Posts tagged transportation
Supreme Court grapples with Department of Labor case involving migrant worker fines
November 12, 2026 // Deputy Solicitor General Sarah Harris argued that because the H-2A program allowed the farm to import noncitizen workers, the government was granting a privilege via the government's immigration powers, and that therefore punishments for violating the terms of the program should be handled within the Labor Department. Robert Johnson, lawyer for Sun Valley Orchards, argued that the farm is being accused of violating a contract, creating a dispute that would have to be brought to a federal court if the federal government wanted to extract a fine out of the farm.
LA-Long Beach port watchmen strike threat pushed to Friday
November 6, 2026 // The contract deadline for union security workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and their maritime employers has been pushed back to Friday, again prolonging the threat of a potential strike at the San Pedro Bay docks. Early Thursday, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) announced it had agreed with the Local 26 branch of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) to extend their negotiations through midnight Pacific time on Friday, Nov. 6.
Two Labor Fights to Watch in the Lame-Duck Session
November 3, 2026 // After the midterm elections, Congress returns for a lame-duck session, where must-pass bills frequently attract policy riders. Two labor policy fights could be at issue during that time. One would expand union leverage at workers’ expense, while another would protect a path into the middle class and beyond.
Commentary:Teamsters built union on innovation but now they’re suing to stop it
August 29, 2026 // Founded between 1901 and 1903, the original Teamsters organization protected the interests of horse-drawn carriage drivers. Early in their history, members faced a new technology that threatened to make their horse-centric skills obsolete: the automobile. Despite the challenges presented by motorized transport, the early Teamsters did not fight the innovation. Instead, they organized around its adoption, expanding their membership categories to include car drivers, retraining horse-team drivers, and helping write the new rules of the road for the automotive future. They changed their name in 1909, adding “Chauffeurs, Stablemen and Helpers” to signify the adaptation to the societal changes driven by technological progress. The Teamsters own founding story provides a strong case study in organized labor adoption and shaping a technological transition rather than resisting it.
Goldwater Institute: Embracing the Future: Say No to Driver-in Mandates
June 4, 2026 // If an autonomous truck cannot operate safely, it should not be on the road. But if it can operate safely without a human driver, requiring one anyway does not improve safety. It simply raises costs, slows deployment, and forces consumers to pay more. The United States has never prospered by forcing new technology to imitate the old system it improves upon. Policymakers should allow autonomous vehicles and trucking to develop under clear, evidence-based safety rules. They should not revive the logic of railroad featherbedding for the age of artificial intelligence. Autonomous vehicles should be judged by their safety and performance, not by whether they preserve the labor arrangements of the past. The future of freight should be faster, safer, and less expensive. Policymakers should let it arrive.
Exclusive: Major transportation union poured millions into Dem politics, casinos as workers got sold out, report finds
May 20, 2026 // The American Accountability Foundation report alleges SMART-TD poured money into Democratic candidates and liberal groups while spending heavily on entertainment, travel, casinos and resorts. The report also argues the spending shows union leadership is out of step with the purportedly “MAGA” blue-collar workers it represents.
100 State Leaders Urge Washington to Protect Independent Work
May 8, 2026 // That is why State Policy Network’s Center for Practical Federalism helped organize a coalition of 100 state leaders from 25 states in support of the US Department of Labor’s proposed rule clarifying independent contractor status under federal law. The coalition includes four statewide officials and 96 state legislators. The proposed rule would rescind the Biden administration’s 2024 independent contractor rule and replace it with a clearer standard for determining when a worker is an employee and when a worker may be classified as an independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act.
Downtown business leader says union push for state worker telework disrupts revival efforts
February 19, 2026 // More than 100,000 people worked in Downtown Sacramento before the pandemic. Now, that number is only at about 60% of its pre-pandemic high, according to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership. Michael Ault, executive director of the organization, is still advocating to put state workers in offices four days a week. “We would love to see the employees come back as much as we can,” Ault said. While he recognized that many workers enjoy the flexibility of remote and hybrid work, he said that the lack of public employees Downtown has noticeably hurt small businesses.
Lawmakers join Chicago Teachers Union to push for more school funding
February 12, 2026 // State lawmakers have introduced legislation backed by the Chicago Teachers Union to immediately increase evidence-based funding and additional public school services. Republicans say Illinois' taxes already are too high. State Sen. Graciela Guzmán, D-Chicago, is a former CTU organizer.
OHIO: Springfield Local Schools suspends transportation services, breakfast program
January 7, 2026 // With support staff expected to go on strike starting Jan. 7, the district announced that all transportation services will be suspended for Jan. 7. The breakfast program will also be suspended starting Jan. 7.