Adi Kamdar is a student at Harvard Law School.
Back in December, Seattle passed an ordinance that would allow gig economy drivers to unionize—a law that was challenged soon after by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Yesterday, federal district court judge Robert Lasnick dismissed the Chamber’s case for lack of standing, as reported on Geekwire. In other words, because the law hasn’t been implemented yet, the case lacked the necessary injury requirements to be brought into court. All is not over, however: the Chamber will likely bring its lawsuit again after September 19th, when the ordinance goes into effect.
A new survey has found that the number of available financial services jobs in London has fallen 12% in the last month, according to Business Insider. Attributing the drop to the state of confusion following June’s Brexit vote, the surveyor’s operations director noted however that the “impact of the referendum was not as aggressive as we expected.”
Myanmar labor rights groups that represent migrant workers in Thailand found their licenses to operate revoked by Myanamar authorities after criticizing the country’s officials and job agencies. As Reuters reports, these job agencies have facilitated the sending of over 3 million Myanmar workers to Thailand, often exposing them to mistreatment and imprisonment due to lack of proper protections. Such results caused the labor groups, in a press conference last week, to refer to the practice as “legal human trafficking.” A week later, their permission to operate disappeared.
A Fifth Circuit panel ruled earlier this week that a Mississippi gun law created an exception to the employment at-will doctrine. Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation employee Robert Swindol arrived at work with a firearm locked inside his truck. Aurora fired Swindol for violating company policy prohibiting firearms, deeming him a “security risk.” Swindol sued for wrongful discharge, which the district court dismissed. The Fifth Circuit asked the Mississippi Supreme Court to answer the question of whether the state’s gun law—which allows individuals to store a gun in a locked vehicle—trumps the state employment at-will doctrine. After the Supreme Court concluded “yes,” the Fifth Circuit reversed the lower court’s dismissal of the wrongful discharge claim. (PDF of the full opinion here.)
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
July 3
Unions seek a preliminary injunction to prevent USDA downsizing; the D.C. District Court issues a preliminary injunction against new student loan regulations; Matt Bruenig releases an analysis of Starbucks’ ongoing legal battle against Starbucks Workers United.
July 2
First Circuit denies federal worker unions’ mandamus petition; federal court denies preliminary injunction against new union reporting rule; House introduces the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act.
July 1
Trump nominates Keith Sonderling as Labor Secretary; DOL eliminates disparate-impact liability from Title VI regulations; OPM finalizes rule allowing suitability-based removal of federal employees for post-appointment conduct.
June 30
SCOTUS ends removal protections for agencies; staff at NYC cocktail bar vote to unionize.
June 29
In today’s News and Commentary, student-athletes file a class action suit challenging the NCAA’s new Age-Based Rule, a federal judge declines to issue a preliminary injunction against FEMA’s reduction in force but expedites proceedings, and Gavin Newsom opposes California’s proposed billionaire tax in favor of a federal approach. On Thursday, DeJuan Campbell, at basketball player […]
June 28
Philadelphia utility workers announce July 4 strike; national parks workers vote to unionize; Michigan considers “right to disconnect” bill.