A judge in Texas has stopped a new rule from the National Labor Relations Board that would have made it simpler for many workers to create unions at large corporations.
The rule, set to start on Monday, would have created new criteria for determining when two companies should be considered “joint employers” in labor negotiations.
Currently, under the NLRB rule passed in 2020 by a board dominated by Republicans, a company like McDonald’s is not considered a joint employer of most of its workers as they are directly employed by franchisees.
The new rule would have broadened that definition to include companies that may be considered joint employers if they have the ability to control — directly or indirectly — at least one employment condition, such as wages, benefits, hours, duties, work rules, and hiring.
Lead-tainted cinnamon recalled
A few U.S. discount retailers pulled packages of ground cinnamon off shelves after federal health officials cautioned that they were contaminated with high levels of lead.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert for six brands of cinnamon, including those available at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores.
Recalls have been made for Marcum and Supreme Tradition brand ground cinnamon sold at Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Save A Lot stores nationwide.
Other recalls include El Chilar brand cinnamon sold at La Joya Morelense in Baltimore, Maryland, and Swad cinnamon powder sold at Patel Brothers stores across the U.S.
FDA tests discovered lead levels ranging from 2 parts per million to 4 parts per million in the recalled cinnamon. This is much lower than the 2,000 to 5,000 parts per million found in the ground cinnamon from Ecuador that contaminated applesauce pouches last year.
