Work Reform

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the top US labor watchdog, is tasked with protecting workers’ rights, overseeing the labor movement and ruling on disputes between employers and unions.

Its five-seat board, which hears disputes and oversees union elections, requires at least three members to issue a ruling. But days after regaining power, Trump fired Gwynne Wilcox – an unprecedented decision – from the board, leaving it without this crucial quorum to make decisions.

“The Trump administration thus far seems to have been treating the agency with this kind of combination of hostility and aggressive neglect,” said Lauren McFerran, who served as chair of the NLRB under Joe Biden.

Four current rank-and-file workers spoke to the Guardian. Each requested anonymity, fearing retaliation.

“The NLRB’s employees just want to do our jobs and be treated with respect,” said one official. “But from day one, this administration has crippled the agency, and treated us as enemies.”

The National Labor Relations Act, enacted in 1935 to federally protect workers’ rights to organize and engage in collective bargaining, now exists “on paper only”, the official claimed.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/14/labor-movement-union-trump-nlrb

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah has repealed a collective bargaining ban passed earlier this year that prevented labor unions serving teachers, firefighters, police and other public employees from negotiating on behalf of their workers.

Republican Gov. Spencer Cox on Thursday approved the repeal of a policy that experts had called one of the most restrictive labor laws

Employees at Doom studio id Software have voted in favour of union representation with the Communications Workers of America (CWA), which has been recognised by Microsoft.

The decision follows QA workers becoming the first group at Microsoft to form a union with CWA representation back in 2023. It means id Software is now a wall-to-wall union, including developers, artists, programmers, and more.

Paywall removed: https://archive.is/14Rau

Meet Ohio Senator Tim Schaffer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Schaffer

This guy introduced a bill allowing employers to make 14 year olds work until 9 p.m. year-round, even during the school year, while paying them less than minimum wage.

The Ohio governor just vetoed his bill:

https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/briefs/ohio-gov-mike-dewine-vetoes-bill-that-would-have-let-14-15-year-olds-work-till-9-p-m-year-round/

But Senator Tim Schaffer says he is not giving up:

https://www.cleveland.com/open/2025/12/sponsor-of-teen-labor-bill-dewine-vetoed-wants-to-negotiate-with-governor-over-concerns.html

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/58914591

While the UAW does not specify a specific minimum wage, its letter notes that addressing wage suppression in Mexico would disincentivize offshoring and create “billions of dollars in new working-class purchasing power,” which could help jump-start demand for vehicles in Mexico.

Massachusetts’s Millionaire Tax Didn’t Lead the Rich to Flee

Anti-fascistic software is made possible by pro-labor licensing.

Mastodon: https://writing.exchange/@erlend/115549403577231766

https://archive.is/HyLHl

During his career in private practice, Scalia has defended major corporations against financial and labor regulations

Writing in The New Yorker, Eyal Press said: "as a corporate lawyer, Scalia has repeatedly hindered the efforts of workers to secure benefits or defend their rights."

After leaving the Bush administration, he helped Wall Street firms oppose financial oversight and criticized banking regulations put in place under Obama.

Scalia argued for the plaintiffs in Wal-Mart v. Maryland in July 2006, which invalidated a state law under which large companies with at least 10,000 employees would have been required to spend at least 8% of their payroll on employee healthcare

On July 18, 2019, President Donald Trump announced he would nominate Scalia to be the next Secretary of Labor

During his tenure in the Department of Labor, he weakened some labor and employment protections, drawing criticism from organized labor leaders

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Scalia

After he left office, Eugene Scalia sued the Biden administration.

The Biden administration wanted to ban non-compete agreements to increase workers bargaining power. Eugene Scalia sued to help the business community :

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/eugene-scalia-leads-business-fight-to-block-agency-rulemaking

Ada Brown, a Texas judge appointed by Donald Trump sided with him.

https://www.npr.org/2024/08/21/g-s1-18376/federal-judge-tosses-ftc-noncompetes-ban

Americans saw this shit and said: "Let's vote Trump"

FUCK ME