Today’s News & Commentary — January 4, 2018

Administrative Law Judge Anna Hamburg-Gal found that the Chicago Police Department violated stated labor laws by failing to negotiate an expansion of its body camera program with the city’s police union. The Judge found that state labor law requires dialogue with the union on “safety and discipline matters.” If this ruling is adopted by the state Labor Relations Board, it would: (1) overturn any discipline resulting from camera loss or misuse; (2) halt further disciplinary action; and (3) require the city to compensate union members for “any losses they may have suffered” from misuse or loss of the body cameras.

Deleware’s Sussex County Council delayed a vote on a right-to-work ordinance because of strong protest from local union members. The union members argued that this ordinance would lower wages and restrict the ability of workers to bargain with their employers. Union members filled the council chamber and questioned councilmembers for six hours. Ultimately, the council decided to table the ordinance until receiving an opinion from the county’s legal counsel.

According to ADP, private sector employers added 250,000 jobs in December resulting in the third month of strong job gain. The job growth was largest in professional and business services followed by education and health and then transportation and utilities. Moreover, mid-size companies and small businesses led the job growth. While economists predict that average job growth could decrease in 2018, they anticipate wage growth will increase, as the labor market tightens and businesses struggle to retain workers.

The Baltimore Teachers Union argued that schools should be closed until the city addresses heating problems in several schools. While four schools did close and two schools dismissed students early, the union advocates for closing several more schools until all the problems are resolved.