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What I’ve Been Reading This Week


Perhaps this should have been a “Labor Law Edition” to close out the week, given that the two articles that I want to highlight for readers are labor centric.  Even for those readers that do not encounter labor unions or unionization efforts often, I encourage you to give both of the below articles a read.

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


Starbucks & the Union Elections: The Start of a Wave Of Unionization Efforts In the Food Industry?

As readers might recall, workers at several Buffalo area Starbucks locations have sought to unionize.  While Starbucks has sought to have one election for all the stores, each store will have its own election.  As Katishi Maake at Retail Brew writes, labor advocates are hoping to use a successful election at one (or more) of the Buffalo area stores as a catalyst to encourage other workers in the food industry to follow suit.  I refer readers to the article for Maake’s thoughts on the matter.  While the results of the elections will still not be known for a few more weeks, a loss (even a close one) might not quell the desire of other food service workers to attempt a similar election.


Unions Seek to Allow Connecticut National Guard to Unionize

For those unfamiliar with the matter, a 1978 law forbids members of the armed forces from unionizing.  That begs the question (for some) as to whether members of the National Guard can lawfully unionize.  It turns out, that might be decided by a judge, following several unions filing suit seeking to have the 1978 law being declared inapplicable as to members of the National Guard which would consequently allow members of the Connecticut National Guard to vote to unionize.  This could turn into an interesting case to follow.

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