Alisha Jarwala is a student at Harvard Law School and a member of the Labor and Employment Lab.
The NCAA Board of Governors voted unanimously on Tuesday to start modifying its rules to allow college athletes to profit from their names, images and likenesses “in a manner consistent with the collegiate model.” ESPN reports that the NCAA formed a working group on this issue in May, after states including California began to push for legislation allowing college athletes to accept endorsement deals (I wrote about California’s Fair Pay to Play Act here). So far, more than a dozen states have expressed interest in similar laws. ESPN notes that the different options proposed by states (and the potential for litigation) has motivated the NCAA to start working on a uniform national rule that it hopes will appeal to all members of the association. However, the National College Players Association (NCPA), a nonprofit that advocates for college athletes, criticized the announcement as meaningless and vague. Ramogi Huma, NCPA executive director, told the Washington Post: “I think this is a bit of smoke and mirrors here, which signals that the NCAA is still going to oppose players receiving real compensation.”
Ten current and former workers at the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal worker union, told Bloomberg reporter Josh Eidelson that they witnessed or experienced sexual misconduct from AFGE President J. David Cox. The allegations of misconduct include Cox licking a subordinate’s ear and urging secretary to shower with him. Following the news, employees of the union were told yesterday afternoon to refrain from discussing the allegations on social media or with any of AFGE’s 300,000 members across government agencies. Cox has denied the allegations and will take a leave of absence while they are investigated.
Jared Bernstein, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, writes for the Washington Post that the current problem facing the U.S. labor market is job quality, not job quantity. According to a new Gallup survey, only 40 percent of Americans report having “good jobs,” even though unemployment is at a 50-year low of 3.5%. While compensation is important, Bernstein notes that other factors were also key to survey respondents, including control over hours, stability, professional development, and chances for upward mobility. His conclusion? “[T]he next time you hear some policymaker bragging about jobs, jobs, jobs, remember to ask her: What kind of jobs are we talking about?”
The AFL-CIO announced on Tuesday that it will host a presidential forum on March 12, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. “The forum is the week before the Florida primary, and will offer a chance for candidates to tell workers why they should earn their vote,” the group noted in a statement.
Finally, the Wall Street Journal discusses how businesses are ramping up automation in warehouses for the holidays, when online orders can surge tenfold. Some businesses are ordering (or leasing) extra fleets of robots that use cameras and sensors to lead workers to the right shelves or to move products between stations. One study estimates that by 2025, about 27.6% of warehouses around the world will deploy commercial robots, compared to around 3% in 2018.
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.