Hannah Finnie is a writer in Washington, D.C. interested in the intersections of work and culture. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School.
A new article from Harvard Law School professor Sharon Block argues that companies like Amazon and Starbucks need to listen to their workers, especially during a tight labor market when workers can easily find other work that more meets their needs.
The Biden administration seems to be coming closer to announcing a decision on canceling student debt, according to a new Washington Post article. The article states that the administration’s latest plan appears poised to cancel $10,000 in federal student loans for borrowers who make less than $150,000 per year, or married couples who make less than $300,000. In late April the administration said it was a few weeks away from making a decision, and many expect a decision soon because the current pause on student loan payments only lasts through August.
Some Trader Joe’s workers in Massachusetts have announced their intent to unionize, and one of the motivating reasons is a recent cut Trader Joe’s made to its contribution to employee’s retirement funds. According to labor reporter Dave Jamieson, Trader Joe’s previously established their contribution to workers’ 401(k)s in its company handbook, but then at some point switched to simply saying the contribution was discretionary. After that change, in January of this year, the company told its workers it was changing its contribution. Workers who had been at the company for less than 10 years would now receive a 5 percent contribution as opposed to 10 percent, and workers who stayed over 10 years would continue to receive the previous across-the-board standard of 10 percent, unless they hadn’t worked a certain number of hours in one of those previous 10 years. That move affected workers who took time off to deal with a personal matter, and now, years later, are facing the consequences. The workers leading the unionizing effort say that this is one reason a union is so helpful: conditions like 401(k) contributions would be written into a contract and could not be unilaterally changed at company discretion.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
May 19
Schedule F comment period ends this week; Wilcox's reinstatement case is back before D.C. Circuit; NLRB removal protection case runs into jurisdictional problem; NJ locomotive strike ends in success.
May 18
In today’s news and commentary, the DC Circuit lifts a preliminary injunction on Trump’s collective bargaining ban for federal workers; HHS, DOL and Treasury pause a 2024 mental health parity regulation; and NJ Transit workers continue into the third day of a historic strike. In a 2-1 decision issued on Friday, the D.C. Circuit overturned […]
May 16
Supreme Court hears a case about universal injunctions; Champion of workers' rights announces run for Colorado Attorney General; Sesame Street is officially union!
May 15
Unions in Colorado urge Governor Polis to sign Senate Bill 5; more than 1200 Starbucks workers go on strike; and IATSE calls on President Trump to reinstate Shira Perlmutter.
May 14
District court upholds NLRB's constitutionality, NY budget caps damage awards, NMB or NLRB jurisdiction for SpaceX?
May 13
In today’s News and Commentary, Trump appeals a court-ordered pause on mass layoffs, the Tenth Circuit sidesteps a ruling on the Board’s remedial powers, and an industry group targets Biden-era NLRB decisions. The Trump administration is asking the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to pause a temporary order blocking the administration from continuing […]