Activism
Strike for Black Lives – This coming Monday, July 20, fast-food workers along with healthcare and gig economy employees are expected to participate in a national walkout. The protest, dubbed the Strike for Black Lives, is being organized by a coalition of labor unions and social advocacy organizations and will include marches in at least 25 cities. A map of registered protests is viewable here. The organizers are calling for corporations to take action to prevent systemic racism and will be highlighting worker safety and protection, paid sick leave and affordable health care among other issues. Additionally, those workers who can’t strike for a full day are being asked to walk out for just under nine minutes – the amount of time prosecutors stated a white Minneapolis police officer held his knee on George Floyd’s neck – in remembrance of Black men and women who died recently at the hands of police. Brands and operators should stay close to the news cycle over the next few days prior to the walk-outs and prepare for potential business interruptions in some places. More details.
COVID-19
Federal Relief – As negotiations begin in earnest over the next federal relief package, the National Restaurant Association released its Blueprint for Restaurant Revival this week. It calls for industry-specific relief through a dedicated Restaurant Recovery Fund as well as access to a second round of the Paycheck Protection Loan program. It also calls for liability protection, tax relief and fast-tracked testing for food supply chain workers after first responders, healthcare workers and vulnerable populations.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Paid Leave – Sens. Cassidy (R-LA) and Sinema (D-AZ) announced that they will push hard for their pending paid leave legislation to be included in the next relief package.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Workplace Safety Requirements – This week Virginia became the first state to adopt workplace safety regulations related to COVID-19.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Corporate Mask Requirements – A growing list of major grocery, retail and restaurant brands have announced new national policies this week requiring that all customers wear masks.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Liability – A national corporate safe harbor, or liability shield, is a top priority of Senate Republicans. Meanwhile, states continue to take action. Mississippi is the latest state with the governor signing a new law this week stating that any employer that in good faith follows applicable public health guidance shall be immune from civil liabilities for any injuries or death resulting from actual or alleged exposure to COVID-19.
Wages
Joe Biden – The presumptive Democratic nominee for president released a “policy preview” laying out many of his labor-related initiatives if he were to take office.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Louisiana – The state has reopened the portal for essential workers to apply for a one-time $250 hazard payment.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Paid Leave
Labor Department – The Women’s Bureau within the Labor Department announced a request for information (RFI) on state- and employer-provided paid family and medical leave as part of an effort to “identify promising practices.”To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Colorado – The governor signed paid sick leave legislation requiring employers to provide paid sick leave related to the COVID-19 pandemic through the end of 2020. Beginning in 2021, employers will be required to provide six days of paid leave per year, earned at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New Hampshire – The governor vetoed the paid family leave bill passed by the legislature earlier this year.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Labor Policy
Joint Employer – The House Appropriations Committee approved the annual Labor-HHS spending bill. It included several provisions that would block the NLRB and Labor Department joint employer rules. The bill now moves to the full floor of the U.S. House for consideration.
Labor Activism
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – The Campaign Workers Guild reached an agreement to unionize the campaign staff of Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. The two-year contract calls for an hourly minimum wage of $18/hr, unlimited sick leave, overtime pay over 40 hours and caps on senior staff mandating that the highest paid staff can’t make more than 3 times the lowest paid.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Delivery
San Leandro, CA – The city council voted to impose a 15 percent temporary cap on third-party delivery fees.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Pasadena, CA – The city council is considering a 15 percent temporary cap on third-party delivery fees at its July 20 meeting.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Alcohol
Colorado – The governor signed legislation that would extend the provisions of his executive order through July 2021, allowing for alcohol takeout and delivery with food purchases.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Massachusetts – The senate approved legislation allowing for cocktails to-go. The house approved a moderately different version of the bill calling for a slightly different sunset date of the provision.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Tennessee – The Alcoholic Beverage Commission has vowed to crack down on a “dismal” compliance record by restaurants and bars regarding off-premise alcohol says, primarily cocktails to-go and home delivery.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Sheridan, WY – The city council held a work session to determine whether or not to make permanent an existing temporary ordinance to allow for the home delivery of beer, wine and liquor.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe