Target has joined Costco, Walgreens, and other chains in dropping a line of products because of forced monkey labor allegations. The items are coconut products produced by the Chaokoh company, which is based in Thailand. NBC News reports: “PETA alleged last year that its investigators found young monkeys were chained and trained to pick coconuts…
The use of private prisons could be a on trajectory downward thanks to the new administration. The Independent reports: “President Joe Biden will sign an executive order directing the Department of Justice to end its contracts with privately run prisons, part of the incoming administration’s efforts to address racial injustice. Susan Rice, the new president’s domestic policy adviser, said Mr…
President Joe Biden is taking the first step towards strengthening American manufacturing with an executive order. MarketWatch reports: “Labor groups on Monday praised a forthcoming executive order by President Joe Biden that is aimed at boosting government purchases from American manufacturers, calling it a good start for the new administration. Biden plans to sign an…
The Mexican-American farm labor leader, Cesar Chavez, is a legend in the labor movement. He brought a sense of dignity and a voice to the many migrant farmworkers who existed invisibly in America. These workers suffered illegally low wages, unbearable working conditions, and ruthless employers. Chavez organized strikes and boycotts, like the famous grape boycott…
Last week, Instacart made news when it decided to pay workers to get the COVID vaccine. Many applauded the company for its pro-active approach to dealing with the pandemic. Today, however, it announced that it is laying off 1,800 workers, including its only union employees. The union workers voted to unionize less than one year…
One of Trump’s worst appointments – Peter Robb as NLRB General Counsel – refused to step down after President Biden asked for his resignation yesterday. In a letter to the Biden administration, Robb wrote: “I respectfully decline to resign from my Senate-confirmed four-year term appointment as General Counsel of the NLRB less than 10 months…
Peter Robb, the NLRB General Counsel appointed by former President Donald Trump, is no friend of labor. He spent his career at a union-busting firm before taking the NLRB position. And then spent his time at the NLRB fighting against the interests of workers and their unions. President Joe Biden knows that, which is why…
With control of Congress and the White House, the Democrats are in a position to make real change for working Americans. One effective way they can do so is by passing the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (“PRO Act”). This legislation, which was passed by the House last February but then sent to committee…
German supermarket chain Aldi, which operates over 1,900 stores in the U.S., is giving workers a paid incentive to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Employees who say yes to the vaccine will receive four hours of extra pay. Aldi joins Trader Joe’s as the only two national grocery chains to provide this offer. Trader Joe’s, which…
An Amazon warehouse in a Birmingham, AL suburb has become the center of a battle between the American labor movement and corporate management. 6,000 employees, many of them part-time, will decide whether the Bessemer warehouse will be come Amazon’s first labor union in the United States. The National Labors Relations Board has decided that ballots…
