Category: Labor in the USA

Friedrichs, the Roberts Court, and the willful ignorance of privilege

Yesterday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. If the discussion yesterday is any indication—and usually it’s a pretty good one—the Supreme Court seems poised to make a serious blow against public employee unions. And it’s part of a pattern: this Supreme Court’s credence of arguments that support privilege. This time, it’s […]

Happy Birthday, OSHA! Now protecting workers for forty-three years

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) went live on April 28, 1971.  In the years since, it has been OSHA’s mandate to protect workers from employers, whether through drafting and enforcing rules on workplace safety or health, or protecting whistleblowers.  OSHA has become a conservative whipping-boy for having the temerity to enforce laws that can mean the […]

Unlike Colbert, college football coach follows age-old anti-union playbook

The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,Video Archive Another development in the continuing story of the Northwestern University football players who dared, dared suggest that their university cared more about dollars than athletes, and that perhaps unionization might get them a voice in their own employment “student-athletic careers.”  And some of […]

NCAA athletes closer to unionization, closer to the workplace safety they deserve

Two days ago, adjuncts unionizing in DC, yesterday, a ruling from a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional director that college athletes may unionize.  The ruling is essentially provisional, because Northwestern University, one of whose football players pushed for the union, will appeal the decision to the NLRB.  The AP does a pretty good job […]