Posts tagged National Retail Federation
Legislation helping independent workers access portable benefits introduced
July 10, 2025 // Currently, while 80 percent of independent workers would like access to workplace benefits, decades old federal labor and employment law prevent them from doing so. The legislative package is supported by independent worker organizations like Flex Association, the Institute for the American Worker and the National Retail Federation, to name a few. “The Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act is an important step toward addressing some of the federal legal hurdles that complicate efforts to connect independent contractors with portable benefits while ensuring that the millions of Americans who choose to earn on their own terms can continue doing so without risking the independence and flexibility they value. Flex looks forward to working with Senator Cassidy and other forward-thinking policymakers as there is additional work to be done on this issue at the state and federal levels,” Kristin Sharp, CEO of Flex Association.
Chair Cassidy, Scott, Paul Release Legislative Package Empowering Independent Workers to Access Portable Benefits
July 7, 2025 // “We applaud Sen. Cassidy for striving to ensure independent contractors can be protected and receive benefits similar to employees without jeopardizing their entrepreneurship or independence. The Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act supports independent contractors and freelancers by allowing businesses to provide benefits without redefining worker status. In today’s evolving economy, flexible work shouldn’t come at the cost of healthcare or retirement security. This legislation helps ensure that all American workers – regardless of classification – can have access to benefits like health care and retirement plans,” said F. Vincent Vernuccio, J.D., President, Institute for the American Worker.
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.
CDW Urges Support for Worker Enfranchisement Act
April 16, 2025 // “Current labor law allows unions to become the exclusive bargaining representative of a workforce with bare minimum support from the workers. This is possible, because there is no participation rate requirement in the National Labor Relations Act. The Worker Enfranchisement Act would fix this oversight by requiring at least two-thirds of a potential bargaining unit participate in a representation election before the results can be certified. By requiring real participation from the impacted workforce, Congress can guarantee that workers’ desires on union representation are both heard and carried out. Unions would have to have true majority support before they can obtain exclusive representation over those workers. CDW urges Congress to pass this common-sense bill.”
CDW Leads Letter Supporting Crystal Carey Nomination
April 16, 2025 // The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) and the 20 undersigned organizations urge your support for the nomination of Crystal Carey to serve as the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Carey is well-qualified to serve and will be an asset to the Board in this role. We urge your support for her nomination.
Second US port strike averted as union, employers reach deal
January 9, 2025 // The talks had been extended until Jan. 15 to hammer a deal on automation. Shipping industry executives, customers and analysts had been concerned that the parties would be unable to overcome their impasse, leading to a second ILA strike just days before President-elect Donald Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration. A three-day ILA strike in October had triggered a surge in shipping prices and cargo backlogs at the 36 affected ports. Longshoremen returned to work after employers agreed to a 62% wage increase over the next six years.
Judge Kiboshes Labor Department’s New Overtime Requirement for Salaried Workers
November 19, 2024 // The Labor Department wanted the higher salary threshold for OT eligibility because it felt that lower-paid salary earners often work beyond 40 hours a week but don’t get compensated fairly for that additional time. Most hourly workers are legally owed overtime if their work time exceeds 40 hours in a week, but the same broad requirement isn’t in place for salary workers.
Frisard’s Transportation v. Department of Labor
June 26, 2024 // And the rule affects far more than the 350,000 owner-operator truckers that operate across the nation. It will affect 70 million freelancers in industries across the country, pushing them towards an employment status when 80% of them want to be independent. Similar legislation in California led to a loss of over 10% of freelancers. With the help of the Pelican Institute, Frisard’s has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Labor, arguing that the new rule is arbitrary and exceeds the department’s statutory authority. The company asserts that the rule undermines the certainty businesses and independent contractors need to operate efficiently and is inconsistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act and precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court and the Fifth Circuit.
Dockworkers Cancel Bargaining, Threaten Strike at U.S. Seaports
June 11, 2024 // Automation has been a flashpoint for longshore labor talks on both coasts. Daggett has vowed to stem the tide of automated machinery being used to lift, carry and stack containers on docks around the world. In a speech last year he accused the Biden administration of standing by while foreign-owned carriers use the machinery “to eliminate good paying American jobs.” People familiar with the negotiations say most issues specific to local ports have been resolved, but some issues, such as automation, are unresolved.
How changes to ‘noncompete’ agreements and overtime could affect workers
April 26, 2024 // They’ll also have to determine how they will budget for the extra pay for overtime. Small businesses will have the toughest time. “Some are going to have to cut workers,” Hollis said. “Others will have to cut hours from existing workers. “Some are going to have to raise prices, and some probably won’t be able to figure out a way to make it economically work and wind up having to shut down, unfortunately.”