Articles by Josh Eidelson, Jennifer Epstein and Benjamin Penn

Biden’s Choice for Labor Secretary — Boston’s Mayor Walsh— Signals Pro-Worker Policy

President-elect Joe Biden announced Thursday that he has named Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to be labor secretary. If confirmed by the Senate, Walsh would take control of a Labor Department that Biden has pledged to reorient toward workers, with a …

Trump EEOC Rule Aims to Slow Workplace Discrimination Lawsuits

The leader of the U.S. workplace anti-discrimination agency is pursuing a policy shift that could slow litigation against companies long after President-Elect Joe Biden takes office. Janet Dhillon, the chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, has recently circulated a …

Federal Judge Dismisses Amazon N.Y. Warehouse Workers’ COVID-19 Lawsuit

A federal judge dismissed New York warehouse workers’ lawsuit against Amazon, ruling that their allegations about the company’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic should have been brought to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration instead. The lawsuit filed in June …

Lawsuit Alleges Uber Uses ‘Biased’ Rider Ratings to Fire Drivers

Uber Technologies Inc. was accused in a lawsuit of violating the U.S. Civil Rights Act by firing minority drivers based on how they’re rated by customers. “Uber is aware that passengers are prone to discriminate in their evaluation of drivers, …

On-Demand Firms Seek to Protect ‘New’ Economy, Wealth From ‘Frankenstein’

Uber Technologies Inc. wants to smother what the company calls California’s “Frankenstein” gig-worker protection law before state officials turn it loose. Uber and Postmates Inc. are scheduled Friday to ask a federal judge in Los Angeles to block enforcement of …

McDonald’s Has Friends in High Places in High-Stakes Labor Fight

In a television commercial that’s become part of the lore surrounding Donald Trump’s affinity for McDonald’s Corp., he embraced a purple, lumpy denizen of the fast-food chain’s “McDonaldland” and said, “Together, Grimace, we could own this town.” He was talking …

Filing with National Labor Board Accuses Google of Retaliatory Firings

A complaint filed Tuesday accused Google of terminating staff in retaliation for activism about working conditions, the latest in a series of such allegations against the internet giant. The filing, which involves Google Ads staff, was filed with the National …

Exits of McDonald’s Executives Show Risks of Missteps in #MeToo Era

McDonald’s Corp. has been working hard to fend off accusations it overlooks workplace harassment and abuse. So when it came to light that its chief executive officer was in a relationship with a colleague, the board had little room to …

Uber, Lyft Balk at Revealing Contracted Drivers’ Names; Claim ‘Trade Secrets’

Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. have argued to Chicago city officials that the names of their drivers should be treated as “trade secrets,” and should not be released because competitors could use the information to attempt to hire them …

Uber, Lyft Pledge $60M to Fight Possible California Labor Ballot

Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. are putting $60 million behind a potential ballot measure to ensure they don’t have to reclassify their California drivers as employees. The ride-hailing giants and other gig companies that rely on contractors who aren’t …