Yazılar

Amazon sues New York over new labor law, calling it unconstitutional power grab

/in /tarafından

Amazon has filed a lawsuit against the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), seeking to block enforcement of a new state law that it argues illegally intrudes on federal authority over private sector labor disputes.

The law, Senate Bill 8034A, was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul on September 5. She defended it as necessary to protect workers amid a backlog at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which has been paralyzed since President Donald Trump removed Democratic member Gwynne Wilcox in January, leaving the agency without a quorum.

Amazon’s complaint, filed in Brooklyn federal court, claims the law is unconstitutional because it allows PERB to claim jurisdiction over union organizing, collective bargaining, and workplace disputes—areas traditionally overseen by the NLRB. “New York has created the collision of state and federal authority Congress sought to avoid,” Amazon said in the filing.

The conflict became immediate when PERB filed a charge over the August 9 firing of Brima Sylla, a Staten Island warehouse worker and union vice president, even as the NLRB had already begun its own review.

The NLRB itself sued New York on September 12, also seeking to block enforcement of the law, with Acting General Counsel William Cowen arguing that federal law preempts state measures regardless of the board’s quorum status.

With 1.56 million employees worldwide, Amazon has been a frequent flashpoint in labor disputes. The case could set an important precedent for whether states can temporarily step into labor oversight roles when the NLRB is gridlocked.

Trump slaps $100K annual fee on H-1B visas, rattling U.S. tech sector

/in /tarafından

The Trump administration on Friday announced a sweeping change to the H-1B visa program, saying companies will now have to pay $100,000 per year per visa—a move critics warn could devastate the U.S. tech industry’s access to global talent.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick framed the move as part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, urging firms to “train Americans” instead of hiring foreign workers. But tech giants including Microsoft, Amazon, and JPMorgan quickly advised employees on H-1B visas to remain in the U.S. or return before the new fees take effect at midnight Saturday.

The H-1B program, which provides 85,000 visas annually for specialized workers, has long been dominated by Indian nationals (71% of approvals in 2024) and Chinese professionals (11.7%). In the first half of 2025 alone, Amazon received approval for more than 12,000 H-1B visas, with Microsoft and Meta securing over 5,000 each.

Under the new rules, the cost of a three-year H-1B stint would balloon to $300,000 per worker, compared with just a few thousand dollars under the current system. Analysts say this could force smaller firms and startups to offshore high-value work, weakening the U.S. in the global AI and tech race against China.

Industry figures voiced alarm. Venture capitalist Deedy Das warned the change “creates disincentive to attract the world’s smartest talent,” while eMarketer analyst Jeremy Goldman said Washington risks “taxing away its innovation edge, trading dynamism for short-sighted protectionism.”

The announcement sparked immediate financial fallout: shares of Cognizant sank nearly 5%, while Infosys and Wipro slipped 2–5% in U.S. trading.

Meanwhile, Trump also signed an executive order creating a “gold card” residency program, offering permanent U.S. residency for those who can pay $1 million upfront.

Legal experts questioned the fee’s validity, noting Congress only authorizes visa fees to cover administrative costs, not as a revenue generator. Still, the administration insists “all the big companies are on board.”

Pattern valued at $2.4B as shares dip in Nasdaq debut

/in /tarafından

E-commerce accelerator Pattern Group made its Nasdaq debut on Friday with a valuation of $2.38 billion, though its shares slipped 3.6% in early trading, closing at $13.50 versus the $14 offer price. The performance bucks the recent trend of strong first-day rallies for tech IPOs.

Pattern and existing shareholders raised $300 million by selling 21.4 million shares, priced within the marketed range of $13–$15. The Utah-based firm joins a wave of high-profile listings—such as Klarna and blockchain lender Figure—that have helped restore investor confidence in the U.S. IPO market after months of volatility tied to trade and tariff concerns.

Founded in 2013 as iServe by David Wright and Melanie Alder, Pattern positions itself as an “e-commerce accelerator.” It buys inventory directly from brands and resells it on platforms including Amazon, Target, Walmart, and eBay, using AI-driven tools and global marketplace expertise to optimize sales.

Analysts caution, however, that Pattern’s heavy dependence on Amazon leaves it vulnerable to changes in fee structures or marketplace policies. Trade policy shifts, such as the removal of the de-minimis import exemption, could also raise costs for cross-border sellers and complicate growth strategies.

IPO experts said the mixed debut reflects a selective investor environment, where companies with strong fundamentals and clearer risk profiles are being rewarded, while others face tougher scrutiny amid persistent inflation and labor market concerns.