https://www.youtube.com/embed/GZa7w_YCBK0 From Vice News, YouTube: Kentucky is at the center of what experts are calling the worst black lung epidemic on record. But instead of making it easier for miners to get access to health care, Kentucky’s lawmakers passed a law that may soon hinder miners’ ability to obtain workers’ compensation … [Read more...]
Gig Workers Win Big in California Supreme Court Ruling
The California Supreme Court set its sights on the gig-economy last month, when Justices issued a unanimous ruling requiring companies using contract labor to prove that their independent contractors actually run their own business. All seven of the Justices joined the majority opinion written by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who took aim at … [Read more...]
Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act
Mandatory arbitration clauses have been a sore spot for a lot workers and consumers in recent years. When these provisions are included in contracts, they preclude the possibility of taking a complaint to court and force claims into black-box arbitrations. Funneling claims into closed-door arbitration serves the interests of corporations in at … [Read more...]
NLRB Limits the Scope of the Joint Employer Doctrine
In mid-December, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) reversed an Obama-era ruling that permitted workers to file complaints against large corporations (like fast-food conglomerates) that reap profits from franchises but don’t oversee day-to-day operations. According to the NLRB of yesteryear, such corporations would count as “joint-employers” … [Read more...]
Undocumented Workers Exploited in Wake of Harvey
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, day laborers, the majority of which are undocumented immigrants, are being put to work thanks to the many reconstruction projects now underway. This situation is not entirely surprising, as half the construction workforce in Texas are in the states illegally. According to a study released in 2013, nearly … [Read more...]
Asbestos Finds Its Way into Modern Aircraft
Before the 1980s, aircraft mechanics worked with asbestos everyday. The material was used in nearly every engine component that was exposed to heat. Though asbestos has been banned from use in modern aircraft parts, some parts in circulation made before 1980 still contain asbestos. In an ideal world, mechanics would be able to know if parts they’re … [Read more...]
Appeals Court Upholds Right-to-Work Law in Wisconsin
On September 19th, a Wisconsin appeals court upheld the state’s so-called right-to-work law, dealing a major blow to union organizers. The Wisconsin AFL-CIO, the International Associations of Machinists and United Steelworkers first brought the lawsuit in 2015 not long after the law’s enactment. Since then there has been an effort to rescind the … [Read more...]
Legislation Could Majorly Weaken the Americans With Disabilities Act
Earlier this year, Representative Ted Poe, a Republican from Texas, introduced a bill that, if enacted, would dramatically change the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The legislation, known as the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 (or HR 620), would shift the burden from business owners to individuals seeking relief. The law, as it is … [Read more...]
NLRB Files Unfair Labor Practices Complaint Against Tesla
On August 31st, the National Labor Review Board (NLRB) filed a complaint against Tesla, an electric car manufacturer run by CEO Elon Musk. The complaint marked the commencement of an investigation into charges made in 2017 by Tesla workers and the Service Employee International Union. Workers have claimed that the company forced employees to sign … [Read more...]
Republicans Vote to Exploit Workers, Roll Back Obama-Regulation
On Monday March 6th, the Senate passed yet another “resolution of disapproval,” effectively rescinding an Obama regulation meant to track companies’ violations of labor laws – including minimum wage, overtime, and health and safety statutes – to prevent the federal government from contracting such corporations. This regulation, known as the Fair … [Read more...]
