The hottest Labor relations Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Links 652 China's manufacturing dominance. The rouble running riot. How PM2.5 kills & the politics of the Rebecca riots.

Chartbook • 400 implied HN points • 17 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics International relations Economic Policy Public Health Environmental Policy Labor relations
  1. China has a huge impact on global manufacturing, producing about one-third of the world's goods. This shows how essential China is in many important production areas.
  2. The rouble is experiencing significant fluctuations, which could affect the economy and trade. These changes can create challenges for Russia and its partners.
  3. PM2.5 pollution is harmful to health and has led to serious political issues in some areas. Understanding its effects can help address public health and environmental concerns.

DeepSeek's Secret to Success

ChinaTalk • 1615 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🕹 Technology AI Innovation Labor relations Corporate Governance Entrepreneurship
  1. DeepSeek's success is due to its flat management style, which allows employees more freedom and collaboration compared to the typical rigid structure of Chinese tech firms. This supportive culture fosters creativity and innovation.
  2. Unlike many tech companies in China, DeepSeek was not funded by the government or large corporations. It was self-funded by a former hedge fund manager, allowing it to operate independently and avoid typical pressures.
  3. DeepSeek's hiring approach focuses on young talent, valuing passion and fresh ideas over years of experience. This strategy has helped the company innovate rapidly and challenge larger competitors.

The Nationalization of Boeing Begins

BIG by Matt Stoller • 43431 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
💼 Business Management Labor relations Government intervention Corporate culture Financial impact
  1. There is growing discontent and criticism towards Boeing's management from various stakeholders like Wall Street, labor unions, customers, and regulators.
  2. Major Boeing customers like Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are publicly holding Boeing accountable for quality issues and demanding reimbursement, indicating a significant shift in the industry's code of silence about problems.
  3. The government, particularly the FAA, has taken actions against Boeing and is showing signs of increasing regulation, potentially leading towards a moment where Boeing's management structure may face significant changes.

The job market is a market

Wednesday Wisdom • 123 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
💼 Business Employment Market Trends Compensation Labor relations Corporate culture
  1. The job market is just like any other market. Companies offer certain salaries and benefits to attract workers, but this can change based on demand and supply.
  2. When times are good, companies provide great perks to keep talent, but when the market shifts, they can cut back on salaries and benefits.
  3. It's important for job seekers to understand their worth in the market but also to be flexible when conditions change. Being aware that the job landscape can vary will help in making better career choices.

The ACLU Is Trying to Destroy the Biden NLRB

Freddie deBoer • 7178 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor relations Civil Liberties Legal system Constitutional Law
  1. The ACLU is trying to expand mandatory arbitration, potentially limiting workers' rights and making union organizing harder.
  2. The ACLU is challenging the appointment of the current General Counsel of the NLRB, which could impact the legitimacy of decisions made by the Biden Board.
  3. The underlying dispute revolves around the termination of an ACLU staffer for protected complaints about workplace conditions, revealing a complex situation where legal theories are used to justify actions.
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Democrats Are Still Getting Rolled by Their Interest Groups

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 1462 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Political parties Political strategy Labor relations
  1. Interest groups have a strong influence on the Democratic party, often guiding their decisions and actions.
  2. Political strategies focusing on character and rhetoric might overlook the importance of representing wider coalitions.
  3. Recent labor strikes, like the one involving longshoremen, highlight the challenges Democrats face when balancing interest group demands with broader voter concerns.

Union Lawyers Call Jewish Colleagues ‘Deranged’ and ‘Fascist’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2290 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor relations Antisemitism
  1. Jewish lawyers in a labor union faced hostility and abuse for supporting Israel, leading to a congressional investigation for antisemitism.
  2. Messages from the union's group chat included accusations against Israel of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid.
  3. The union resolution in support of a cease-fire in Gaza faced criticism for detracting from the main purpose of the union, which is to fight for workers' rights.

How Vail Resorts Unique Business Model Led To A Strike In Park City (and why they don't care)

Huddle Up • 25 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
💼 Business Corporate strategy Labor relations Market Trends Financial Performance
  1. Vail Resorts' strategy of buying multiple ski resorts has led to a strike at Park City due to rising costs for employees. Over 200 workers are protesting for better wages and benefits.
  2. The strike is affecting the resort's capacity, with many trails closed and lifts not operating. This has led to long lines and unhappy guests during a peak time for skiing.
  3. Despite earning substantial profits, Vail Resorts seems uninterested in meeting the employees' demands. This highlights how corporate priorities can harm both worker conditions and customer experiences.

As executive compensation at big automakers soars, so does health care costs for the companies, workers

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 759 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
💼 Business Corporate Governance Executive Compensation Labor relations Health Insurance Economic Inequality
  1. CEO pay at big automakers is very high, while worker pay has stayed low, causing frustration among workers. This gap in pay creates issues in labor negotiations and workers' struggles for fair wages.
  2. Healthcare costs for companies like GM are increasing significantly, which takes away funds that could be used for paying workers better. This trend is leading to workers facing higher deductibles and premiums.
  3. Despite the high pay for CEOs, the stock performance of companies is often underwhelming, raising questions about whether these leaders are meeting their performance goals.

Updated! The Plot To Privatize Canada Post's Parcel/Package Business.

C.O.P. Central Organizing Principle. • 36 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor relations Public Services Government Accountability Privatization
  1. There is a belief that Canada Post is being privatized bit by bit, especially in the parcel/package delivery sector. This could lead to private companies taking over what was once a public service.
  2. The union workers at Canada Post are facing difficulties because of a long strike, which some people blame for delays during the busy holiday season.
  3. Concerns are raised about how privatization could hurt remote communities, especially First Nations that depend on Canada Post for delivery of medical supplies and other essential items.

Human work, GenAI and Mechanical Turks

imperfect offerings • 79 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🕹 Technology AI Labor relations Machine Learning
  1. Technology like GenAI can be viewed as a platform for coordinating labor, shaping relationships between users, owners, and revenue sources.
  2. The development of GenAI involves complex layers of human labor, from providing training data to post-training alignment through human feedback.
  3. The economic structure surrounding GenAI results in the extraction of value for platform corporations, while the vast majority of human labor involved in its development remains unpaid or underpaid.

Union Karenina

Malt Liquidity • 6 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
💼 Business Labor relations Automotive Industry Market Analysis Economic Policy Company performance
  1. Coordinated efforts become stronger as the numbers grow, but the value of the individual diminishes.
  2. Union bargaining gains power with a critical mass of numbers, enabling negotiation for better terms.
  3. Tesla's success in the market is partly due to its non-unionized workforce, providing cost advantages compared to unionized competitors.

1200 Hours (working draft)

Logos and Liberty • 0 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economic Policy Labor relations Income Inequality Government programs
  1. Consider reducing work hours per year to 1200 from the standard 2000 to balance the needs of families and improve work-life balance for employees.
  2. Implementing a 1200-hour work year would lead to increased bargaining power for workers, better worker productivity, and a potential shift in how the fruits of productivity gains are shared.
  3. Employers could adapt to a 1200-hour work year by paying more, offering flexibility, hiring more workers, adjusting operations, and supporting policies to facilitate the transition.