Labor

Dane County Judge Overturns Controversial Act 10, Shifts Labor Landscape

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Madison, WI — A Dane County judge has issued a ruling to strike down Act 10, a Wisconsin law that significantly limited collective bargaining rights for most public workers. This decision marks a major shift in the ongoing battle over union rights in the state. Passed in 2011, Act 10 was a centerpiece of former Governor Scott Walker’s administration. The law faced immediate opposition, inciting large protests and sparking a national debate over union rights. Designed to address a $3.6 billion budget shortfall, the law curtailed collective bargaining for most public sector workers, including teachers … Read more

Legal Career in Jeopardy: Chechen Lawyer Sentenced in Prosecutor Threat Case Faces Harsh Penalties and Forced Labor

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Grozny, Chechnya – Timur Idalov, an advocate based in Chechnya, is facing repercussions as he was recently sentenced to nearly two years of forced labor for allegedly threatening a public prosecutor. Additionally, Idalov has received a three-year ban from practicing law, a component of his sentence that some of his peers have deemed excessively severe. Reports indicate that the court’s decision on November 28 positioned Idalov’s punishment close to the maximum allowable under the law, highlighting the severity with which the case has been treated. Abuspyan Gaitaev, a fellow advocate, has voiced strong objections to … Read more

Massachusetts Fast Food Chains Fined Over $2 Million for Child Labor and Wage Violations

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BOSTON, Mass. — Following an extensive investigation by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, two prominent fast food operators have been fined a total exceeding $2.2 million for multiple labor violations, including non-compliance with child labor laws and failure to adequately compensate their employees. Both recognized for their substantial footprint in the fast food industry, Burger King and Popeyes have come under fire after numerous complaints led to state-led inquiries. These investigations revealed a pattern of wage and labor infractions stretching across several locations in Massachusetts. At the heart of the accusations is Northeast Foods LLC, … Read more

Federal Judge Halts New Labor Protections for H-2A Visa Farmworkers, Sides with State AGs

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A federal judge in Kentucky has recently blocked new regulations introduced by the Biden-Harris administration that were designed to offer greater protections to foreign farmworkers in the United States under the H-2A visa program. The ruling came after several state attorneys general and Kentucky farmers argued that these changes were an overreach by the executive branch into areas requiring congressional approval. U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, presiding over the case, ruled that the administration could not legally grant these expanded rights, which included measures aimed at preventing the intimidation and discrimination against H-2A visa holders … Read more