Yesterday, hundreds of workers gathered at the United Farm Workers’ Forty Acre complex in Delano, CA to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Delano grape strike. Organized by Filipino American and Latino workers, the strike incited an international boycott of nonunion grapes and led to the formation of UFW. The Fresno Bee reports that the anniversary event featured speeches by the sons of both Cesar Chavez and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as well as UFW co-founder Dolores Huerta.
American Apparel has turned to notorious union busting firm Cruz & Associates to stymie growing labor unrest at its Los Angeles headquarters. Per the New York Post, workers have been attempting to organize under the auspices of the General Brotherhood of Workers in response to cuts in hours and wages, layoffs, and the forced departure of founder Dov Charney.
Scott Walker may no longer be running for president, but at least one commentator hopes that his proposal to repeal the Davis-Beacon Act has longer legs than the Wisconsin governor’s campaign. Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Andy Koenig describes the history of the law — which requires that federal construction projects of $2,000 or more pay the prevailing union wage — as “despicable” and “disturbing.” He goes on to suggest that repealing the law would “restore fairness to the bidding process for federal construction projects, end a discriminatory policy that continues to hurt minority communities, and save billions of dollars for the American taxpayer.”
Daily News & Commentary
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October 15
An interview with former NLRB chairman; Supreme Court denies cert in Southern California hotel case
October 14
Census Bureau layoffs, Amazon holiday hiring, and the final settlement in a meat producer wage-fixing lawsuit.
October 13
Texas hotel workers ratify a contract; Pope Leo visits labor leaders; Kaiser lays off over two hundred workers.
October 12
The Trump Administration fires thousands of federal workers; AFGE files a supplemental motion to pause the Administration’s mass firings; Democratic legislators harden their resolve during the government shutdown.
October 10
California bans algorithmic price-fixing; New York City Council passes pay transparency bills; and FEMA questions staff who signed a whistleblowing letter.
October 9
Equity and the Broadway League resume talks amid a looming strike; federal judge lets alcoholism ADA suit proceed; Philadelphia agrees to pay $40,000 to resolve a First Amendment retaliation case.