A rift developed in organized labor after building trade unions objected to the AFL-CIO’s partnering with environmentalist and former hedge fund manager Tom Steyer to create a new super pac called For Our Future designed to drive voter turnout in key states, according to the Washington Post. Members of the building trade unions object to the alliance because Steyer had opposed construction of the Keystone XL pipeline that the builders’ unions hoped would create jobs. Under the agreement, Steyer has pledged to match all contributions made by the unions–a move that bolsters organized labor’s political clout as its own membership and funds have waned.
The New York Times explored anti-union tactics deployed by Amazon to prevent workers at its warehouses or “fulfillment centers” from organizing. The article noted that warehouse employees’ concerns centered mainly on termination and disciplinary protections rather than pay and benefits. Workers interviewed by the Times reported being fired after promoting union membership and reprimanded after questioning management about bonuses. In one colorful case, an Amazon manager told workers an emotional story about a union abandoning his family after his father died. Research into the claims revealed inconsistencies in the story, including that the manager’s father had worked in insurance for three decades and had been a partner at an agency when he died.
The Department of Labor’s new rule expanding overtime eligibility is expected to be unveiled as early as this week, according to USA Today. The rule would change the current maximum salary bar for administrative and professional workers from $26,660 to $47,000, according to individuals familiar with the final version. The expansion would cover approximately $5 million more workers and include a mechanism to automatically raise the maximum salary restraint in the future.
Daily News & Commentary
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June 11
DC Circuit enforces an NLRB bargaining order; House passes a bill to speed up negotiating between employers and unions.
June 10
SoFi Stadium workers narrowly avoid World Cup strike; Amazon's NLRB challenge to remain in Fifth Circuit; House passes strict timeline bill for first union contracts.
June 9
SoFi Stadium workers authorize a strike ahead of the World Cup; the NLRB finds Starbucks violated labor law; Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee is struck down.
June 8
BLS releases May jobs reports; US Trade Representative proposes new tariffs.
June 7
SAG-AFTRA members ratify a four-year CBA and the International Trade Union Confederation releases its 2026 Global Rights Index.
June 4
Third Circuit tosses DOL’s $35.8 million healthcare wage award; Trump’s Republican NLRB nominee gets Senate hearing; Harvard graduate students end strike.