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☆ Grindr employees working from home were given 2 weeks to decide to move across the country to work in person or lose their jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The company's employees say Grindr could be retaliating against them for trying to form a union. The news comes two weeks after employees announced their effort to unionize under the Communications Workers of America, Grindr United. Grindr United posted Sunday that the pivot to in-person work by the company is a "bizarre coincidence." However, employees told The New York Times that the company told them to expect the transition after one or two quarters. Grindr United did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent over the weekend.

Persons: it's, we're, —, George Arison, Grindr, Quinn McGee, McGee Organizations: Service, Management, Communications Workers of America, Grindr, Grindr United, Bloomberg, New York Times, Apple, Disney, Google, Twitter, Grindr United CWA Locations: Wall, Silicon, Grindr, Chicago , Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay, —

[1/3] Starbucks workers attend a rally as they go on a one-day strike outside a store in Buffalo, New York, U.S., November 17, 2022. REUTERS/Lindsay DeDarioNEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters) - Starbucks (SBUX.O) violated U.S. labor law by firing a Manhattan store supervisor who had organized workers to join a union, a federal labor board judge ruled on Monday. The National Labor Relations Board established "striking and strong evidence of animus" behind Starbucks' termination of Rhythm Heaton as a shift supervisor at its Astor Place store, NLRB Administrative Law Judge Benjamin Green wrote. Green found it "particularly suspicious" that Starbucks would risk violating the law "by discharging an excellent employee at a time when the short-handed Astor Place store was already advertising to hire another shift supervisor." The manager of the Astor Place store testified that he supported the union and considered Heaton an "amazing leader," but cited Heaton's alleged violation of Starbucks' "attendance and punctuality policy" in the termination notice.

Persons: Lindsay DeDario, Rhythm Heaton, Benjamin Green, Green, Astor, Heaton, Heaton's, Jonathan Stempel, Bill Berkrot, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, National Labor Relations Board, Starbucks, Workers, Workers United, Thomson Locations: Buffalo , New York, U.S, Manhattan, Astor, Washington, Seattle, United States, New York

Companies Tesla Inc FollowJuly 21 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Friday said it will reconsider its recent decision that Tesla (TSLA.O) Chief Executive Elon Musk violated federal labor law by tweeting that employees would lose stock options if they joined a union. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans granted Tesla's request to revisit the case "en banc," meaning that its 16 active judges will take part. Musk issued the tweet as the United Auto Workers sought to organize employees at Tesla's plant in Fremont, California. "But why pay union dues & give up stock options for nothing?" The appeals court panel found "substantial evidence" that the tweet was "an implied threat to end stock options as retaliation for unionization."

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk, Musk, Jonathan Stempel, Jonathan Oatis, Deepa Babington Organizations: Tesla, U.S, Circuit, National Labor Relations Board, Musk's, United Auto Workers, NLRB, Republican, Twitter, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Forbes, Thomson Locations: New Orleans, Fremont , California, U.S, New York

☆ Striking writers and actors accuse NBCUniversal of blocking picket area
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] SAG-AFTRA actors strike against the Hollywood studios as they join the Writers Guild of America (WGA) on the picket like outside of Netflix offices in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 14, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File PhotoLOS ANGELES, July 18 (Reuters) - Hollywood's striking Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA actors' union filed a grievance with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Comcast's (CMCSA.O) NBCUniversal on Tuesday, accusing the company of blocking a picket area. The unions said NBCUniversal infringed its freedom to picket and endangered its members by obstructing a public sidewalk next to the company's studio lot in California with an ongoing construction project. Hollywood actors joined film and television writers on picket lines for the first time in 63 years last week as they demanded higher streaming-era pay and curbs on the use of artificial intelligence. "We strongly believe that the company has fulfilled our legal obligations under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and we will cooperate with respect to any inquiries by the National Labor Relations Board on this issue," an NBCUniversal spokesperson said.

