Laws and Regulations

Two major rail workers' unions are at the negotiating table for better contracts, with the possibility of a rail strike looming on Friday, Sept. 16. If the parties can't agree by then, it's possible that the government steps in. But, what can they do, and what does it mean for the workers?

Fire departments in North Carolina and New York are warning community members about T-shirt scams. The Rockingham Fire Department in Rockingham, North Carolina, said scammers are selling T-shirts or asking for donations to the department via text message, according to the Richmond Observer. "If you get any kind of information in a text or email…

The FTC issued a fine against the apparel brand Lions Not Sheep for replacing its "Made in China" labels with "Made in USA" labels. The FTC has begun cracking down on these claims as it enforces a new rule that tightens Made in USA labeling requirements...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law in the state that all packaging must be recyclable or compostable by 2032 in an effort to cut plastic packaging by 25 percent. It also requires 65% of all single-use plastics be recycled in that same 10-year window. “Our kids deserve a future free of plastic waste…

In an effort to curb plastic pollution, the Canadian government has prohibited the manufacture, import, sale and eventual export of six single-use plastic items: checkout bags, cutlery, food service products containing "problematic plastics," straws and more. The ban on importing will come into effect in December 2022, with the sale prohibition going into effect December 2023...

After being told in 2019 that, no, you can't trademark the world "The," THE Ohio State University has successfully secured the trademark for "THE" to use on branded merchandise. https://twitter.com/JoshGerben/status/1539610553412452355 If you watch NFL games where the starting lineup says their names and where they went to school, you've probably seen a few Ohio State…

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) took effect on June 21, targeting goods produced in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region. The region has been a topic of debate in recent years, as human rights groups claim the Chinese government has forced the Uyghur minority into labor camps. In response, U.S. companies that source apparel from China should brace for disruption...

The Scottish professional soccer team Rangers F.C., along with the sporting goods company Elite Sports and retail company JD Sports, has been accused of conspiracy to fix merchandise prices. Reuters reported that the parties allegedly fixed the retail price of Rangers replica kits and other apparel products between September 2018 and July 2019...

Moderne Glass Company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have issued a recall for ceramic coffee mugs due to a potential burn hazard. The 15 oz. C-handle mugs can crack or break when hot liquid is added. Moderne Glass received six reports of mugs cracking, though no injuries have been reported...

The European Union is moving closer to mandating that all electronic devices requiring chargers use USB-C as a standard interface. This would decrease demand for chargers and limit waste.