New tariffs announced by the Trump administration on Tuesday for the import of solar panels will have ripple effects on the solar industry and undertaking of solar projects in the U.S. Though the tariffs, starting at 30% next year, were implemented to “protect U.S. manufacturing,” less than 2,000 of the over 260,000 Americans employed in the solar energy sector actually work in the manufacturing of solar panels. Most are employed in making steel racks for the panels, or installing and maintaining the projects. An increase in the cost of solar panels will likely cause solar to be less competitive with other industries like gas and wind, and may impact employees relying on industry growth. The New York Times reports.
In other energy news, despite President Trump’s promises to revitalize the coal industry, coal consumption continues to fall, reaching its lowest level in nearly four decades last year. Successful mines produce metallurgical coal for steelmaking in the U.S. and abroad, for countries like China. As mines are closing, the impact is being felt in the economy of the local communities where miners live, work, and spend their money. The New York Times reports.
Next month, the Culinary Union, which represents tens of thousands of hotel workers in Las Vegas, will ask casino-resort operators to give every housekeeper a “panic button” amid the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct and harassment. The hospitality industry in New York City has been supplying panic buttons since 2013, and Seattle passed a city ordinance requiring panic buttons for employees working alone in hotel rooms in 2016. The Washington Post reports.
The United States is the only industrialized country to not mandate paid parental leave. Leave policies have largely been set by individual employers and have often resulted in a large gap between salaried and hourly workers. Now, some companies like Walmart are providing salaried and hourly workers the same parental benefits. An analysis of companies and their policies is here. The New York Times reports.
Fear that the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 320 union would strike at the University of Minnesota and cause delays at the Superbowl has been allayed. The union represents nearly 1,500 custodial and food service workers at the University. Previously, NFL players had sent a letter of support of workers to the University president. The details of the negotiation reveal that the union has accepted, among other things, a new base wage of $15 an hour for some of its employees, setting a new wage floor.
Daily News & Commentary
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September 18
Senate Democrats introduce a bill to nullify Trump’s executive orders ending collective bargaining rights for federal employees; the Massachusetts Teachers Association faces backlash; and Loyola Marymount University claims a religious exemption and stops recognizing its faculty union.
September 17
A union argues the NLRB's quorum rule is unconstitutional; the California Building Trades back a state housing law; and Missouri proposes raising the bar for citizen ballot initiatives
September 16
In today’s news and commentary, the NLRB sues New York, a flight attendant sues United, and the Third Circuit considers the employment status of Uber drivers The NLRB sued New York to block a new law that would grant the state authority over private-sector labor disputes. As reported on recently by Finlay, the law, which […]
September 15
Unemployment claims rise; a federal court hands victory to government employees union; and employers fire workers over social media posts.
September 14
Workers at Boeing reject the company’s third contract proposal; NLRB Acting General Counsel William Cohen plans to sue New York over the state’s trigger bill; Air Canada flight attendants reject a tentative contract.
September 12
Zohran Mamdani calls on FIFA to end dynamic pricing for the World Cup; the San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement opens a probe into Scale AI’s labor practices; and union members organize immigration defense trainings.