Jon Weinberg is a student at Harvard Law School.
Chrysler’s recently-announced pact with the United Auto Workers, approved by union leaders and intended to serve as a model for Ford and General Motors, might be in jeopardy. The New York Times reports that voting at plants began Monday and several rejected it outright, with voting at the largest plants to begin today. Opponents of the deal argue that it disadvantages lower-tier workers at the expense of veterans. According to Reuters, “labor experts say they cannot remember a full national contract ever being rejected.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, Amazon has joined the gig economy. Through the new “Amazon Flex” service, independent contractor drivers in the Seattle area will be paid $20 an hour to make deliveries from mini-warehouses to customers’ homes. Amazon is aiming to cut down on shipping costs and increase control over deliveries. While the service is currently only operational in Seattle, it will eventually be extended to the 12 other cities where “Prime Now” service is available. In categorizing drivers as independent contractors, Amazon opens itself to the worker classification criticism prevalent in the gig economy. Notably, despite the classification, “Amazon said the company generally assumes liability for the products Flex drivers deliver, but will also closely monitor workers’ performance and could suspend them from the program if multiple problems occur.”
USA Today notes that national supermarket chain Whole Foods Market is cutting 1,500 jobs. The jobs lost represent 1.6% of the company’s workforce and come after it added 9,000 jobs in the past year. No details were released as to where the layoffs would occur.
AGWeb highlights new protections for farm workers proposed by the EPA and Department of Labor. The new rules require that workers be 18 years old to handle pesticides, increase the required training education for workers handling pesticides, and broaden “exclusion zones” for outdoor areas treated with pesticides. The proposed rules exempt family farms.
According to Politico, the National Education Association, which represents 3 million teachers, plans to endorse Hillary Clinton in the upcoming 2016 presidential election. The union’s political arm will reportedly schedule an upcoming vote “recommending Hillary Clinton for the presidential primary.” There is considerable dissent within the union, as many support the candidacy of Bernie Sanders.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
July 3
California compromises with unions on housing; 11th Circuit rules against transgender teacher; Harvard removes hundreds from grad student union.
July 2
Block, Nanda, and Nayak argue that the NLRA is under attack, harming democracy; the EEOC files a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former EEOC Commissioner Jocelyn Samuels; and SEIU Local 1000 strikes an agreement with the State of California to delay the state's return-to-office executive order for state workers.
July 1
In today’s news and commentary, the Department of Labor proposes to roll back minimum wage and overtime protections for home care workers, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by public defenders over a union’s Gaza statements, and Philadelphia’s largest municipal union is on strike for first time in nearly 40 years. On Monday, the U.S. […]
June 30
Antidiscrimination scholars question McDonnell Douglas, George Washington University Hospital bargained in bad faith, and NY regulators defend LPA dispensary law.
June 29
In today’s news and commentary, Trump v. CASA restricts nationwide injunctions, a preliminary injunction continues to stop DOL from shutting down Job Corps, and the minimum wage is set to rise in multiple cities and states. On Friday, the Supreme Court held in Trump v. CASA that universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that […]
June 27
Labor's role in Zohran Mamdani's victory; DHS funding amendment aims to expand guest worker programs; COSELL submission deadline rapidly approaching