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What I've Been Reading This Week: Labor Law Edition


Shorter week in the office, as I had to cover a few different last minute hearings.  But in my downtime at the hotel, I read through some good articles on some developing labor issues around the country.  Perhaps the most noteworthy article concerned efforts by workers at Lyft, Uber, and other related companies to gain the right to collectively bargain.  Whether that will actually happen is still too early to say...but well worth the read!

As always, below are a few articles that caught my eye this week.


Unions Throw Support Behind Higher Wages for Bank Tellers

Matt Austin has a good article on the the Communication Workers of America and its recent support of a higher minimum wage for bank tellers.  Whether the support of the union will have any impact on higher minimum wages for bank tellers is anyone's guess...but interesting to see this sector of the workforce get attention in regard to higher hourly wages.


Hillary Clinton Ramps Up Efforts to Woo Unions

Interesting note on Hillary Clinton's continued efforts to secure union endorsements ahead of the upcoming primaries and general election contest next year (assuming she gets that far).  Given that union & NLRB issues have become increasingly prevalent over the past few months, it is unsurprising that a Democratic candidate is pandering to a traditionally loyal Democratic block of voters.  Note, the article points out how Clinton is cleverly distinguishing herself as a "pro-worker" candidate to these voters while pointing out that the Republican candidates are attempting to interfere in the workplace by combating unions (with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie saying the national teachers union deserves a punch in the face).


How Do Unions Fit Into the "On Demand" Economy

This is one of the better union related articles I have come across in some time.  Sydney Brownstone has a very well researched and thought note on how unions fit into the "on demand" economy (dominated by companies like Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, etc).  In the article, it is noted that these companies have fought attempts by its workers to unionize, although a recent union backed bill from Seattle City Council member Mike O'Brien would change the game entirely.  Under O'Brien's bill, drivers for these companies would be able to collectively bargain with the companies running the apps.  This bill has the potential to revolutionize this industry.  Stay tuned.

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