Don’t blame Joe Camel for the nicotine poisoning of Indonesian Children. Human Rights Watch released a report that thousands of children working in Indonesia’s tobacco industry are exposed to nicotine and pesticides, usually without protective clothing, and suffer from nausea, headaches and dizziness. Child laborers rarely receive health education or go to health clinics when they become ill, and organizations do not know what the long-term effects will be. According to the New York Times, most Indonesian tobacco is sold on the open market, making it difficult to trace the supply chain back to one of the country’s 500,000 family-run tobacco farms.
Are unions and environmentalists friends or foes? Zoe Carpenter at the Nation contends the alliance is stronger than ever, despite conflicts on the surface. Last week, the New York Times published letters to AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka from the leaders of seven construction unions, who were “enraged” that philanthropist Tom Steyer was participating in the labor-led Super PAC to defeat Donald Trump. The unions view Steyer’s environmental activism—especially his campaign against the Keystone XL pipeline—as antithetical to the partnerships between the building trades and the American Petroleum Institute. Despite the internal labor battles, Carpenter sees the AFL-CIO’s intentions to partner with Steyer as a sign that labor and climate change activists are closing the historical gulf between them.
In California, labor and environmental activists have a more harmonious relationship—uniting against Governor Brown. The Los Angeles Times reports that a coalition opposes the governor’s plan to increase affordable housing projects because it allows developers to sidestep local regulations and state environmental standards. Affordable housing advocates want to bypass the environmental review process to avoid delays in construction at a time when the state faces a dearth of affordable housing. But the State Building and Construction Trades Council sees the state’s environmental rules as an important mechanism to protect both natural resources and well-paying jobs for workers.
As business groups have loudly opposed the Obama administration’s expanded labor policies, Republican members of Congress are quietly trying to roll them back. The International Business Times reports that legislators drafted language, buried deep in a defense appropriations bill, to exempt Pentagon subcontractors from a labor rule. Under the proposal, new regulations to crack down on private contractors who violate federal labor law would not apply to Defense Department subcontractors. This change fits in with a broader strategy to undo other labor protections, including the expansion of paid overtime eligibility and regulations on advising by retirement professionals.
Daily News & Commentary
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July 3
Unions seek a preliminary injunction to prevent USDA downsizing; the D.C. District Court issues a preliminary injunction against new student loan regulations; Matt Bruenig releases an analysis of Starbucks’ ongoing legal battle against Starbucks Workers United.
July 2
First Circuit denies federal worker unions’ mandamus petition; federal court denies preliminary injunction against new union reporting rule; House introduces the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act.
July 1
Trump nominates Keith Sonderling as Labor Secretary; DOL eliminates disparate-impact liability from Title VI regulations; OPM finalizes rule allowing suitability-based removal of federal employees for post-appointment conduct.
June 30
SCOTUS ends removal protections for agencies; staff at NYC cocktail bar vote to unionize.
June 29
In today’s News and Commentary, student-athletes file a class action suit challenging the NCAA’s new Age-Based Rule, a federal judge declines to issue a preliminary injunction against FEMA’s reduction in force but expedites proceedings, and Gavin Newsom opposes California’s proposed billionaire tax in favor of a federal approach. On Thursday, DeJuan Campbell, at basketball player […]
June 28
Philadelphia utility workers announce July 4 strike; national parks workers vote to unionize; Michigan considers “right to disconnect” bill.