Call Us 919-240-4054“Family-Friendly Workplaces: Do Unions Make a Difference?,” written by Jennifer MacGillvary of the Labor Center at the University of California-Berkeley and Netsy Firestein of the Labor Project for Working Families, concludes the unions lead to workplaces that, through policy and practice, promote a healthy and viable balance between work life and home life. Significantly, the study […]
Law Blog
Labor market continues to worsen
As our clients continue to tell us, the current labor market is an incredibly brutal environment for workers seeking work. Nationally, the number of job openings per person looking for a job is at a record low. Hopefully, the Senate will soon pass the 13-weeek unemployment extension that recently passed in the House.
USW workers ratify Goodyear contract
The United Steelworkers (USW) announced that workers overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year agreement covering about 10,000 union members at seven Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. plants, including the plant in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The new pact provides job security and maintains quality, affordable health care for the union members. It also provides for a commitment by Goodyear […]
EEOC proposes new regulations for ADA Amendments Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) was passed last year and went into effect on January 1, 2009. The Act makes important changes to the definition of the term “disability” by rejecting the holdings in several Supreme Court decisions and portions of existing regulations. The effect of these changes is to […]
Study shows that low wage workers are subject to a host of employment and labor law violations
A new study, “Broken Laws, Unprotected Workers,” shows that employers routinely violate the employment rights of low wage workers, with frequent violations of the wage and hour laws, workers’ compensation laws, and anti-retaliation protections. (The summary of the original study is here.) Here are some of the startling findings: 68 percent of the workers interviewed had […]
Today’s workers’ compensation decisions by the NC Court of Appeals
Clayton v. Mini Data Forms, Inc.: The court held that although the defendants were not entitled to a credit under N.C.G.S. 97-42, an offset of benefits may still be required under Moretz and Rice to avoid the overpayment of benefits. More specific findings were required though, regarding whether “payments made to plaintiff for that work […]
Today’s employment decision by the NC Supreme Court
Carolina Power & Light Company v. Employment Security Commission: At issue was whether an employee who accepts a voluntary early retirement package, offered by the employer as part of a company-wide downsizing, is eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. In a unanimous opinion, the Court held that the employee was not entitled to benefits because he still […]
Today’s employment and workers’ compensation decisions by the NC Court of Appeals
Hawkins v. General Electric Co.: The court mostly affirmed an award to the plaintiff based on an occupational disease, contact dermititis, that was causally related to his employment. The court also agreed that he was disabled as long as his condition persisted. Jeffers v. D’Alessandro: The plaintiff, a former player for the Carolina Panthers, had brought […]
4th Circuit rejects STAA retaliation claim
In UPS v. Calhoun, the plaintiff (who worked at the UPS facility in Greensboro) had filed a complaint with OSHA that he had been retaliated against for engaging in daily vehicle inspections that he thought necessary for vehicle safety. He claimed that such activity was protected by the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA). The Department of […]
Bills protecting workers and consumers signed by Governor Perdue
The Statute of Repose Bill was signed by Governor Perdue on August 5, and becomes effective on October 1, 2009. The bill extends the outer time limit for individuals injured by defective products to file claims. The text of the bill can be found here. The Guaranty Fund Bill, which expands the coverage of the N.C. […]