Anita Alem is a student at Harvard Law School.
A third Amazon warehouse received approval from the NLRB to conduct union elections on Wednesday. The Verge reported that LDJ5, a Staten Island warehouse, joined JFK8 and the Bessemer, Alabama warehouse, in the ongoing efforts to unionize Amazon workers. Labor journalist Lauren K. Gurley tweeted a screenshot of a text that Amazon sent its LDJ5 employees confirming that the Amazon Labor Union has “met the criteria to continue processing the ALU’s petition to have an election at LDJ5.” Amazon’s message contained reflected typical anti-union rhetoric, warning workers: “you could end up with the same, more, or less than you have now – while paying the ALU for representation.”
The Wall Street Journal, covering a Wells Fargo report, found that the shortage of daycare workers has impacted 460,000 families, disproportionately hindering women from participating in the workforce. The concern was echoed by Tuesday’s State of the Union address, in which President Biden encouraged Congress to decrease the costs associated with child care.
In international news, workers at an autoparts assembly plant operated by a U.S.-based company voted overwhelmingly in favor of representation by an independent union. The triumph marks the second time in as many months that an independent union won out against Mexico’s “old guard” unions after a similar vote at a GM plant.
Daily News & Commentary
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January 18
Met Museum workers unionize; a new report reveals a $0.76 average tip for gig workers in NYC; and U.S. workers receive the smallest share of capital since 1947.
January 16
The NLRB publishes its first decision since regaining a quorum; Minneapolis labor unions call for a general strike in response to the ICE killing of Renee Good; federal workers rally in DC to show support for the Protecting America’s Workforce Act.
January 15
New investigation into the Secretary of Labor; New Jersey bill to protect child content creators; NIOSH reinstates hundreds of employees.
January 14
The Supreme Court will not review its opt-in test in ADEA cases in an age discrimination and federal wage law violation case; the Fifth Circuit rules that a jury will determine whether Enterprise Products unfairly terminated a Black truck driver; and an employee at Berry Global Inc. will receive a trial after being fired for requesting medical leave for a disability-related injury.
January 13
15,000 New York City nurses go on strike; First Circuit rules against ferry employees challenging a COVID-19 vaccine mandate; New York lawmakers propose amendments to Trapped at Work Act.
January 12
Changes to EEOC voting procedures; workers tell SCOTUS to pass on collective action cases; Mamdani's plans for NYC wages.