Tag: Private Sector

Big Labor Got Bigger in 2023

While union numbers on the whole generally declined in 2023, some of the biggest American unions were able to augment their numbers in spite of the downward trend.

According to a recent report from Bloomberg, “Many of the nation’s largest unions including the Teamsters and West Coast dock workers saw membership gains last year, signaling potential for new organizing even as the labor movement struggles to tighten its grip on the workforce, according to new federal data.

“The numbers paint a more optimistic portrait of unions’ ability to recruit new members, particularly in the service and manufacturing sectors, even in the face of declining density nationwide. Two dozen groups added members in 2023, a year marked by high-profile strikes and labor stoppage threats across industries. The additions overcome losses from seven other peer unions, according to a Bloomberg Law analysis of disclosures filed with the US Department of Labor last week.”

For context, union membership rates across private and public sector workers overall dropped to 10 percent in 2023, down from 10.1 percent in 2022. For comparison, when this data first became available in 1983, that number was at 20.1 percent – or double where unions are now. In the private sector, only 6 percent of those workers now belong to unions as of 2023.

Nevertheless, this report showing gains by some of the nation’s largest labor organizations, combined with historic union organizing numbers and the seemingly growing number of union election successes, may move those union membership percentages upward by the close of 2024. In addition, recent changes by the National Labor Relations Board to the union election process may further help unions bolster their ranks. We’ll see how this all shakes out by year’s end. Stay tuned.

© 2024 BARNES & THORNBURG LLP
For more on Unions, visit the NLR Labor & Employment section.

NYC Announces Private-Sector Vaccine Mandate

On December 6, 2021, outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced major expansions to New York’s “Key to NYC” program, which was implemented through Emergency Executive Order 225 and became effective on August 17, 2021. The mayor also announced a first-in-the-nation vaccination mandate for private-sector workers in New York City, which is set to take effect on December 27, 2021. Additional guidance on these expansive mandates is expected on December 15, 2021.

Private-Sector Vaccine Mandate

The mayor has announced that New York City will implement a “first-in-the-nation,” vaccine mandate for private-sector workers. The mandate is currently set to take effect on December 27, 2021. The mayor estimates that approximately 184,000 businesses would be affected. A spokesperson for Mayor-elect Eric Adams, who is due to take office on January 1, 2022, just days after the mandate is set to take effect, has indicated that the mayor-elect will evaluate the mandate when he takes office and will “make determinations based on science, efficacy and the advice of health professionals.”

Key to NYC Expanded

Under the existing Key to NYC program, staff and patrons who enter certain types of indoor entertainment, recreation, dining, and fitness establishments are required to have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Previously, children under the age of 12, along with certain other individuals were exempt from showing proof of vaccination.

Beginning on December 14, 2021, children ages 5-11 will be required to show proof of at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to enter the covered establishments mentioned above. While individuals were previously only required to show proof of one dose of the vaccine, beginning on December 27, individuals in New York City over the age of 12 will now be required to show proof of two doses of the vaccine.

High-Risk Extracurricular Activities

The mayor also announced that vaccinations would be required for children ages 5-11 if they wish to participate in “high-risk extracurricular activities.” These activities are currently defined as “sports, band, orchestra, and dance.” Children in this age group will be required to have the initial vaccine dose by December 14, 2021.

Key Takeaways

Employers in New York City may wish to review the above requirements to ensure that their practices comply with the obligations articulated in the anticipated mandates. Employers may also want to stay updated as the Key to NYC and the private-sector vaccine mandate continues to evolve.

Article By Kelly M. Cardin and Jessica R. Schild of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

For more labor and employment legal news, click here to visit the National Law Review.

© 2021, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., All Rights Reserved.

U.S., U.K. Governments Seek Cyber Innovations from Private Sector

The private sector is likely to produce critical cyber innovations—at least, that is what the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (“DARPA”) and the U.K. Centre for Defence Enterprise (“CDE”) would like to see.

In the United States, although the internet may have been invented at DARPA, DARPA is turning to a private sector competition to protect it.  In March 2014, DARPA solicited a “Cyber Security Grand Challenge”: an open competition to devise automated security systems that can defend against cyberattacks as fast as they are launched.  DARPA pitched the Grand Challenge as a “first of its kind,” “capture the flag”-style competition for computer security experts in academia, industry, and the broader security community.  Over 100 teams registered to compete.  Some likely saw the cash prizes—$2 million for first place, $1 million for second, and $750,000 for third—as nominal incentives compared to the value of shaping future cybersecurity efforts.  On July 8, 2015, DARPA announced its selection of seven finalists for the final round of the competition.  The finalists include computer security experts from industry, start-up incubators, and academia.

Not one of DARPA’s Grand Challenge finalists?  Take heart: DARPA is said to be developing technology that would allow spectators to watch the final contest in real time.  Or better yet, look to the United Kingdom, where the CDE has an open competition seeking “novel approaches to human interaction with cyberspace to increase military situational awareness.”  CDE is asking for “revolutionary approaches” to “rapidly convey” cyberspace information, events, and courses of action to military commanders, analysts, and decision-makers.  Just as DARPA officials acknowledged the limitations of existing cybersecurity strategy and technology, CDE officials have recognized that “the traditional human-computer interface” is inadequate for “current military information processing and sense-making in the cyber domain.”  Up to £500,000 in research funding will be awarded.  A July 9, 2015 presentation given by CDE is available online; slides from a July 16, 2015 webinar soon could be available, as well.  The competition closes on September 3, 2015.  Proposals must be submitted through CDE’s online portal.

ARTICLE BY Jade C. Totman & Alan A. Pemberton of Covington & Burling LLP

© 2015 Covington & Burling LLP