Anita Alem is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s news and commentary: Underfunding at the NLRB; PEB recommends wage increases to avoid rail strike; NLRB files another complaint against Starbucks; and California begins collecting employee demographic data self-identifying as a descendant of enslaved peoples.
The Guardian reported Wednesday that labor leaders in the United States are sounding the alarm over NRLB funding levels. The NLRB budget has been frozen since 2014, and since then, field staff has been reduced by 37%. The funding crisis is further exacerbated by the 58% increase in union elections last year, particularly due to organizing efforts at Starbucks and Amazon. The latest disappointment over agency funding levels occurred when Congress failed to include an increase in funding for the NLRB within the Inflation Reduction Act. Congress could still increase the NLRB budget through the appropriations process.
As Travis has previously reported, railroad workers have been attempting to reach a contract for more than two years and are on the verge of going on strike, which could have significant implications for supply chains. The Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) recommended providing more significant wage increases and increased health coverage. Railroad Workers United, a committee of the 12 unions that represent the workers, is considering the recommendations and has 30 days to accept the non-binding proposals.
The NLRB filed yet another complaint against Starbucks on Tuesday, adding to the more than 20 complaints that have already been filed against the company. The complaint alleges that Starbucks sent workers at 10 stores letters that insisted that when workers unionize, wages and benefits will be frozen while negotiations occur and that a contract may never be reached; these letters interfered with workers’ NLRB rights.
Finally, California is set to become the first state to begin collecting demographic data of state employees specifically identifying whether the employee is a descendant of enslaved people. The opt-in demographic information may be gathered beginning in 2024 and is anticipated to be publicly available beginning in 2025. California also recently passed a bill in support of reparations and produced a task force report investigating reparations for Black Californians who are descendants of slaves.
Daily News & Commentary
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March 24
Duke opposing unionizing grad student workers; NLRB prosecutors find merit to ULPs against Amazon; Starbucks investors weighing outside audit of company's labor practices.
March 23
Trader Joe's workers in Oakland file a petition to form a union; a Kenyan court temporarily blocks Meta contractor’s mass layoff of content moderators; and Starbucks workers at more than 100 stores walkout ahead of shareholders’ meeting.
March 22
NLRB's General Counsel issues two memos clarifying priorities and a recent Board decision, LA teachers go on strike, and Bloomberg Law reports higher pay raises from labor contracts
March 20
Residents and fellows at Mass General Brigham hospitals prepare to unionize; divisions in the New York Times NewsGuild union deepens as contract negotiations remain ongoing; the six-month Pittsburgh Post-Gazette strike turned violent on Saturday; Los Angeles schools prepare to close this week as workers plan to strike
March 19
Ninth Circuit reinstates Uber's Equal Protection challenge to California's AB5; reduction in SNAP benefits could lead to "hunger cliff" for low-wage workers; Amazon workers start unionizing campaign at Kentucky facility; ex-Google employees ask company to honor parental leave.
March 17
Texas committee considers sweeping legislation limiting municipal power; University of Chicago graduate students unionize; Tennessee Nissan technicians reject a unionizing effort; and protestors in France take to the streets after President Macron activates nuclear option to raise retirement age.