Walmart protests this weekend were short and sweet, thanks to a split in worker organizing. The OUR Walmart campaign, launched by the United Food and Commercial Worker Union to agitate for better conditions and higher pay, has drifted from the UFCW. Rather organize Black Friday protests, the UFCW focused on advertisements calling out problems with the company. The Huffington Post noted that, in spite of the relatively few protesters, Walmart’s PR team was outside its Washington, D.C. store, ready to pride Walmart on the benefits and wages it offers.
Native American leaders are lobbying to exempt casinos from the National Labor Relations Act. The National Indian Gaming Association argues casinos provide a crucial part of tribes’ budgets, and those tribes cannot afford labor disputes. The AFL-CIO opposes the measure, seeking the same protections for the 600,000 casino employees as in other workplaces. Unite Here has already reached labor agreements with some individual tribes. According to the Wall Street Journal, President Obama said he would support the measure if tribes were forced to adopt regulations with standards equivalent to the NLRA.
Contractors for the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority are demanding higher wages, writes the New York Times. Employees at a calling center that links people with disabilities to rides from the city’s transit service earn between $9-11 per hour. Although they work for a state agency, as employees of the calling center, they will not receive the $15 minimum wage promised to state workers. In addition to low wages, the workers allege unfair firing of hundreds of workers, discrimination, and sexual harassment. Last year, the workers voted to join Transport Workers Union Local 100.
Thailand’s labor woes continue. Shortly after facing allegations of slavery in the Thai seafood industry, a major Thai poultry producer has been found to violate labor rights. Finnwatch and Swedwatch, two corporate responsibility groups, released a report alleging forced labor, exorbitant recruitment fees, and confiscation of documentation at six poultry processing plants. According to the Associated Press, Thai food manufacturers have preemptively released statements condemning worker exploitation in recent weeks.
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April 11
Trump considers measures to return farm and hospitality workers to the US after deportation; Utah labor leaders make final push to get the “Protect Utah Workers” referendum on the state’s ballot; hundreds of probationary National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees were re-terminated
April 10
Chief Justice Roberts pauses reinstatement of NLRB Chairwoman Wilcox and MSBP Chairwoman Harris, former EEOC Commissioner Samuels sues Trump alleging unlawful firing, and unions sue to block Trump executive order targeting collective bargaining agreements at federal agencies that have national security missions.
April 8
D.C. Circuit reinstates Wilcox; DOL attempts to trim workforce again; unions split regarding Trump tariffs
April 7
State legislatures threaten to expand E-Verify coverage; the EEOC enforces at least parts of its PWFA regulations.
April 6
In today’s news and commentary, Alabama enacts paid parental leave for state employees, a new jobs report could be upended by tariff policies, and labor unions help plan mass demonstrations across the country. In Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill that provides paid parental leave to state employees, including public school teachers. The law, […]
April 4
Colorado Senate Bill 5 sparks heated debate over union security thresholds; SEIU launches national ad campaign protesting detention of union members; 60,000 UC workers strike over alleged unfair labor practices.