Responding to the #MeToo movement and the Supreme Court’s decision in Epic Systems, the California State Senate passed a bill that would prohibit employers from requiring a mandatory arbitration provision or nondisclosure agreement as a condition of employment. Big business argued that the law, which is awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature, would conflict with the Federal Arbitration Act and would thus be ineffective.
The stock market’s steady gains continued yesterday, and the bull market became arguably the longest in U.S. history. But as the New York Times reports, the $15 trillion in newly created wealth has accrued mostly to the wealthy. For the average American, most of their wealth is held in their home, and home prices and incomes have risen at lower rates than the stock market. In fact, the median American household wealth in 2016 remained 34% below where it was before the recession.
Encouraged by the recent overwhelming rejection of a ballot measure to institute right-to-work in their state, Missouri Democrats hope that Senator Claire McCaskill’s re-election campaign might be buoyed by a ballot measure to increase the minimum wage. However, some experts doubt that the measure will have the same galvanizing effect on union members, who typically make above the minimum wage and so would not directly benefit from the measure’s passage.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
April 19
Chicago Teachers’ Union reach May Day agreement; New York City doormen win tentative deal; MLBPA fires two more executives.
April 17
Los Angeles teachers reach tentative agreement; labor leaders launch Union Now; and federal unions challenge FLRA power concentration.
April 16
DOD terminates union contracts; building workers in New York authorize a strike; and the American Postal Workers Union launches ads promoting mail-in voting.
April 15
LAUSD school staff reach agreement; EBSA releases deregulatory priorities; Trump nominates third NLRB Republican.
April 14
Meatpacking workers ratify new contract; NLRB proposes Amazon settlement; NLRB's new docketing system leading to case dismissals.
April 13
Starbucks' union files new complaint with NLRB; FAA targets video gamers in new recruiting pitch; and Apple announces closure of unionized store.