Persons: Mike Blake, NBCUniversal, picketers, AFTRA, Mrinmay Dey, Baranjot Kaur, Juby Babu, Lisa Richwine, Shubhendu Deshmukh, Leslie Adler, Jamie Freed Organizations: Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, Netflix, REUTERS, Guild of America, SAG, National Labor Relations Board, Comcast's, National Labor Relations, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, California, Bengaluru, Los Angeles

☆ Starbucks Is Stuck on Union Time
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones, arthur, amchan Locations: ithaca

☆ Amazon gets labor board complaint on failure to bargain with NY union
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Chandni Shah | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 13 (Reuters) - Amazon.com (AMZN.O) was hit with a complaint on Wednesday for refusing to bargain with a New York workers' union, a spokesperson for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) said. Workers at the facility, located in the New York City borough of Staten Island, voted to join the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) last year, a first for the company in the United States. However, the e-commerce giant has challenged the results before the labor board, delaying any discussions with the union until the matter is resolved. The company's challenge has already been struck down once by the labor board in January. Amazon has faced dozens of complaints from workers and the ALU as the union attempts to organize warehouses across the country.

Persons: Chris Smalls, Shubham Kalia, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Sohini Organizations: National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, Workers, New, Amazon Labor Union, Thomson Locations: New York, New York City, Staten Island, United States

☆ Amazon faces labor complaint over failure to bargain with union
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 12 (Reuters) - Amazon.com (AMZN.O) was hit with a complaint on Wednesday over allegedly refusing to bargain with a New York workers union, a spokesperson for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) said. Amazon and the union did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Workers at Amazon's JFK8 fulfillment center in Staten Island voted to join the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) last year, a first for the company in the United States. Amazon is still challenging the results before a U.S. labor board and has yet to engage in bargaining with the union. The NLRB complaint comes as dozens of Amazon warehouse workers in New York sued the union on Monday, alleging that top union officials were refusing to hold democratic elections to fill leadership posts.

Persons: Chandni Shah, Shubham, Urvi Dugar, Nivedita Organizations: National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, Amazon, New, Amazon Labor Union, Thomson Locations: New York, New York City, Staten Island, United States, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Amazon hit with labor complaint over failing to bargain with Staten Island union
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The National Labor Relations Board said Tuesday it found merit to charges that Amazon violated labor laws by refusing to bargain with a fledgling union representing employees at one of its New York warehouses. Workers at one of the retail giant's Staten Island warehouses, known as JFK8, voted last April to join the Amazon Labor Union, a grassroots organization started by current and former employees. The NLRB complaint comes as the ALU has faced setbacks since its landmark victory on Staten Island. The ALU lost two elections at other Amazon warehouses last year, and rifts have formed between some leaders and members of the union. On Monday, a group of former ALU members sued the union, accusing it of violating the ALU's constitution and asking a Brooklyn court to compel it to hold an election for union officers.

Organizations: National Labor Relations Board, Amazon Labor Union, Workers, Amazon, Democratic Reform Caucus, The New York Times Locations: New York, Brooklyn, Staten, Staten Island

NEW YORK, July 6 (Reuters) - The National Labor Relations Board on Thursday sued Starbucks (SBUX.O) over the coffee chain's refusal to rehire 33 workers as it reorganized three downtown Seattle stores, including its flagship store in Pike Place Market. The petition seeks an injunction to block Starbucks from firing or disciplining workers, denying them higher wages and benefits, or forcing them to reapply for jobs because of their union activities. It also seeks to require Starbucks to offer jobs, with back pay and benefits, to the 33 people it let go. Starbucks ended its last fiscal year with 15,873 U.S. stores, of which 9,265 were company-operated and 6,608 were licensed. The case is Hooks v Starbucks Corp, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, No.

Persons: Jonathan Stempel, Daniel Wallis Organizations: YORK, National Labor Relations, Starbucks, Heritage, Starbucks Corp, Western District of Washington, Thomson Locations: Seattle, Pike, U.S, Western District, New York

☆ Starbucks to issue 'clearer' decor rules after pride month clash with union
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Starbucks Corp FollowJune 26 (Reuters) - Starbucks (SBUX.O) plans to issue "clearer" centralized guidelines for in-store visual displays following a union's allegations that managers banned Pride-themed decor, the coffee chain said in an internal memo to employees. "We intend to issue clearer centralized guidelines... for in-store visual displays and decorations that will continue to represent inclusivity and our brand," Starbucks North America President Sara Trilling said in the memo. The memo comes after the union representing the coffee chain's baristas alleged that managers at dozens of Starbucks locations had prevented employees from putting up Pride Month flags and decorations, or had removed them. More than 3,000 workers at over 150 Starbucks stores in the United States will walk off the job, the union said on Friday. Starbucks also filed two complaints against Workers United with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Monday, alleging that the union made misleading claims on the company's in-store decoration guidelines and gender-affirming care benefits.

