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North American Edition
15th July 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Amazon must comply with U.S. agency's pregnancy bias probe, judge rules
A New York federal judge has ordered Amazon.com to comply with a subpoena from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in an investigation into claims of pregnancy discrimination against warehouse workers. The EEOC is seeking data on accommodations requested by pregnant workers at five U.S. warehouses and whether Amazon granted or denied them. The judge rejected Amazon's claims that the subpoena was too broad and gave the company until August 9 to comply. Amazon has previously faced complaints of pregnancy discrimination and requiring pregnant and disabled workers to take unpaid leaves of absence. The EEOC launched its probe last year and issued the subpoena to gather necessary information.
WORKFORCE
Stellantis awarded $353m to help reopen Belvidere manufacturing plant
Automaker Stellantis will receive $585m in grants from the Biden administration, including nearly $335m for its idled plant in Belvidere, to help expand its electric vehicle manufacturing. The grants are part of the Energy Department's efforts to create or retain thousands of union jobs and boost EV manufacturing and assembly sites in eight states. The agreement to reopen the Belvidere plant is a big win for the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, which held a six-week strike last year demanding better pay and job protections. The plant is expected to employ around 5,000 UAW members after reopening, with additional jobs created by parts suppliers. Stellantis plans to build a new battery facility on the property and estimates that the total workforce in Belvidere will be around 5,000 UAW members. The federal grants cover a broad range of the automotive supply chain, including parts for electric motorcycles and school buses, hybrid powertrains, heavy-duty commercial truck batteries, and electric SUVs. If completed as planned, the projects would create more than 2,900 jobs and retain about 15,000 union workers across all 11 facilities.
Delta Air Lines changes employee uniform policy following controversy
Delta Air Lines is changing its employee uniform policy following a passenger's outrage over two flight attendants photographed wearing Palestinian pins. The uproar over the incident led Delta to ban its employees from wearing pins representing any country or nationality besides the U.S. Delta's previous policy allowed employees more flexibility with uniform accessories. The airline stated that the new policy is aimed at ensuring a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment for all. Delta also addressed a social media post made by one of its employees, who sympathized with passengers and criticized the attendants wearing the Palestinian pins. The employee responsible for the post has been removed from handling social media communications.
LEGAL
OpenAI whistleblowers call for SEC investigation
OpenAI whistleblowers have filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the company's allegedly restrictive non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The whistleblowers claim that OpenAI made employees sign agreements that waived their federal rights to whistleblower compensation,  alleging that it issued overly restrictive employment, severance, and non-disclosure agreements, which could have penalized workers who raised concerns about the company to federal authorities. They also claim that OpenAI required employees to obtain prior consent before disclosing information to federal regulators and did not provide exemptions for disclosing securities violations to the SEC.
STRATEGY
U.S. banks close 539 branches in H1
Banks in the U.S. have closed 539 local branches in the first half of the year. Bank of America closed the most branches, with 90 shutting, followed by US Bank (73), Wells Fargo (62), Chase (53), and TD Bank (52). The closures come as major banks move towards online services. A recent survey found that 78% of Americans prefer using mobile and online banking, and almost one in four did not visit their bank in the past year. 
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Hudson’s Bay closes stores amid heat wave and AC challenges
Hudson's Bay has temporarily shuttered several of its stores across Canada due to air-conditioning failures amid a severe heat wave. Locations affected include major cities in Western Canada such as Vancouver and Victoria, as well as Winnipeg and Windsor, Ontario. The closures were prompted by the strain on HVAC systems as temperatures soared past 40 C in some regions. Tiffany Bourré, a spokesperson for Hudson's Bay, emphasized that the company prioritizes the comfort and well-being of its customers and associates and is striving to reopen the stores as swiftly as possible. The incident highlights the growing impact of extreme weather conditions, intensified by climate change, on retail operations.

 
CBC
ECONOMY
U.S. consumer sentiment falls to eight-month low
The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index unexpectedly declined to 66 in early July from 68.2 the prior month, with high prices continuing to weigh on Americans’ views of their finances and the economy. The reading represents an eight-month low for the gauge, and is below the 68.5 expected among economists polled by Bloomberg. The current economic conditions index dipped to 64.1 in July from 65.9 in June, while the index of consumer expectations slid to 67.2 in July from 69.6 in June. “Nearly half of consumers still object to the impact of high prices, even as they expect inflation to continue moderating in the years ahead," commented survey director Joanne Hsu. “With the upcoming election, consumers perceived substantial uncertainty in the trajectory of the economy, though there is little evidence that the first presidential debate altered their economic views."
INTERNATIONAL
Labour to hold bad employers accountable, says TUC chief
The new Labour government in the U.K. will hold bad employers accountable for their actions, according to Paul Nowak, head of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Nowak argues that despite intense lobbying from U.K. corporations, he expects the King's Speech this week to demonstrate to bosses that Labour's fundamental transformation of workers' rights is proceeding as scheduled. Businesses should be afraid of the changes, according to Nowak, but only if they are among the bad actors. "To good employers, there's nothing to worry about, to bad employers, then I'm sorry," the union leader said. The Labour Party's New Deal for Working People is a set of policies aimed at improving workers' rights. These include raising the minimum wage, prohibiting "fire and rehire" tactics, terminating zero-hour contracts, and providing protection against wrongful termination from day one. While employers and unions have expressed reservations about the proposals, Labour plans to introduce an employment rights bill within its first 100 days in office.
Unilever to cut European workforce by a third
Consumer goods business Unilever plans to cut a third of its office-based roles in Europe by the end of 2025, accounting for around 3,200 jobs. It remains unclear where in Europe the job cuts will have the most impact. The multinational says it has yet to determine that. “In the coming weeks, the discussions will start with employees who may be affected by the proposed changes,” said a Unilever spokesperson. “We are aware of the large unrest that this brings to people. We are doing everything to support everybody during these changes while we continue the consultation process.” Unilever employs around 128,000 people worldwide. Earlier this year, Unilever announced cost-cutting plans that would affect 7,500 roles globally.
Emirates Red Crescent launches water aid initiative to combat summer heat
The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has launched The Water Aid Initiative to mitigate the impact of summer heat locally and internationally. The campaign targets underprivileged families, labourers, and individuals involved in strenuous work amid rising temperatures. Umbrellas, containers to keep water cool, and health packages are given to these groups at the local level. Internationally, the initiative includes drilling wells, and providing water tanks and atmospheric water generators. The Water Aid Initiative is expected to add a new dimension and a qualitative shift in providing additional water sources to people in water-scarce countries, calling on donors to contribute to such vital projects. In a statement, the ERC stated that the campaign is founded on the drive to preserve human life, health and dignity and provide protection from natural factors, noting that it has completed its preparations and taken the necessary steps to achieve the campaign's goals by attracting more partners, thereby expanding the number of beneficiaries locally and internationally.
OTHER
New York bus companies settle with AG over excessive idling
The New York Attorney General's Office has reached a settlement with four bus companies accused of excessive idling at bus yards in communities of color and low-income communities. The companies, Consolidated Bus, Logan Bus Company, Pioneer Transportation, and Total Transportation, will invest up to $2m to purchase new electric buses or repower their current fleet. They will also install automatic idling shut-off timers on their remaining traditional buses and provide anti-idling training for drivers. The settlement comes after an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General found that the companies violated New York laws by allowing school buses to idle for extended periods of time. Attorney General Letitia James emphasized the importance of protecting the health of children and the environment, particularly in low-income communities and communities of color.
 


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