Today’s News & Commentary — January 24, 2018
Slate’s editorial staff voted 45-7 to unionize with the Writers Guild of America East, the company’s organizing committee announced, reports Splinter. Slate’s bargaining unit includes all but six senior newsroom employees and six podcast staffers. It does not count employees at Panoply, a podcast network that is part of the Slate Group but produces programs for other media outlets. Read more here in the worker’s letter addressed to management.
The Supreme Court is speeding up its timeline for deciding whether or not to hear a case on DACA. An expedited briefing schedule will allow the court to decide as early as Feb. 16 whether it will hear the case. DACA was terminated on Sept. 5, 2017, but on Jan. 9 a federal judge in California ordered that the DHS resume processing DACA renewals. The DOJ also has appealed that ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in addition to petitioning the Supreme Court.
Massachusetts cut state workers’ health plan options from six to three, a move that could result in higher premiums and fewer provider options. The cutback, sought by Governor Charlie Baker, could save the state up to $21 million, but union members are upset by the lack of public input that went into the decision. The change will affect health benefits for 442,000 state and local employees, retirees, and their families.
A former University of Arizona dean is suing the state’s public university administrators for paying her less than her male colleagues. Patricia MacCorquodale seeks $2 million in damages from the Arizona Board of Regents for violating the federal Equal Pay Act. MacCorquodale’s complaint alleges a pattern of pay discrimination even as she excelled in her position and that MacCorquodale was eventually replaced by a man who was paid $100,000 more despite having less experience.
