In immigration news, Congress and President Obama continue to fight over immigration reform. Senate Democrats blocked a Republican-backed bill that would fund the Department of Homeland Security on the condition that none of the money go toward implementing President Obama’s executive action on immigration, according to the Los Angeles Times. The President’s executive action would “defer deportation for more than 5 million” undocumented immigrants. The President, meanwhile, hosted six “Dreamers,” undocumented immigrants who came here as children and have since been granted legal status, and pledged to veto any legislation that would roll back his immigration initiatives, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The New York Times reports that Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner used his “State of the State” address to announce his support for a state “right to work” law and to argue that political contributions from public employee unions should be banned. Governor Rauner is the first Republican in that office in twelve years. Roberta Lynch, the executive director of the local AFSCME union, said “public servants will be disappointed to learn that the governor is pursuing an aggressive agenda to undermine their rights[.]”
The Washington Post reports that Ford is moving 500 employees into a higher-paid tier of workers. Under Ford’s contract with the United Auto Worker’s union, only 20% of its workforce can be paid at the entry-level wage. Ford will hire 1,550 new workers this quarter to increase pickup truck production, and must move some workers into a higher wage tier to stay within the 20% limit.
In contrast to Ford’s recent hiring effort, the Washington Post reports on the increasing trend of companies shifting employees into freelance positions. The Post explains that converting employees into independent contractors “relieves [employers] of having to pay employees a fixed amount every month—not to mention health insurance, Social Security taxes or workers’ compensation.”
In budget news, the head of the National Treasury Employees Union, Colleen Kelley, argued that government agencies are on a “‘starvation diet’ that’s hurting their missions,” according to the Wall Street Journal. Ms. Kelley urged Congress to approve funding at the levels in President Obama’s proposed budget. The National Treasury Employees Union represents 150,000 employees across 31 agencies and departments.
Politico’s Morning Shift reports that “Labor Secretary Tom Perez and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers want the U.S. to import German-style works councils.” Former Secretary Summers recently released a report for the Center for American Progress calling for mandatory works councils.
Daily News & Commentary
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July 8
In today’s news and commentary, Apple wins at the Fifth Circuit against the NLRB, Florida enacts a noncompete-friendly law, and complications with the No Tax on Tips in the Big Beautiful Bill. Apple won an appeal overturning a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision that the company violated labor law by coercively questioning an employee […]
July 7
LA economy deals with fallout from ICE raids; a new appeal challenges the NCAA antitrust settlement; and the EPA places dissenting employees on leave.
July 6
Municipal workers in Philadelphia continue to strike; Zohran Mamdani collects union endorsements; UFCW grocery workers in California and Colorado reach tentative agreements.
July 4
The DOL scraps a Biden-era proposed rule to end subminimum wages for disabled workers; millions will lose access to Medicaid and SNAP due to new proof of work requirements; and states step up in the noncompete policy space.
July 3
California compromises with unions on housing; 11th Circuit rules against transgender teacher; Harvard removes hundreds from grad student union.
July 2
Block, Nanda, and Nayak argue that the NLRA is under attack, harming democracy; the EEOC files a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former EEOC Commissioner Jocelyn Samuels; and SEIU Local 1000 strikes an agreement with the State of California to delay the state's return-to-office executive order for state workers.