & Commentary
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August 15
Columbia University quietly replaces graduate student union labor with non-union adjunct workers; the DC Circuit Court lifts the preliminary injunction on CFPB firings; and Grubhub to pay $24.75M to settle California driver class action.
August 14
Judge Pechman denies the Trump Administration’s motion to dismiss claims brought by unions representing TSA employees; the Trump Administration continues efforts to strip federal employees of collective bargaining rights; and the National Association of Agriculture Employees seeks legal relief after the USDA stopped recognizing the union.
August 13
The United Auto Workers (UAW) seek to oust President Shawn Fain ahead of next year’s election; Columbia University files an unfair labor practice (ULP) charge against the Student Workers of Columbia-United Auto Workers for failing to bargain in “good faith”; and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) terminates its collective bargaining agreement with four unions representing its employees.
August 12
Trump nominates new BLS commissioner; municipal taxpayers' suit against teachers' union advances; antitrust suit involving sheepherders survives motion to dismiss
August 11
Updates on two-step FLSA certification, Mamdani's $30 minimum wage proposal, dangers of "bossware."
August 10
NLRB Acting GC issues new guidance on ULPs, Trump EO on alternative assets in401(k)s, and a vetoed Wisconsin bill on rideshare driver status