If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em: SEIU Befriending Franchisees

We have reported on the SEIU’s campaign for $15-an-hour wages for fast food workers. Seeking to have franchisees pay nearly twice the minimum wage for historically minimum wage work is not the way to befriend fast food franchisees. Now, the SEIU is extending a proverbial french fry to franchisees in hopes of forming an alliance…
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Disney Performers Reinstated After Refusing to Wear “Contaminated” Costumes

Three performers employed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando caused a stir when they refused to wear their unitards for the Festival of the Lion King show. The employees said the unitards had been tainted by other sweaty garments that had accidentally touched theirs. The dirty costume pieces had been on a rack that was…
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Applebee’s Class Action Ban Latest to be Ruled Unlawful by National Labor Relations Board

Since arbitration helps companies avoid the high costs associated with litigation, companies often have employees enter into agreements to arbitrate disputes rather than take them to court. Workers at Applebee’s restaurants in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware typically sign an arbitration agreement that includes a term prohibiting employees from becoming members of a class…
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National Labor Relations Board Continues Jurisdictional Reach into New Areas: Airline Contractors

The Railway Labor Act (RLA) governs labor disputes at airlines, railroads, and some contractors. The contractors covered by the RLA must be under the control of, and performing the same functions as, an airline or railroad. The National Labor Relations Act governs disputes in other industries, including airline and railroad contracts that are not subject…
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Union Withdraws Petition to Represent Boeing South Carolina

Do you remember when Boeing moved a production line from union-heavy Washington State to virtually union-free South Carolina a few years ago? Remember how unions were publically outraged? Me too. That’s why I was surprised to see that the International Association of Machinists (IAM) union tried to organize the Boeing South Carolina employees – the…
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SEIU Spends Big on Low-Wage Campaign

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has spent tens of millions of dollars on a three-year campaign to increase the wages paid to retail and fast-food workers. Was it money well spent? In recent months, cities have passed or introduced laws requiring higher wages within city limits – oftentimes exempting union companies, thus making unionization…
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