According to Politico, the NLRB has prohibited McDonald’s from subpoenaing various contractors hired by SEIU as part of its Fight for $15 campaign. McDonald’s had planned to point to communications between SEIU and BerlinRosen, a progressive communications firm, to show that the Fight for $15 is, at least in part, aimed at tarnishing McDonald’s national brand. In McDonald’s view, this would be relevant to showing that greater control over franchisees was justified in the name of brand protection and thus not indicative of a joint employment situation. This Thursday, the NLRB disagreed, rejecting the subpoena request as irrelevant to McDonald’s defense.
The Wall Street Journal reports that initial unemployment claims filed last week totalled a seasonally-adjusted 265,000. Although a slight increase from the week before, the level of jobless claims has remained below 300,000 for the 54th straight week, which constitutes “the longest such streak since 1973” and indicates a healthy jobs market.
Politico tackles the question that President Obama’s recent Supreme Court nomination has everyone wondering – “Should Labor Love Merrick Garland?” Although Garland has shown little receptivity to the use of first amendment arguments to challenge agency regulations, his practice of deferring to the NLRB’s decisions have typically benefitted unions. For OnLabor’s analysis of Garland’s labor positions, see here.
Daily News & Commentary
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July 6
Municipal workers in Philadelphia continue to strike; Zohran Mamdani collects union endorsements; UFCW grocery workers in California and Colorado reach tentative agreements.
July 4
The DOL scraps a Biden-era proposed rule to end subminimum wages for disabled workers; millions will lose access to Medicaid and SNAP due to new proof of work requirements; and states step up in the noncompete policy space.
July 3
California compromises with unions on housing; 11th Circuit rules against transgender teacher; Harvard removes hundreds from grad student union.
July 2
Block, Nanda, and Nayak argue that the NLRA is under attack, harming democracy; the EEOC files a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former EEOC Commissioner Jocelyn Samuels; and SEIU Local 1000 strikes an agreement with the State of California to delay the state's return-to-office executive order for state workers.
July 1
In today’s news and commentary, the Department of Labor proposes to roll back minimum wage and overtime protections for home care workers, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by public defenders over a union’s Gaza statements, and Philadelphia’s largest municipal union is on strike for first time in nearly 40 years. On Monday, the U.S. […]
June 30
Antidiscrimination scholars question McDonnell Douglas, George Washington University Hospital bargained in bad faith, and NY regulators defend LPA dispensary law.