Alexander W. Miller is a student at Harvard Law School.
Today France votes in the runoff round of its presidential election, with potentially catastrophic consequences for the European Union and labor mobility within the continent. Recent public opinion polls show an upset by Marine Le Pen to be unlikely, and coverage of the vote has shifted toward potential economic consequences. The Economist and Bret Stephens at the New York Times both endorse Emmanuel Macron’s plans to loosen notoriously strict French labor regulations with the goal of increasing employment and growth, and note that fears of terrorism and the xenophobic tone of his opponent Marine Le Pen may actually not be key issues at the polls.
Though Republican senators have suggested that the version of the American Health Care Act passed by the House on Thursday has little chance of making it to President Trump’s desk, commentators have begun looking at how a substantial reduction in the number of insured Americans could affect health care workers and the broader economy.
The New York Times looks in depth this morning at the consequences for workers of Puerto Rico’s continued financial instability, which resulted in the government filing for a modified form of bankruptcy protection on Wednesday. Public sector workers fear additional pay cuts as part of any restructuring of the island’s debt, and the economic slowdown has also lead to private salaries dropping. At the same time, fees for basic services and taxes have increased as the government tries to begin paying down its debts and those of the major public utilities.
Reuters covers automaker Tesla’s recent outreach to Mexican engineers as it seeks to increase by more than 600% the manufacturing capacity at its Fremont, California plant. The outreach abroad highlights the difficulties American firms face in recruiting qualified candidates for engineering specialities, and the quandary those employers may confront if the Trump administration follows through with its professed desire to restrict visas for foreign technology talent.
On Friday, the government released new employment data revealing that nearly one fifth of all Americans over 65 still work, the highest rate in more than a half century. Though analysts credit some of this increase to improving health and the country’s changing demographics, others note that many older workers simply cannot afford to retire. Recent Republican efforts to prevent states from experimenting with ways to increase the number of workers saving for retirement threaten to push that number even higher.
Daily News & Commentary
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July 4
The DOL scraps a Biden-era proposed rule to end subminimum wages for disabled workers; millions will lose access to Medicaid and SNAP due to new proof of work requirements; and states step up in the noncompete policy space.
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 […]