
Sarah Leadem is a joint degree candidate at Harvard Law School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
In today’s News and Commentary: Congressional staffers form the first-ever union, more Congressional offices hold union elections, and the last remaining rail union signs a tentative agreement.
Staffers in the office of Democratic Congressmember Andy Levin voted unanimously to unionize. While staffers voted last week, the union announced the results on Monday. This marks the first union election in Congressional history. Congressmember Levin expressed his support for his staff, applauding their “bravery and initiative.” This successful union election was enabled by a resolution passed by the House this last May–sponsored by Congressmember Levin–that now allows Congressional staffers to unionize. Senate staffers, however, still lack the right to form a union.
Several more union elections are soon to come within Congressional offices. As previously reported, up to eight other Congressional offices have petitioned for union elections. This week alone, two other offices will take their vote: California Congressperson Ro Khanna’s staff vote today (September 28) and Minnesota Congressperson Ilhan Omar’s staff vote on Thursday (September 29).
The last major railroad union has signed a tentative agreement with the freight rail industry. Yesterday, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) announced it had reached a second tentative agreement, after members rejected the first agreement reached in August. The proposed agreement includes a 24% pay raise together with additional benefits, including a cap on healthcare costs and the right to bargain with individual railroads on other expenses. This announcement allays concerns of a strike–for now. It also ushers the IAM into the agreed upon “cooling off period” in place now until December 9th. In light of this tentative agreement, all unions in the freight railroad negotiations have now ratified or are in the process of ratifying new contracts.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
August 1
The Michigan Supreme Court grants heightened judicial scrutiny over employment contracts that shorten the limitations period for filing civil rights claims; the California Labor Commission gains new enforcement power over tip theft; and a new Florida law further empowers employers issuing noncompete agreements.
July 31
EEOC sued over trans rights enforcement; railroad union opposes railroad merger; suits against NLRB slow down.
July 30
In today’s news and commentary, the First Circuit will hear oral arguments on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) revocation of parole grants for thousands of migrants; United Airlines’ flight attendants vote against a new labor contract; and the AFL-CIO files a complaint against a Trump Administrative Executive Order that strips the collective bargaining rights of the vast majority of federal workers.
July 29
The Trump administration released new guidelines for federal employers regarding religious expression in the workplace; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers is suing former union president for repayment of mismanagement of union funds; Uber has criticized a new proposal requiring delivery workers to carry company-issued identification numbers.
July 28
Lower courts work out meaning of Muldrow; NLRB releases memos on recording and union salts.
July 27
In today’s news and commentary, Trump issues an EO on college sports, a second district court judge blocks the Department of Labor from winding down Job Corps, and Safeway workers in California reach a tentative agreement. On Thursday, President Trump announced an executive order titled “Saving College Sports,” which declared it common sense that “college […]