Supreme Court rules employers can bar worker class actions
A divided U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that employers can force workers to use individual arbitration instead of class-action lawsuits to press legal claims.
Labor
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Gorsuch silent as divided Supreme Court spars over union fees
Members of the U.S. Supreme Court clashed sharply Monday over the right of public-sector workers to refuse to pay union fees, while the justice who will cast the deciding vote kept silent during an hour-long argument.
Indiana union membership declines 12.5 percent
Union workers comprised 8.9 percent of Indiana's workforce in 2017, down from 10.4 percent in 2016.
Indiana’s unemployment rate creeps up to 3.9 percent
The state’s rate has risen from 3 percent in June, when it narrowly missed a state-record low of 2.9 percent.
Indiana AFL-CIO president re-elected at union’s convention
The union said Brett Voorhies was re-elected during its three-day convention that wrapped up Wednesday in Indianapolis.
Supreme Court to hear challenge to mandatory union fees
After the justices deadlocked 4-4 in a similar case last year, the high court will consider a free-speech challenge from workers who object to paying money to unions they don't support.
U.S. demands big NAFTA changes, setting stage for tough talks
The United States won't settle for cosmetic changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement, the top U.S. trade negotiator said, as negotiations to rework terms of the pact began.
Indiana packaging plant Deufol Sunman to shed almost 250 employees
Packers, equipment operators, quality assurance technicians—and a host of other positions held by 243 people—will be eliminated by Sept. 30, according to a notice sent to the state.
IPS strips school of teachers union as part of innovation transformation
Indianapolis Public Schools and union leaders disagree about how it happened, but the impact is clear. The school principal will be able to fire teachers more easily—and pay them thousands of dollars more than teachers at other IPS schools.
Retirement ‘bittersweet’ for union boss who challenged Trump
Chuck Jones grabbed headlines in December after he publicly accused then-President-elect Donald Trump of lying about how many jobs he was saving in a deal with furnace and air conditioner maker Carrier Corp.
New high court challenge to labor unions follows 4-4 split
A First Amendment clash over public sector unions left the justices deadlocked last year after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. But union opponents have quickly steered a new case through federal courts.
Musician accuses conductor Urbanski, ISO of age discrimination
A federal lawsuit filed by principal bassoonist John Wetherill accuses Music Director Krzysztof Urbanski and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra managers of trying to push out musicians older than 40 to replace them with younger and lower-paid performers.
Union president challenges Trump on Carrier job numbers
The union president slammed by Donald Trump on Twitter challenged the president-elect to back up his claim that a deal with Carrier Corp. would save 1,100 jobs in Indianapolis.
Some Indiana employers abiding by overtime rule, even though it’s in limbo
The rule—which raised the pay threshold for salaried workers to be exempt from overtime pay—would have affected about 87,000 Indiana workers if fully implemented as planned on Dec. 1. It’s now in limbo due to a court decision.
Star employees stage short walkout to protest Gannett decisions
The Indianapolis NewsGuild, which represents newsroom and custodial employees at The Star, said Gannett management is threatening to eliminate five journalists if the guild does not go along with the company’s recent decision to outsource The Star’s copy editors.
ISO musicians agree to three-year contract with pay hike
The contract, announced Friday, is the first labor agreement the musicians have approved since 2006 to contain an overall wage increase.
Indy employers to blitz 8th-graders with career choices at JobSpark
At the new event, more than 7,000 Marion County eighth-graders will get hands-on experience in eight job sectors, aided by some 3,000 volunteers from more than 100 companies.
City sues emergency dispatch provider for $8.3M
Indianapolis officials say the firm failed to adequately complete its job to install a computer-aided dispatch system for police, fire and emergency use.
Carrier, union agree to severance deal for 1,400 workers
Carrier Corp. and United Steelworkers Local 1999 have agreed on a severance package for 1,400 employees who will be displaced when the company moves operations from Indianapolis to Mexico.
Indiana State Teachers Association loses executive director
Indiana State Teachers Association Executive Director Brenda Pike plans to resign after six years at the job to take the same position at the troubled Alabama Education Association.