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
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
July 3
Unions seek a preliminary injunction to prevent USDA downsizing; the D.C. District Court issues a preliminary injunction against new student loan regulations; Matt Bruenig releases an analysis of Starbucks’ ongoing legal battle against Starbucks Workers United.
July 2
First Circuit denies federal worker unions’ mandamus petition; federal court denies preliminary injunction against new union reporting rule; House introduces the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act.
July 1
Trump nominates Keith Sonderling as Labor Secretary; DOL eliminates disparate-impact liability from Title VI regulations; OPM finalizes rule allowing suitability-based removal of federal employees for post-appointment conduct.
June 30
SCOTUS ends removal protections for agencies; staff at NYC cocktail bar vote to unionize.
June 29
In today’s News and Commentary, student-athletes file a class action suit challenging the NCAA’s new Age-Based Rule, a federal judge declines to issue a preliminary injunction against FEMA’s reduction in force but expedites proceedings, and Gavin Newsom opposes California’s proposed billionaire tax in favor of a federal approach. On Thursday, DeJuan Campbell, at basketball player […]
June 28
Philadelphia utility workers announce July 4 strike; national parks workers vote to unionize; Michigan considers “right to disconnect” bill.