Melissa Greenberg is a student at Harvard Law School.
The Boston Globe reports that a group of 500 airport workers at Logan Airport are preparing to strike this afternoon. Employed by ReadyJet and Flight Services & Systems, these baggage handlers, wheelchair attendants, cabin cleaners, and skycaps, have authorized a strike in response to alleged threats and intimidation by management during these workers’ unionization drive.
At the end of the day yesterday, U.S. stock indexes reported increases after two days of losses. The dip in stock markets appears to have been in response to figures from Friday’s unemployment report showing that wages had grown 2.9 percent last month in contrast to wage growth one year ago. This finding touched off a fear among investors that inflation may begin to rise, and in response, the Federal Reserve may see fit to raise interest rates. Read more here.
The Wall Street Journal asks, “[i]s it still OK to date someone you work with?” The article observes that increased awareness of sexual harassment at work has spurred questions about romance in the office. Survey responses from CareerBuilder suggest that around 40 percent of employees have dated a fellow coworker although last year this number dipped to 36 percent. The article spotlights Facebook and Google’s policy specifying, “[e]mployees are only allowed to ask a co-worker out once. If they are turned down, they don’t get to ask again. Ambiguous answers such as ‘I’m busy’ or ‘I can’t that night,’ count as a ‘no.’” Read more here.
The New York Times reported on the suicide of Doug Schifter, a New York livery driver, and the ways in which Uber and Lyft’s disruption of the industry has led to despair among drivers. Schifter’s suicide note, “a lengthy Facebook post,” sets out “the structural cruelties that had left him in such dire circumstance.” Schifter faced a sharp increase in work hours, the loss of his health insurance, and an accumulation of debt. He also appears to have lost a sense of respect and pride in his profession as it stopped being the domain of professional drivers. The increased competition in the industry from Uber and Lyft has lead to sharp declines in income for traditional drivers, and the Times reports that Bhairavi Desai, the executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, is “increasingly concerned about the possibility that [drivers] would begin taking their lives.” Read more here.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
July 30
In today’s news and commentary, the First Circuit will hear oral arguments on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) revocation of parole grants for thousands of migrants; United Airlines’ flight attendants vote against a new labor contract; and the AFL-CIO files a complaint against a Trump Administrative Executive Order that strips the collective bargaining rights of the vast majority of federal workers.
July 29
The Trump administration released new guidelines for federal employers regarding religious expression in the workplace; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers is suing former union president for repayment of mismanagement of union funds; Uber has criticized a new proposal requiring delivery workers to carry company-issued identification numbers.
July 28
Lower courts work out meaning of Muldrow; NLRB releases memos on recording and union salts.
July 27
In today’s news and commentary, Trump issues an EO on college sports, a second district court judge blocks the Department of Labor from winding down Job Corps, and Safeway workers in California reach a tentative agreement. On Thursday, President Trump announced an executive order titled “Saving College Sports,” which declared it common sense that “college […]
July 25
Philadelphia municipal workers ratify new contract; Chocolate companies escape liability in trafficking suit; Missouri Republicans kill paid sick leave
July 24
Texas District Court dismisses case requesting a declaratory judgement authorizing agencies to end collective bargaining agreements for Texas workers; jury awards two firefighters $1 million after they were terminated for union activity; and Democratic lawmakers are boycotting venues that have not rehired food service workers.