Jon Weinberg is a student at Harvard Law School.
A new McKinsey study suggest the gig economy may not be revolutionizing the world of work. Quartz reports that McKinsey estimates the gig economy workforce “at 20% to 30% of the working-age population in the US and the EU-15, or some 160 million people,” noting that the gig economy is perhaps “reverting economies to pre-industrial ideas about work.” The study goes on to connect self-employment to industrialization.
Meanwhile, a new study from the Center for American Progress calls for labor law reforms to strengthen unions, in order to improve our economy. According to Time, the study find that ” a stronger labor movement may be the quickest way to spur the sort of broad-based growth (via wage hikes) that we need to create a more sustainable, robust recovery.” CAP calls for reform to allow for industry-level bargaining, as opposed to firm-by-firm bargaining.
The strike by Harvard dining workers continues, and major media outlets are taking note. The Nation highlights student and faculty solidarity with the striking workers, while The Daily Beast critiques Harvard’s solicitation of replacement workers.
In other news, the Associated Press reports that “a Dutch labor union said Monday it will launch legal action against FIFA if soccer’s governing body does not step in to halt what it called ‘modern slavery’ in the construction of venues for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar,” while SCOTUSblog features petitions to the Supreme Court seeking a determination of whether mandatory arbitration agreements with class action waivers in employment contracts violate the National Labor Relations Act.
Daily News & Commentary
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April 5
Trump proposes DOL budget cuts; NLRB rules in favor of cannabis employees; Florida warehouse workers unanimously authorize strike.
April 3
NLRB says Amazon failed to bargain with union; Harvard graduate workers authorize strike, and states move to preempt local employment law.
April 2
Sheridan, Colorado educators go on strike; Maryland graduate student workers are one step closer to collective bargaining rights.
April 1
DOL proposes 401(k) rule; Starbucks investors reelect controversial board members; Washington passes workplace immigration warning requirement.
March 31
In today’s news and commentary, the Supreme Court hears a case about Federal Court jurisdiction over arbitration, a UPS heat inspection lawsuit against OSHA is dismissed, and federal worker unions and NGOs call on the EPA to cease laying off its environmental justice staffers. A majority of Supreme Court justices signaled support for allowing federal […]
March 30
Trump orders payment to TSA agents; NYC doormen look to authorize a strike; and KPMG positions for mass layoffs.