Jon Weinberg is a student at Harvard Law School.
Six of the 400 Uber drivers who previously agreed to testify on Uber’s behalf in the forthcoming California federal classification suit have changed their minds, and have submitted new court declarations saying Uber misled them about the difference between employees and contractors. Re/Code notes that the drivers spoke with attorneys representing plaintiffs in the suit, and their declarations ended with the statement: “I was not informed that the case challenged our not receiving tips that passengers were told were included in the fare, nor was I told that, if the case was successful, there was a possibility of my being reimbursed for expenses such as a mileage reimbursement. I would like to have my expenses reimbursed should I be entitled to obtain them under the law.”
The Wall Street Journal reports that more than 37,000 union employees at Verizon will continue to work while negotiations continue despite the expiration of their contract with the company. The unions and Verizon disagree over retirement benefits and the cost of health care shouldered by employees. The employees at issue work in the Eastern United States and in wireline operations. A contract expiation in 2011 led to a two-week strike by the largest two Verizon unions, the Communication Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
According to The New York Times, New Jersey Governor and Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie might be softening his opposition to raising the minimum wage. Gov. Christie continues to vocalize that a $15 minimum wage would destroy jobs but signaled he would consider the merits of a raise to $10. Over his opposition, New Jersey voters last year decided to raise the state minimum wage to $8.25 an hour with annual increases thereafter.
Also per The New York Times, one of the small business owners championed when New York City passed its paid sick leave law has been penalized for violating it. Shiv Puri, owner of Bombay Sandwich Company, was found by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs to have failed to give one of his workers paid sick leave as required by the law. He agreed to pay $250 in restitution and a fine of $1,000. Under the law “companies with five or more employees must provide up to five paid days off to workers if they, or their close relatives, fall ill.” Since the law’s passage, the Department of Consumer Affairs “has substantiated 392 complaints, assessing $123,270 in fines against employers and securing payments of $134,938 in restitution to 717 employees.”
Daily News & Commentary
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June 30
Antidiscrimination scholars question McDonnell Douglas, George Washington University Hospital bargained in bad faith, and NY regulators defend LPA dispensary law.
June 29
In today’s news and commentary, Trump v. CASA restricts nationwide injunctions, a preliminary injunction continues to stop DOL from shutting down Job Corps, and the minimum wage is set to rise in multiple cities and states. On Friday, the Supreme Court held in Trump v. CASA that universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that […]
June 27
Labor's role in Zohran Mamdani's victory; DHS funding amendment aims to expand guest worker programs; COSELL submission deadline rapidly approaching
June 26
A district judge issues a preliminary injunction blocking agencies from implementing Trump’s executive order eliminating collective bargaining for federal workers; workers organize for the reinstatement of two doctors who were put on administrative leave after union activity; and Lamont vetoes unemployment benefits for striking workers.
June 25
Some circuits show less deference to NLRB; 3d Cir. affirms return to broader concerted activity definition; changes to federal workforce excluded from One Big Beautiful Bill.
June 24
In today’s news and commentary, the DOL proposes new wage and hour rules, Ford warns of EV battery manufacturing trouble, and California reaches an agreement to delay an in-person work mandate for state employees. The Trump Administration’s Department of Labor has advanced a series of proposals to update federal wage and hour rules. First, the […]