Weekend News & Commentary — October 18-19

This month marks the first anniversary of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in New York, signed into law on October 2, 2013. The law requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers, so long as these accommodations don’t cause undue hardship for the employer. The New York Times profiles efforts to raise awareness of these rights among low-income working women, who are often at high risk of being pushed out of their work – and into poverty – when they become pregnant.

Less than one-third of trains are running in Germany this weekend, following a countrywide strike by the German train drivers’ union. The standstill has remained locked over demands for higher wages and shorter working hours. Negotiations continue between the union – the Gewerkschaft Deutscher Lokomotivführer – and Deutsche Bahn. The Wall Street Journal reports.

Air Canada has reached a tentative 10-year deal with its 3,000 pilots. The Air Canada Pilots Association, which previously had only signed three year accords, will now present the terms to its members for a vote over the coming weeks. The Montreal Gazette reports.