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What I've Been Reading This Week


I had intended to write a note about the minimum wage vote in Kansas City a few days ago, but work kept me tied up.  However, I did want to highlight that article in particular, given the protracted and drawn out legal fight that is likely to follow.  The article from The Kansas City Star gives readers a good idea of where things stand at the moment, with an eye to to the future.

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


Harvard Appeals NLRB Decision to Invalidate Unionization Vote

Readers might recall that last year, a student unionization election occurred at Harvard.  After the vote occurred, there were subsequent challenges made to several ballots cast in the election as well as claims that Harvard had improperly prevented eligible students from participating in the election.  While the initial results appeared to show a vote against unionization, the Regional Director of the National Labor Relations Board, John J. Walsh, Jr., wrote a decision last month that invalidated the election and called for another vote.  In recent days, Harvard has taken steps to appeal that decision and has taken their case to the National Labor Relations Board in D.C.  Interesting to see what comes of this...especially given the fact that the National Labor Relations Board is expected to take on a decidedly more conservative tilt.


Kansas City Minimum Wage Rate Clashes With Missouri State Law

Bylynn Horsley at The Kansas City Star wrote an article last week on a minimum wage vote that recently took place in Kansas City.  That vote sought to raise minimum wage rates in the city from its current rate of $7.70/hour to $10/hour on August 24th and then eventually to $15/hour by 2022.  However, this proposal conflicts with a Missouri state law, set to take effect on August 28, that bars Kansas City (and other cities in the state) from setting its own minimum wage rates.  With that being said, voters in Kansas City approved the measure and now advocates of the $15/hour minimum wage rate are "demanding" that Kansas City businesses honor the outcome of the vote.  (Yes, the Kansas City minimum wage ballot initiative is set to take effect four days before the Missouri state wide "ban" would go into effect...).  This is one to keep an eye on as I expect it to end up in court sooner rather than later.

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