The California Supreme Court is expected to make a ruling today in a lawsuit between Gerawan Farming and the United Farm Workers of America. At issue in the case is a 2002 state law allowing the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board to order mediation for unions and farming companies to reach binding contracts, the Associated Press reports. Two years ago, a state appeals court held in a 3-0 decision that the mediation and conciliation law was unconstitutional. If the state’s highest court affirms, organized farm labor’s power in California would go down dramatically.
This week, Ivanka Trump is leading a U.S. delegation to southern India, where she will promote female entrepreneurship and economic power. The Washington Post reports that the visit will highlight Trump’s silence around labor conditions for the predominantly female garment workforce in India that makes clothing for her fashion line. “If Ivanka truly wants her legacy to include protecting working women,” said Judy Gearhart, executive director of the International Labor Rights Forum, “she needs to start with the women in her supply chain.”
The Wall Street Journal reports that New Hampshire is launching efforts to bring recovering opioid addicts into the workforce. In doing so, Governor Chris Sununu is aiming to address two problems facing his state: extremely low unemployment (below 3 percent) and extremely high levels of opioid addiction. “We want to re-instill that level of self worth that so many people in recovery have lost,” and, “we need those able-bodied working adults. We need that workforce in the state,” said Governor Sununu.
In Minnesota, companies are investing in high schools to train students for the 21st-century workplace, taking corporate partnerships to a new level. The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that a looming labor shortage—combined with Minnesota’s racial achievement gap—prompted the hands-on programming, which puts corporate resources and employees into curriculum planning and classroom teaching roles.
Daily News & Commentary
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September 7
Eighth Circuit finds DOL order violates Seventh Amendment; 1,300 workers at Encore Boston Harbor go on strike.
September 6
Encore casino workers strike; President Trump commutes sentence of former Philadelphia IBEW leader; Durham labor activist ends his hunger strike against Amazon.
September 4
NLRB advice memo narrows political protest protections; NLRB asks federal appeals court for deference.
September 3
Seond Circuit rejects a NLRB standard for union insignia in employer dress codes; House Republicans ramp up labor union investigations.
September 2
Trump’s US Steel agreement impacts labor talks; Mamdani clashes with teachers’ union; Boeing plans to resume bargaining talks.
September 1
California legislature passes a bill banning AI workplace surveillance of workers' emotional states; Labor Department repeals decades-old farmworker protection rules; Sixth Circuit upholds a $1.4 million verdict for farmworkers.