Skip to main content

What I’ve Been Reading This Week


Union elections during the coronavirus pandemic have been somewhat of a hot button issue for some.  While I wanted to highlight a couple good articles this week, an article from Politico on mounting pressure to move union elections to an online only format is one particular article well worth a deep dive. 

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



Eleanor Mueller at Politico wrote a good article yesterday evening in which she noted that both Democrats and labor unions have started to increase their calls for union elections to be conducted online rather than in person.  It should come to no surprise to readers that the National Labor Relations Board has been dealing with how to effectively conduct union elections during the coronavirus pandemic.  While union elections are currently allowed and taking place, Democrats and labor unions have objected on the grounds that in person elections risk the safety of those who show up to vote.  Moving the elections online removes the potential risk to voters, as the argument goes, while still allowing elections to take place.  Critics of this online election procedure are quick to point out that it would be ripe with fraud and potential manipulation.  I refer you to Mueller’s article for more information on the matter.


$15/Hour Minimum Wage Rate Expected to See Another Push

With the upcoming Presidential election in a few months, there is widespread speculation that there will soon be another push to increase the federal minimum wage rate to $15/hour.  Melissa Repko at CNBC recently wrote that with presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden voicing his support for the higher hourly wage rate and some members of Congress expecting tough fights to hold (or gain) Congressional seats, voters might see a candidate’s support (or lack thereof) as a key point on how to vote in November.  With many employers having adopted an increase in pay rates for some employees during the coronavirus pandemic, now might be the time to strike while a growing portion of the (voting) public seems to find higher wage rates to be more palatable.  

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