Persons: Sara Trilling, baristas, Akanksha Khushi, Lavanya Ahire, Chandni Shah, Subhranshu Sahu, Rashmi Organizations: Starbucks Corp, North, Starbucks, Workers United, National Labor Relations Board, Reuters, U.S, Thomson Locations: United States, Bengaluru

☆ Starbucks to issue 'clearer' decor rules after pride month clash - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Starbucks Corp FollowJune 26 (Reuters) - Starbucks (SBUX.O) plans to issue centralized guidelines for in-store visual displays following a union's allegations that managers banned Pride-themed decor, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing an internal memo shared with employees. Starbucks store leaders can decorate stores for heritage months such as Pride in line with safety standards, the company's North America President Sara Trilling said in the memo, according to the report. More than 3,000 workers at over 150 Starbucks stores in the United States will walk off the job, the union said on Friday. Starbucks, NLRB and the union did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sara Trilling, baristas, Akanksha, Subhranshu Sahu, Rashmi Organizations: Starbucks Corp, Bloomberg, North, Starbucks, National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, U.S, Thomson Locations: United States, Bengaluru

☆ Starbucks promises ‘clearer’ guidelines after Pride Month decor clash with union
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Starbucks will clarify its policy on Pride decorations following criticism and strikes at unionized stores. Earlier this month, Starbucks Workers United, the union representing organized stores, claimed that Starbucks has restricted decorations celebrating Pride Month in locations in multiple states. Starbucks workers attend a rally outside the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle, Washington, on June 23, 2023. Starbucks workers outside of the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. Matt Mills McKnight/ReutersThere are roughly 9,300 company-operated US Starbucks stores in the United States, so unionized locations are relatively few, at this point.

Persons: ” Sara Trilling, ” Trilling, Matt Mills McKnight, ”, “ We’re, Michael Rosas, “, Starbucks, Rosas, — CNN’s Jordan Valinsky Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, Starbucks Workers United, Reuters, National Labor Relations Board, CNN, Pride, Twitter, Starbucks Workers, NLRB Locations: New York, Starbucks North America, Seattle , Washington, United States, Buffalo , New York, Buffalo

☆ Starbucks files labor complaint against union over Pride decor allegations
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Kate Rogers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Protesters in Seattle join a Starbucks Workers United strike over what the union alleges is a change in policy over Pride décor in stores. More than 150 stores pledged to join the strikes around the country, representing nearly 3,500 workers, Workers United said. In the NLRB complaint Monday tied to the union's allegations, Starbucks said the "union and its agents have engaged in a smear campaign that includes deliberate misrepresentations to Starbucks partners." "The union's violations have ignited and inflamed workplace tension and division and provoked strikes and other business disruptions in Starbucks stores," Starbucks said in the filing. "While attacking the union that represents its own workers, Starbucks has now changed its policies in response to worker actions.

Persons: baristas, Sara Trilling, Trilling, Bud, — CNBC's Amelia Lucas Organizations: Starbucks Workers United, Pride, Starbucks, National Labor Relations Board, Starbucks Workers, Workers, U.S, North America, Conservative Locations: Seattle, America

☆ Starbucks is planning 'clearer' guidance around Pride decor after leaked messages showed managers' confusion
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The new guidance comes as staffers are on strike over Starbucks' treatment of its workers. Neither the post nor a Starbucks spokesperson clarified exactly what the guidelines would say. A spokesperson for Starbucks Workers United said that the chain had not informed the union about the clarified guidelines. Since Friday, union members at about 150 stores representing 3,500 workers have been on strike over the Pride guidelines and Starbucks' approach to bargaining contracts with employees. Since then, about 8,000 workers in 333 Starbucks stores have opted to unionize, though no store has won a contract yet, according to Workers United.

