Posts tagged DOL
Trump Labor Department Pauses Gig Worker Rule, Plans Repeal
May 5, 2025 // The announcement, made in an enforcement guidance May 1, brings to fruition plans to rescind the rule—which the Trump administration has signaled in response to pending litigation over the policy. “Agency investigators are directed not to apply the 2024 rule’s analysis in current enforcement matters,” according to a DOL press release. “This approach provides greater clarity for businesses and workers navigating modern work arrangements while legal and regulatory questions are resolved.”
Chairman Walberg Investigates DHS Program Abuse for Union Organizing
May 3, 2025 // “The Committee has seen examples of union organizers exploiting the deferred action program contrary to Congress’s intent. In one such example, a national trade union flyer posted online suggests that union organizing is the first step in accessing deferred action. The flyer suggests that a grant of deferred action is a reward, stating that a grant of deferred action is a ‘WIN’ for the employee. The flyer further states at the top in bold capital letters: ‘DEFERRED ACTION = WORK PERMIT FOR 2 YEARS + SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.’ Instead of protecting immigrant workers from retaliation, outside groups seem to be interested in subverting deferred action to push unionization.”
Over 1 in 3 Illinois government workers reject AFSCME Council 31 membership
April 24, 2025 // The union claims to represent more than 90,000 state and local government employees in Illinois. Yet not even 60,000 of those workers are members of the union, according to the union’s annual LM-2 report to the federal government. That means more than 1 in 3 workers have rejected membership in the union that is supposedly representing their interests. It could be because just 21 cents of every dollar the union spends is on representing workers – what should be its core priority. It could be the millions of dollars AFSCME Council 31 spends on politics, or the exorbitant six-figure salaries it pays its bosses. And it could be the union’s questionable spending on restaurants and hotels.
CDW Supports Legislation Requiring More Transparency in Union Organizing Campaigns
April 17, 2025 // “Salting is an inherently deceptive practice that relies on misleading workers. Salts are hired by unions to seek employment with a company. They infiltrate the workplace, destabilize labor relations, and then push workers to unionize, all while never informing their colleagues that they are actually being paid by a union to persuade them. Employees should have a right to know the ‘coworker’ trying to persuade them to organize is being paid by the union.
Owens Leads Legislation to Expose Union Backroom Deals
April 17, 2025 // Amends the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 to require labor organizations to disclose payments, loans, or financial arrangements with consultants hired to influence employees’ decisions regarding unionization. Ensures that all labor-related financial transactions, including payments made to persuade employees about collective bargaining, are fully reported to the Department of Labor. Closes reporting loopholes that have shielded labor unions from disclosing financial ties that could influence workplace organizing efforts. Directs the Secretary of Labor to issue necessary regulations within six months of the bill’s enactment.
Commentary: Teachers Need to Ditch Their Union
April 16, 2025 // The California Teachers Association, which considers itself “the co-equal fourth branch of government,” per former Democratic State Senate leader Dom Perata, is no better. As the Freedom Foundation notes, the union reports its political expenditures under three separate filings: The Issues Political Action Committee (PAC); The Association for Better Citizenship (ABC); and, The Independent Expenditure Committee (IEC).
DOL Nominee: David Keeling
April 15, 2025 // David Keeling: Nominated David Keeling has been nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. He previously served as Vice President of Global Health and Safety at UPS from 2018 to 2021 and as Director of Global Road and Transportation Safety at Amazon from…
DOL Nominee: Wayne Palmer
April 15, 2025 // Wayne Palmer: Nominated Wayne Palmer has been nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health and to lead the Mines Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). He previously served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for MSHA during President Trump’s first term, including a period…
DOL Nominee: Lori Chavez-DeRemer
April 15, 2025 // Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the 30th U.S. Secretary of Labor, confirmed on March 10, 2025. She previously served as a U.S. Representative for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District (2023-2025) and as the mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon (2011-2019). She is the first Republican woman and one of the first Latinas to represent…
DOL Nominee: Keith Sonderling
April 15, 2025 // Keith Sonderling is the Deputy Secretary of Labor, confirmed on March 10, 2025. He previously served as a Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (2020-2024) and held leadership roles in the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division during President Trump’s first term. During his tenure at the…