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North American Edition
30th September 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Longshoremen's strike looms on coasts
The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) is set to strike along the East and Gulf coasts, starting Tuesday. The union, representing 85,000 members, said: “The United States Maritime Alliance refuses to address a half-century of wage subjugation.” The U.S. Maritime Alliance has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, claiming the union has not negotiated, which the ILA dismissed as a publicity stunt. White House officials, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, urged port operators to negotiate before the current contract expires. Economic losses from the strike could reach $5bn daily, according to Margaret Kidd from the University of Houston, with backlogs potentially lasting weeks. The strike would mark the ILA's first large-scale walkout on the East Coast since 1977.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
California firefighters push for better hours
California firefighters are advocating for a new contract that would reduce their workweek from 72 hours to 66 hours.  Tim Edwards, president of Cal Fire Local 2881, said: “The push for a 56 [hour schedule] not only is good for the mental, physical health of our members and their families, but to the recruitment and retention of paid professional firefighters in the state of California.” The proposed changes come as California faces increasing wildfire challenges and aims to enhance the health of its firefighting workforce. If approved, the contract will initiate a hiring process for thousands of new firefighters to support the shift. The current budget allocates nearly $200m to hire 338 additional positions, but estimates suggest that around 2,500 permanent positions will be needed by fiscal year 2028-29 to fully implement the new schedule.
HIRING
IRS hiring delays threaten talent
Delays in the IRS hiring process may lead to significant losses in talent and resources, according to a Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) report released on Thursday. The report outlines four key recommendations aimed at addressing workload constraints, technological issues, miscommunication, and delayed security checks that have hindered the IRS's hiring efforts. The IRS has acknowledged these recommendations and is committed to implementing them. Following the allocation of tens of billions in funding from the Democrats' 2022 tax-and-climate law, the IRS was granted the authority to expedite its hiring process. The report observes: “Delays in the hiring process can put the IRS at risk of wasting resources due to losing prospective employees.” 
LEGAL
Club failed to protect dancers from patrons, lawsuit alleges
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against an Albany Park exotic dance club, alleging it failed to protect dancers from "dangerous, harassing, and sometimes violent" customer behavior. The lawsuit claims that the club retaliated against a dancer who reported harassment and discriminated against Black dancers by assigning them to less profitable shifts.
TECHNOLOGY
California governor vetoes AI safety bill
California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a contentious artificial intelligence safety bill after the local tech industry warned it could drive AI companies from the state and stymie innovation. Newsom said the bill "does not take into account whether an AI system is deployed in high-risk environments, involves critical decision-making or the use of sensitive data" and would apply "stringent standards to even the most basic functions — so long as a large system deploys it." He said he had asked leading experts on generative AI to help California "develop workable guardrails" that focus "on developing an empirical, science-based trajectory analysis." Newsom also ordered state agencies to expand their assessment of the risks from potential catastrophic events tied to the use of the technology.
Shoprite introduces Tally the Robot to 21 more NJ stores
Tally, the innovative inventory robot, is set to expand its operations to 21 additional ShopRite locations in New Jersey. Owned by Inserra Supermarkets and Shop-Rite Supermarkets (SRS), these stores will join nearly 70 other ShopRite locations already using Tally. The robot, developed by Simbe Robotics, is recognised as the world's first inventory robot, capable of scanning entire store aisles multiple times a day and processing between 15,000 to 30,000 products per hour. Tally ensures that products are stocked correctly and priced accurately, enhancing the shopping experience while working alongside store associates.
ECONOMY
U.S. consumer sentiment rises to five-month high
The second and final reading of the University of Michigan’s consumer-sentiment index in September rose to 70.1, the highest level in five months and up from a preliminary reading of 69 earlier in the month. Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal expected a final reading of 69.3. The report also said the current economic conditions index rose to 63.3 in September from 61.3, while the index of consumer expectations climbed to 74.4. Consumers expect prices to rise at an annual rate of 2.7% over the next year, the lowest since the end of 2020 and down from the 2.8% expected last month. They see inflation rising 3.1% over the next five to 10 years. Consumer sentiment among Democrats rose in September to a five-month high, while it also edged up among Republicans and political independents. “Sentiment appears to be building some momentum as consumers’ expectations for the economy brighten,” Joanne Hsu, director of the survey, said in a statement. “At the same time, many consumers continue to report that their expectations hinge on the results of the upcoming election.”
INTERNATIONAL
Modern slavery victims forced to work at a McDonald's in the U.K.
The BBC has uncovered a disturbing case of modern slavery involving 16 victims who were forced to work at a McDonald's branch in the U.K. and also a bakery supplying major U.K. supermarkets, including Asda, Co-op, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose. The victims, primarily from the Czech Republic, were exploited for over four years. Their wages were paid into a single account controlled by the gang. Dame Sara Thornton, former independent anti-slavery commissioner, expressed concern over the missed warning signs, saying: “It really concerns me that so many red flags were missed.” The exploitation ended in October 2019 after victims alerted police in the Czech Republic. McDonald's U.K. has since stated it is improving its systems to detect potential risks, while the British Retail Consortium acknowledged the need for the retail industry to learn from such cases. Former prime minister Theresa May - who now leads the Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking - said the case was “frankly shocking,” and shows “large companies not properly looking into their supply chains.”
Unions accuse Israel of wage theft
Ten trade unions have accused Israel of violating international labor law by withholding wages and benefits from over 200,000 Palestinian workers since October 7. The unions claim these actions have plunged many into extreme poverty. Assaf Adiv, executive director of Maan Workers Association, said: “Two hundred thousand workers in the West Bank lost their jobs . . . and have been suffering ever since from extreme poverty.” The complaint seeks to recover unpaid wages for workers who have not received compensation since the onset of conflict with Hamas. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that economic production losses in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are nearly US$19m daily. Luc Triangle, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, emphasized the dire situation, noting that “working people are enduring the worst of the continuing conflict.” More than 500,000 jobs have been lost, exacerbating the economic crisis for Palestinians.
Taliban to be taken to the International Court of Justice for gender discrimination
Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands have initiated legal action against the Taliban, potentially bringing the regime before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its systematic oppression of women. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: "We will not stand by and allow the situation in Afghanistan to become a ‘new normal’." The unprecedented move, described by Fereshta Abbasi from Human Rights Watch as "the beginning of a path to justice," aims to hold the Taliban accountable for violating the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The four nations have issued a diplomatic note to the Taliban, designed to precipitate negotiations on the matter. Afghanistan would likely have six months to respond. If unsuccessful, the case may proceed to the ICJ in The Hague. Human rights groups say that this is the first instance of countries using the ICJ to address gender discrimination.
 


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