Hundreds of Hilton hotel workers in Seattle walked off the job on Saturday, joining ongoing strikes in other cities, demanding higher wages and the reversal of COVID-era cuts. The strike, organized by the Unite Here union, is part of a larger movement of hotel workers across the U.S. seeking improved working conditions.
Indian police have detained approximately 100 striking workers and union leaders protesting low wages at a Samsung Electronics plant in southern India. The workers, who have been boycotting work for a week, are demanding higher wages and union recognition. Their strike has disrupted production, impacting roughly a third of Samsung’s annual Indian revenue.
Air Canada pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), are pushing for significant wage increases as contract negotiations with the airline remain stalled. The union argues that current proposals fall short compared to recent contracts at major U.S. airlines. The airline has introduced flexible booking policies in anticipation of potential disruptions from a pilot strike.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted 3-2 on Tuesday to ban non-compete clauses for most workers. The FTC estimates that the new rule will spur competition, higher wages, and new business growth. However, businesses are not happy with the rule and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is already suing the FTC to block it.
The US Chamber of Commerce and other business groups have filed a lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in an attempt to block a newly issued ban on noncompete clauses. The lawsuit argues that the FTC overstepped its authority and that Congress should decide whether noncompete clauses should be banned nationwide.
The FTC has defended its authority to ban noncompete clauses, citing sections 5 and 6(g) of the FTC Act. The FTC also maintains that noncompete clauses harm workers by suppressing wages, stifling innovation, and reducing competition.
The lawsuit comes one day after the FTC issued its rule banning noncompete clauses. The rule is scheduled to take effect in about four months, and it would render the vast majority of existing noncompetes unenforceable.
The Biden administration has finalized a new federal rule that will expand overtime protections to millions of workers who are currently excluded under current law. The Labor Department’s regulation will ensure that salaried workers who earn less than $58,656 per year will automatically be entitled to overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours in a week, starting in 2025. The “overtime salary threshold” would then be updated every three years, starting in 2027, to account for inflation.
Group home workers at LutherCare Communities Group Homes have announced their intention to initiate job action Wednesday evening unless their employer addresses concerns over wages, scheduling, and federal holidays. The workers, who have been without a collective agreement since April 2022, are demanding higher wages, recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and two consecutive days off for rest. The union representing the workers, SEIU-West, reports that members overwhelmingly voted in favor of the strike action. The union emphasizes the need for respect, fairness, and a living wage for its members and highlights the fact that everyone deserves a weekend, regardless of the specific days it falls on.
