Harvard Law School’s Pipeline Parity Project saw another success in its campaign to end forced arbitration in employment disputes when Sidley Austin, one of the United States’ 10 largest law firms, announced that it would bow to pressure and eliminate arbitration clauses from employment contracts with all employees, both legal and non-legal staff. The announcement comes after Kirkland & Ellis announced an end to its own arbitration policy. After these two quick successes, the group aims to bring an end to arbitration policies at DLA Piper, another BigLaw firm.
In a lame-duck session, Michigan’s Republican-led legislature overturned a citizen-initiated increase in minimum wage. The move comes as the legislature attempts to pass a flood of new laws before Republican Governor Rick Snyder leaves office and is replaced by a Democrat.
In the wake of controversy surrounding the tax breaks given to Amazon by municipal governments in its search for a new headquarters, the New York City Council has moved to prohibit city officials from entering non-disclosure agreements with private companies. Brad Lander, a councilmember who helped initiate the legislation, said that the secret agreements had “corrupted democracy” and forced important conversations about gentrification, inequality, and corporate influence out of the public sphere.
Daily News & Commentary
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July 4
The DOL scraps a Biden-era proposed rule to end subminimum wages for disabled workers; millions will lose access to Medicaid and SNAP due to new proof of work requirements; and states step up in the noncompete policy space.
July 3
California compromises with unions on housing; 11th Circuit rules against transgender teacher; Harvard removes hundreds from grad student union.
July 2
Block, Nanda, and Nayak argue that the NLRA is under attack, harming democracy; the EEOC files a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former EEOC Commissioner Jocelyn Samuels; and SEIU Local 1000 strikes an agreement with the State of California to delay the state's return-to-office executive order for state workers.
July 1
In today’s news and commentary, the Department of Labor proposes to roll back minimum wage and overtime protections for home care workers, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by public defenders over a union’s Gaza statements, and Philadelphia’s largest municipal union is on strike for first time in nearly 40 years. On Monday, the U.S. […]
June 30
Antidiscrimination scholars question McDonnell Douglas, George Washington University Hospital bargained in bad faith, and NY regulators defend LPA dispensary law.
June 29
In today’s news and commentary, Trump v. CASA restricts nationwide injunctions, a preliminary injunction continues to stop DOL from shutting down Job Corps, and the minimum wage is set to rise in multiple cities and states. On Friday, the Supreme Court held in Trump v. CASA that universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that […]