According to the Washington Post, the U.S. Postal Service violated federal law by pressuring managers to approve employees’ requests for time off last year to campaign for Hilary Clinton. While federal workers can use their time to off to campaign or donate to candidates, by directing managers to approve the time off even though they may be understaffed, the Postal Service showed a workplace bias toward Clinton and other Democrats endorsed by the union. Some of these facts came to light at a recent legislative hearing, and the union responded it would submit its own statement to the House Committee to “address the legitimacy and accuracy of some of the data and statements from the investigation and the hearing.”
According to research from Ball State University’s Center for Business and Economic Research, 25% of American jobs are at risk of being outsourced and 50% could be replaced by automation. The research found the most replaceable jobs are often the lowest-paying, and the Americans most at risk of automation earned an average of $38,000 per year. Conversely, there was no clear relationship between income level and jobs most likely to be outsourced. The researchers predicted these job losses would cause “social and political unease.”
According to research from the BBC, only 1/3 of the BBC’s top-paid stars are women and a much smaller fraction are minority. The research showed that the top-paid male TV personalities earn more than the top-paid female TV personalities. While the BBC argues it is more diverse than other broadcasting channels, some Members of Parliament disagree and argue the BBC is still “an old boys network.”
Daily News & Commentary
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March 29
The Department of Veterans Affairs re-terminates its collective bargaining agreement despite a preliminary injunction, and the Federal Labor Relations Authority announces new rules increasing the influence of political appointees over federal labor relations.
March 27
“Cesar Chavez Day” renamed “Farmworkers Day” in California after investigation finds Chavez engaged in rampant sexual abuse.
March 26
Supreme Court hears oral argument in an FAA case; NLRB rules that Cemex does not impose an enforceable deadline for requesting an election; DOL proposes raising wage standards for H-1B workers.
March 25
UPS rescinded its driver buyout program; California court dismissed a whistleblower retaliation suit against Meta; EEOC announced $15 million settlement to resolve vaccine-related religious discrimination case.
March 24
The WNBPA unanimously votes to ratify the league’s new CBA; NYU professors begin striking; and a district court judge denies the government’s motion to dismiss a case challenging the Trump administration’s mass revocation of international student visas.
March 23
MSPB finds immigration judges removal protections unconstitutional, ICE deployed to airports.