USA Today reports that the U.S. federal agencies relied on trucking companies that violated labor laws. XPO Logistics and California Cartage, two companies that were found guilty of labor infractions, and Konoike-Pacific, which was accused of the same kinds of violations by its drivers, are still working as federal contractors or subcontractors. Lawmakers, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, responded to USA Today’s investigation by calling on the agencies to change their practices. “The DoD shouldn’t be giving taxpayer-funded contracts to companies that cheat their workers out of wages or take shortcuts on safety,” said Sen. Warren.
“The downfall of the constitutional convention vote last week was a big victory for organized labor,” reports the Albany Times Union. Union organizing against the constitutional convention allowed unions to strengthen member outreach and showed how unions benefit paying members. “In many ways, the organizing methods we used will serve us well if there is an adverse decision in Janus,” New York State United Teachers union spokesman Carl Korn said.
On Sunday, Uber announced that it struck a deal—worth as much as $10 billion—with an investor group, led in part by Japanese conglomerate SoftBank. According to the Los Angeles Times, the deal would include changes to Uber’s corporate governance, and it is in part motivated by “bring[ing] peace to a company defined in 2017 by scandal and infighting.”
The New York Times lists a series of things that employees should consider if they feel that they have been sexually harassed. The article draws on advice from legal experts.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
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 […]
May 12
NJ Transit engineers threaten strike; a court halts Trump's firings; and the pope voices support for workers.
May 9
Philadelphia City Council unanimously passes the POWER Act; thousands of federal worker layoffs at the Department of Interior expected; the University of Oregon student workers union reach a tentative agreement, ending 10-day strike