Skip to main content

What I've Been Reading This Week


As I finish up this update, I am somewhere over the southeastern part of the country, about to touch down in Atlanta.  Pardon the shorter post.  Given the recent laws that have been passed in North Carolina and Mississippi, transgender matters have started to become a major focal point in the workplace.  I came across a well written article that breaks down these recent laws and places an emphasis on how it impacts employers in both states.  Well worth a review, even for readers not in either state!

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


Volkswagen Appeals NLRB Ruling That Allows UAW to Organize At Chattanooga Plant

Earlier this month, I wrote an article about the NLRB's ruling which upheld a vote by a group of workers at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant to be organized by the United Auto Workers ("UAW").  Earlier this week, it was announced that Volkswagen will appeal the NLRB's ruling in federal court.  (Although it was not announced when or in which court the appeal will be filed.).  As Bernie Woodall over at Reuters writes, not to be outdone, the UAW filed an unfair labor practice charge on the grounds that Volkswagen has continued to refuse to bargain with the workers who voted to organize.  This one is far from over...


Does Hawaii Need a Higher Minimum Wage?

Eric Pape has a well thought out note on whether hourly workers in Hawaii need a higher minimum wage.  As he writes, the cost of living in Hawaii is higher than many other states (thus, necessitating the need for a higher hourly wage).   However, the question inevitably turns to whether employers in Hawaii can actually afford to raise wages for employees in the state.  Well worth a read!


The Defend Trade Secrets Act Moves One Step Closer to Reality

The Non-Compete and Trade Secrets Report often posts some great, in depth articles on one of my favorite employment law topics, non-compete agreements.  Recently, Peter Bulmer wrote a note on the Defend Trade Secrets Act which is moving through Congress at a somewhat surprising rate.  Given the lack of bipartisanship in Congress these days, the fact that the Senate voted 87 - 0 in favor of the Act and it is possible/likely that it will clear the House and be signed into law by President Obama, is somewhat surprising.  Take a look at Peter's article to see the wide reaching impact the passage of this Act could have.



By this point, I am sure readers have heard about the laws in North Carolina and Mississippi in regard to transgender issues.  Employers and employees alike in both states have likely been impacted by these laws (or will be sooner rather than later).  This article by Labor & Employment Insights does a great job breaking down the new laws in both states and what it means for employers.  Even for those readers not in North Carolina or Mississippi, this is worth a review.  It likely will not be long before other states consider and/or pass similar transgender related laws.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NLRB: Discussion Among Employees About Tip Pooling is Protected Concerted Activity

  This Advice Memorandum from the National Labor Relations Board’s Associate General Counsel, Jayme Sophir, addressed whether employees which discussed and complained about tip pooling at work constituted protected concerted activity. In relevant part, an employer in New York operated a chain of steakhouses.  While tip pooling was in place at these steakhouses, some of the employees objected to it on the grounds that it was not transparent and improperly divided tips among the workers.  Employees were told not to complain or talk to each other about the tip pool and were told that doing so would endanger their jobs.  Despite the employer later attempting to provide some clarity as to how the tips were being divided, rancor still existed among some employees.  At one point, the employees were told by a general manager that some employees that had been talking about the tip pool were “cleared out” and the employer would continue to do so. In the Advice Memorandum,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking: Labor Secretary Rumored to Be Leaving Administration

A few hours ago, word leaked out that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (“Walsh”) is in the midst of negotiations to head up the NHL Players Union and leave his position at the Labor Department. Walsh, who has served as the sole Labor Secretary under President Biden, has taken part in a labor renaissance of sorts as support for organized labor has increased during his term as Labor Secretary (although the number of workers that have joined a union over the past two years has not grown as mush as some expected.)  He has also overseen the ongoing negotiations with rail workers over a new contract, although that matter is still on shaky ground and playing out as we speak. As for who might step into the vacant Labor Secretary role, there are already rumblings that President Biden should nominate Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su (a strong labor advocate) or even a progressive like Senator Bernie Sanders.  Until Walsh officially gives his notice, however, I would expect some/many potential...
Post a Comment
Read more

San Diego Rolls Back Vaccine Mandate For City Workers

Last Tuesday, the San Diego City Council voted to do away with the vaccine mandate for city employees. The city’s vaccine mandate that was in place required city workers to get the coronavirus vaccine or risk termination.  Perhaps to this surprise of no one, the city’s policy came under fire with 14 employees being terminated and over 100 other employees resigning.  With the coronavirus subsiding, including in Southern California, the San Diego City Council took action. Now, bear in mind, the repeal of the vaccine mandate does not take place immediately. With that being said, the mandate will be repealed March 8th.  I suppose the question now is, what other cities or regions follow San Diego’s lead? For additional information:   https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2023-01-24/san-diego-repeals-controversial-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-citing-drop-in-cases-hospitalizations
Post a Comment
Read more