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
January 8
Pittsburg Post-Gazette announces closure in response to labor dispute, Texas AFT sues the state on First Amendment grounds, Baltimore approves its first project labor agreement, and the Board formally regains a quorum.
January 7
Wilcox requests en banc review at DC Circuit; 9th Circuit rules that ministry can consider sexual orientation in hiring decisions
January 5
Minor league hockey players strike and win new deal; Hochul endorses no tax on tips; Trump administration drops appeal concerning layoffs.
December 22
Worker-friendly legislation enacted in New York; UW Professor wins free speech case; Trucking company ordered to pay $23 million to Teamsters.
December 21
Argentine unions march against labor law reform; WNBA players vote to authorize a strike; and the NLRB prepares to clear its backlog.
December 19
Labor law professors file an amici curiae and the NLRB regains quorum.