American cities are going wild as Amazon looks for a place to build its second headquarters and employ 50,000 people. Tucson businessmen sent a 21-foot cactus to Jeff Bezos’ office. Philadelphia and Tulsa have expressed openness to modifying their tax codes. Canadian cities, meanwhile, highlight their more stable political environment and looser immigration policy. Contemplating local impacts, the Cary, North Carolina News & Observer notes that enticements have not been necessary to attract Amazon projects in the past; does this new competition among cities amount to ‘corporate welfare’?
Retail firms that usually hire temporary workers for fall and winter are facing low unemployment and competition from e-commerce firms. Target will try to attract workers by raising the lowest wage to $11 per hour. Walmart plans to avoid hiring temporary store employees by assigning more hours to its regular employees. In general, Walmart regards 34 hours per week — the threshold above which more employee benefits would be required — as full-time work. Anecdotes suggest that employees will welcome additional hours.
The first woman ever to complete the Marine Corps’ Infantry Officer Course graduated yesterday. She will soon lead a platoon of 40 in a service that has been much criticized for its misogyny. Infantry roles have only been open to women since April 2016. A New York Times op-ed analogizes the contemporary debate around mixed-gender units and leadership to the recent debate around repeal of Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell. The op-ed quotes a RAND study finding that “performance of a group influences its cohesion more than cohesion influences performance.”
Management-side attorney William Emanuel was confirmed yesterday as the NLRB’s fifth member. (We wrote about Emanuel’s confirmation hearing here.) The Board now comprises three Republicans and two Democrats and is expected to reverse changes made by the Obama NLRB.
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October 8
In today’s news and commentary, the Trump administration threatens no back pay for furloughed federal workers; the Second Circuit denies a request from the NFL for an en banc review in the Brian Flores case; and Governor Gavin Newsom signs an agreement to create a pathway for unionization for Uber and Lyft drivers.
October 7
The Supreme Court kicks off its latest term, granting and declining certiorari in several labor-related cases.
October 6
EEOC regains quorum; Second Circuit issues opinion on DEI causing hostile work environment.
October 5
In today’s news and commentary, HELP committee schedules a vote on Trump’s NLRB nominees, the 5th Circuit rejects Amazon’s request for en banc review, and TV production workers win their first union contract. After a nomination hearing on Wednesday, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee scheduled a committee vote on President Trump’s NLRB nominees […]
October 3
California legislation empowers state labor board; ChatGPT used in hostile workplace case; more lawsuits challenge ICE arrests
October 2
AFGE and AFSCME sue in response to the threat of mass firings; another preliminary injunction preventing Trump from stripping some federal workers of collective bargaining rights; and challenges to state laws banning captive audience meetings.