Persons: —, Sara Trilling, Brian Cornell Organizations: Starbucks, Service, Bloomberg, Starbucks North, Starbucks Workers, Pride, Workers, Workers United, National Labor Relations, Bloomberg Law, NLRB, Target Locations: Seattle, Buffalo , New York

☆ In Philly, union members say they don't care about Biden's age: 'I never heard someone who is Catholic say the pope is too old'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Union members told Insider they are not too concerned about Biden's age or electability. "I never heard someone who is Catholic say the pope is too old," one union member said. Biden's path to reelection depends in part on touting those achievements and turning out union members in November 2024. "There are a lot of politicians in this country who can't say the word 'union,'" Biden said Saturday afternoon, supporters in colorful union merchandise cheering behind him. At Saturday's rally, however, union members insisted it is not a concern — and that the discourse around it is an indictment of the times.

Persons: Joe Biden, —, Jaysin Saxton, Saxton, we've, Biden, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump, John Fetterman, Mary Samaroo, Samaroo, Trump, Nora Dumenigo, Dumenigo, Renee Dozier, Mike Brown, he's, Brown Organizations: Saturday . Union, Service, Starbucks, National Labor Relations, AFL, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania's Democratic Party, Senate, of Health, Human Services, Service Employees International Union, SEIU, Republican, Miami International Airport, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Locations: Philadelphia, Augusta , Georgia, Pennsylvania, Scranton, Queens, Afghanistan, Cuba, Boston

☆ YouTube TV contractors allege in NLRB complaint they were terminated in response to broader union organizing efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Thomas Maxwell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

They allege they were let go as a union movement among Google contractors began to make inroads. The Alphabet Workers Union has filed a new complaint on Friday with the National Labor Relations Board against Google and its contractor Cognizant on behalf of three contract YouTube TV workers who were terminated. But Google told Insider that the layoffs occurred because it ended the YouTube TV contract. Mencini also said the company has "had many contracts with unionized suppliers and have no objection to Cognizant workers organizing or joining a union." Insider also previously reported that the AWU claims that Cognizant held meetings with YouTube TV contractors where they repeated anti-union talking points.

Persons: they'd, it's, we've, Courtenay Mencini, Mencini, Cognizant Organizations: Google, Alphabet Workers Union, National Labor Relations Board, YouTube, Austin, NLRB, YouTube Music Locations: Austin , Texas, Austin

☆ Noncompete Clauses Violate Labor Law, NLRB Lawyer Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Lauren Weber | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Noncompete clauses 'chill' worker rights and are usually illegal, NLRB lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Noncompete clauses likely violate federal labor law, NLRB's general counsel wrote Tuesday. Criticism from across the aisleWorker advocates have long maintained that noncompete clauses are an unjust infringement on liberty that reduces employees' earning potential. But noncompete clauses have also attracted critics on the right. The criticism from both sides of the political spectrum comes as noncompete clauses have expanded from high-salary workers in fields such as technology and finance to lower-wage professions, such as fast food. That proposed rule, which will be subject to a legal challenge if and when it is finalized, came after the White House encouraged the commission to tackle noncompete clauses, framing them as a barrier to healthy competition and wage growth.

Persons: NLRB's, —, Joe Biden, Jennifer Abruzzo, Biden, Najah Farley, John Lettieri, Insider's Juliana Kaplan Organizations: Workers, Service, Companies, National Labor Relations Board, National Labor Relations Act, Worker, National Employment Law, American Enterprise Institute, Federal Trade Commission, House Locations: Abruzzo, California , Massachusetts, Illinois

☆ Dancers at a topless bar in LA are set to become the first unionized strippers in the US in a decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Employees at Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood California voted to unionize. Employees including dancers, entertainers, and DJs want to be represented by the Actors Equity Association. They will become the first union of strippers in the US in a decade. "I'm excited that all of my beautiful coworkers will finally have a seat at the table and a voice to discuss safety and other issues," Sinder, a Star Garden dancer told CNN. Insider reached out to Star Garden, the NLRB, Actors Equity Association, and Stripper Strike Noho but did not immediately hear back outside of regular working hours.

