Edward Nasser is a student at Harvard Law School.
Richard Griffin, General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, sent an unusual letter to the Supreme Court to correct an answer he gave during oral argument in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis. Responding to Chief Justice John Roberts, Griffin said workers could be forced into an arbitration forum that barred group claims involving 50 or fewer people. His letter clarifies that the correct answer was actually given by Daniel Ortiz, a lawyer for the workers, who said workers had to be allowed to file joint complaints even with a group of 50 or fewer.
Ben & Jerry’s struck a deal yesterday to ensure that the dairy farms supplying it with milk provided humane conditions for their workers, reports The New York Times. The agreement between Ben & Jerry’s and a farmworker’s group in Vermont, where the company is based, creates labor standards and an enforcement mechanism to encourage workers to report violations.
The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved a bill that would send self-driving cars to market and bar states from issuing regulatory road blocks. The bill would allow automakers to sell up to 80,000 self-driving vehicles each year if they could demonstrate they are as safe as human driven vehicles. The bill would also grant the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration authority to exempt self-driving cars from certain federal safety requirements.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
July 15
The Department of Labor announces new guidance around Occupational Safety and Health Administration penalty and debt collection procedures; a Cornell University graduate student challenges graduate student employee-status under the National Labor Relations Act; the Supreme Court clears the way for the Trump administration to move forward with a significant staff reduction at the Department of Education.
July 14
More circuits weigh in on two-step certification; Uber challengers Seattle deactivation ordinance.
July 13
APWU and USPS ratify a new contract, ICE barred from racial profiling in Los Angeles, and the fight continues over the dismantling of NIOSH
July 11
Regional director orders election without Board quorum; 9th Circuit pauses injunction on Executive Order; Driverless car legislation in Massachusetts
July 10
Wisconsin Supreme Court holds UW Health nurses are not covered by Wisconsin’s Labor Peace Act; a district judge denies the request to stay an injunction pending appeal; the NFLPA appeals an arbitration decision.
July 9
the Supreme Court allows Trump to proceed with mass firings; Secretary of Agriculture suggests Medicaid recipients replace deported migrant farmworkers; DHS ends TPS for Nicaragua and Honduras