Nikita Rumsey is a student at Harvard Law School.
Maryland’s Republican governor Larry Hogan vetoed a statewide paid family and medical leave bill this week. The bill would have guaranteed up to 12 weeks annually for workers with medical need or up 24 weeks for a parent requiring medical need during pregnancy followed by parental leave. However, the state legislature passed the bill with more than the three-fifths majority needed for a veto override, so the bill may yet become law. The legislature will likely need to take another vote before their regular session adjourns on April 11.
Meanwhile, as Bloomberg reported, David Weil, former DOL Wage and Hour administrator during the Obama administration, withdrew his name from consideration for the role this week after failing to garner the necessary support among Senators to advance his nomination. Republicans and business community allies accused Weil of stifling franchising and independent contracting due to his criticism of gig-economy companies’ labor practices and support for broad joint employer rules. Additionally, three moderate Senate Democrats joined Republicans to oppose Weil’s nomination.
In the other news, the historic union victory by the fledgling Amazon Labor Union at the JFK8 fulfillment center may face a protracted legal battle. Amazon filed an appeal this week seeking to overturn the election, outlining 25 objections, including a claim that ALU did not meet the required threshold of employee signatures to compel a vote as well as an objection to undue influence of the NLRB. According to Bloomberg, labor experts do not expect the Board to grant Amazon’s petition, but the ensuing legal fight could hinder the ALU for months or years to come.
Daily News & Commentary
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June 20
Three state bills challenge Garmon preemption; Wisconsin passes a bill establishing portable benefits for gig workers; and a sharp increase in workplace ICE raids contribute to a nationwide labor shortage.
June 19
Report finds retaliatory action by UAW President; Senators question Trump's EEOC pick; California considers new bill to address federal labor law failures.
June 18
Companies dispute NLRB regional directors' authority to make rulings while the Board lacks a quorum; the Department of Justice loses 4,500 employees to the Trump Administration's buyout offers; and a judge dismisses Columbia faculty's lawsuit over the institution's funding cuts.
June 17
NLRB finds a reporter's online criticism of the Washington Post was not protected activity under federal labor law; top union leaders leave the Democratic National Committee amid internal strife; Uber reaches a labor peace agreement with Chicago drivers.
June 16
California considers bill requiring human operators inside autonomous delivery vehicles; Eighth Circuit considers challenge to Minnesota misclassification law and whether "having a family to support" is a gendered comment.
June 15
ICE holds back on some work site raids as unions mobilize; a Maryland judge approves a $400M settlement for poultry processing workers in an antitrust case; and an OMB directive pushes federal agencies to use union PLAs.