☆ First union of strippers in a decade expected to form this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Natasha Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Strippers from the Star Garden Topless Dive Bar in North Hollywood have unanimously won their union election, in a 17-0 vote, creating the first union of strippers in the United States in about a decade. The ballots were opened at 11 am PT today by the National Labor Relations Board in Los Angeles. The ballots were impounded in November after the strippers voted, due to the club challenging most ballots at the time. Since announcing on Tuesday that the dancers and the club had come to an agreement, the NLRB scheduled the opening of the ballots Thursday. “We’re hopeful that we could send some shockwaves through the industry,” said Velveeta, one of the strippers, who spoke to CNN on Tuesday evening.

☆ Google is downsizing its contract workforce that supports YouTube, shortly after one contractor team's union victory
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Thomas Maxwell | Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Workers in Austin recently formed a collective bargaining group with the Alphabet Workers Union. The move comes shortly after a group of Cognizant workers supporting YouTube Music voted 41-0 in favor of unionizing with the Alphabet Workers Union, which is affiliated with the Communications Workers of America, a larger trade union. The cuts did not impact the YouTube Music team, which helps curate themed playlists and review song metadata. The Cognizant team supporting YouTube TV had been in early talks to form their own union following the group at YouTube Music, according to three workers there. Cognizant also confirmed in an email that its contract supporting YouTube TV is ending.

☆ Misclassifying employees as gig workers creates 'a race to the bottom' for businesses, Biden's top labor and antitrust regulators say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Ethan Dodd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Businesses have an incentive to misclassify workers as contractors to undermine their competitors, according to the DOJ Antitrust Division. It's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to those called "gig workers" — freelancers, contractors, on-call workers, and temp agency workers, who for decades have increasingly replaced full-time employees as independent contractors. Not so for gig workers. In 2018, 20% of workers were contract workers, and 65% of part-time workers and over half of contract workers went without benefits, according to NPR. "Our goals are the same," Abruzzo said, as NLRB and DOJ Antitrust want to end "misclassification and employment structures that cause vertical constraints on competition."

☆ Starbucks’ new CEO lays out improvement plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —During his first earnings call as the new Starbucks CEO, Laxman Narasimhan praised the company for its financial performance. In the quarter ending on April 2, sales at company-operated Starbucks stores open at least 13 months jumped 11% globally, including a 12% increase in North America. Before officially becoming CEO in March, Narasimhan spent about six months shadowing former interim CEO Howard Schultz in an incoming CEO capacity. Since December 2021, about 300 Starbucks stores have voted to unionize and been certified by the NLRB. It’s a relatively small number compared to the roughly 9,300 company-operated Starbucks stores in the United States.

☆ GC Agenda: May 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Practical Law The Journal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

Clawback Listing StandardsPublic companies should be aware that proposed NYSE and Nasdaq clawback listing standards may be in place earlier than expected. Organizations may use biometric data in a variety of ways, including when:tracking employee time; restricting access to physical and digital assets; monitoring consumer shopping behavior; and integrating biometric data into consumer products and services. Consider whether the organization’s current policies and procedures meet applicable biometric data handling requirements, including notice, consent, retention, storage, and security obligations. Review applicable laws and obligations when contracting with service providers that handle biometric data and continuously monitor their performance. In February 2023, the NYSE and Nasdaq filed proposed new listing standards, which contemplated that they could become effective as early as April 27, 2023.

The Democrat-led board in a 3-1 decision said it was reverting back to a decades-old "setting specific" test for determining when workers' abusive conduct is still protected by federal labor law. Lion claimed the worker's conduct was so offensive that the firing was warranted, but the board disagreed and ordered the company to reinstate him. In a statement, NLRB Chair Lauren McFerran said the General Motors decision broke with decades of court precedent and failed to adequately consider the rights of workers. The board since at least the 1970s had analyzed on a case-by-case basis whether offensive conduct made in the course of a workplace dispute is protected. The case is Lion Elastomers LLC, National Labor Relations Board, No.

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