Today's News & Commentary—September 18
The Wall Street Journal reports that the United Auto Workers is continuing to negotiate with Volkswagen over representing its workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Last February, the workers at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee voted to not join the UAW in a very contested election, which we’ve covered extensively. Since then, the UAW has worked to represent some workers through a members-only union, which we’ve covered here.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report on 2013 workplace fatalities, according to the Los Angeles Times. The report states that overall there were fewer workplace deaths in 2013 than in the year before. However, for Latino employees, the rate of workplace deaths increased, and women remain twice as likely as men to be killed at work.
The NFL Player’s Association has asked for a neutral third-party to hear the appeal of Ray Rice’s suspension, rather than Commissioner Roger Goodell, according to the Wall Street Journal. The NFL has not issued a response.
The Hill reports that Republican lawmakers in the Senate proposed “a major overhaul of the National Labor Relations Board.” Among other changes, the proposal would transform the current five-member board into six-member board. The Huffington Post explains that under the proposed change, difficult cases that would likely to split the board could go unresolved for years.
The New York Times editorial board writes to encourage the Department of Labor to update its overtime rules. Currently, anyone earning over $460 a week in salary (as opposed to hourly wages) is not entitled to time-and-a-half overtime pay. The Labor Department is considering changing these rules.
