The U.S. government is investigating possible collusion among major airlines to limit available seats, which keeps airfares high. Also, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals reset the stakes and created a new test for whether interns should be paid. Then, the long 4th of July weekend is upon us. There’s no better time to get in your car and go somewhere. But where?
Consumer advocates celebrate Dept. of Justice probe into alleged price-fixing by airlines
By DAVID KOENIG, SCOTT MAYEROWITZ and ERIC TUCKER
The U.S. government is investigating possible collusion among major airlines to limit available seats, which keeps airfares high, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press.
The civil antitrust investigation by the Justice Department appears to focus on whether airlines illegally signaled to each other how quickly they would add new flights, routes and extra seats. A letter received Tuesday by major U.S. carriers demands copies of all communications the airlines had with each other, Wall Street analysts and major shareholders about their plans for passenger-carrying capacity, or "the undesirability of your company or any other airline increasing capacity."
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines all said they received a letter and are complying. Several smaller carriers, including JetBlue Airways and Frontier Airlines, said they had not been contacted by the government. The department had tried to block the most recent merger, the 2013 joining of American Airlines and US Airways, but ultimately agreed to let it proceed after the airlines made minor concessions.
Guests:
Charlie Leocha, Chairman, Travellers United (formerly Consumer Travel Alliance) - a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization; TravellersUnited.org
Marc Scribner, Fellow in Transportation Studies, Competitive Enterprise Institute
Appeals court reverses ‘Black Swan’ interns’ victory over Fox
The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has remanded a prior victory by interns over Fox Searchlight back to a lower court, resetting the stakes and creating a new test for whether interns should be paid.
At issue is whether interns should be paid or not. While prior guidance from the Department of Labor in 2010 spelled out certain criteria, such as whether the internship displaces regular employees and whether the internship is comparable to experience that would be gained in an educational environment, to help make the determination, Judge Walker of the 2nd Circuit wrote about a test he calls the primary beneficiary test.
The test comprises of two factors: “First, it focuses on on what the intern receives in exchange for his work. Second, it also accords courts the flexibility to examine the economic reality as it exists between the intern and the employer.” Therefore, the stronger the imbalance in favor of what the employer can provide in non-monetary benefits such as experience and substitution of coursework to the intern, the weaker the argument for the intern to be paid.
Despite a flurry of lawsuits against other major studios (including Viacom, Lionsgate, ICM Partners, and NBCUniversal) that have ended in multi-million dollar settlements for interns, Fox continues to fight against this lawsuit. The case has been handed back to the lower court, and although the plaintiffs Alex Footman and Eric Glatt still have a strong chance of winning this case, the new test raises the bars for interns who fight to get paid.
Where is the line between paid and unpaid interns? Are unpaid interns actually unpaid employees? Will this case stifle further class action lawsuits from interns against their employers?
Note of full disclosure: This webpage was written and created by paid interns
Glatt et al. v. Fox Searchlight Pictures, Inc. et al
Guests:
Dominic Patten, Legal Editor and writer at Deadline, a news site covering Hollywood and the entertainment industry. His latest piece looks at today’s decision.
Eric Glatt, former intern for Fox Searchlight and one of two plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
Maurice Pianko, Director and lead attorney for Intern Justice, a website that gives legal information and services to unpaid workers.
Paul DeCamp, Partner with the Jackson Lewis law firm based in Washington, D.C.; he previously ran the Wage & Hour Division of the Department of Labor.
Peas in guacamole? Really, New York Times. Really?!
The Internet is aflame after The Gray Lady published a guacamole recipe calling for the addition of “fresh English peas.”
Responses poured in over Twitter, with most people slamming the piece penned by the New York Times’ food columnist Melissa Clark as sacrilegious. Even the President of the United States felt compelled to say something:
respect the nyt, but not buying peas in guac. onions, garlic, hot peppers. classic.
— President Obama (@POTUS)
respect the nyt, but not buying peas in guac. onions, garlic, hot peppers. classic. https://t.co/MEEI8QHH1V
— President Obama (@POTUS44) July 1, 2015
What is your guac recipe? Is it really so controversial to add peas to guacamole, particularly in the age of Kogi tacos and the proliferation of fusion cuisine?
Guests:
Russ Parsons, food writer and columnist at the Los Angeles Times. His piece today in the paper is on guacamole
Leslie Téllez, author of the cookbook, “Eat Mexico: Recipes from Mexico City’s Streets, Markets & Fondas” (Kyle Books, 2015) and owner of the agency Eat Mexico that provides guided culinary tours in Mexico City and Puebla in Mexico
What to know to keep your Fourth safe
As most Americans finish planning for their Independence Day weekend, security is being ramped up across the country in preparation for heightened safety concerns.
A terror warning has been issued by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While it is still safe to go outdoors and travel, listen in for what you need to know to safely enjoy your Fourth.
Guests:
Commander Andy Smith, Media Relations and Community Affairs Group, LAPD
Brian Michael Jenkins, Senior Advisor to the President of the Rand Corporation and one of the nation's leading experts on terrorism and homeland security
U.S. Women’s Soccer on familiar ground seeking third-ever Women’s World Cup title
When the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team takes the pitch this Sunday against Japan, it will be an all too familiar place for the red, white and blue.
In 2011, the U.S. came up just short in the Women’s World Cup Final, losing in penalty kicks to an upstart Japanese team riding a wave of patriotism and unity following the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant in March. The other two times they’ve been in a final, in 1991 and 1999, they won it all, most notably in the ‘99 World Cup after a game-winning penalty kick by Brandi Chastain.
This year, the U.S. Women are back with a vengeance and have bested all their opponents except Sweden, whom they tied during the group stage. But so are the Japanese women, who have quietly won every game they’ve played. The U.S. has never placed lower than third in the history of the Women’s World Cup, and a win Sunday would be the third-ever Women’s World Cup title for the U.S., more than any other nation has won in the tournament’s history.
What will it take from the U.S. Women’s team to secure a victory on Sunday? Where do you think this year’s U.S. Women’s team ranks among the best U.S. Women’s teams of all time?
Guests:
Caroline Rigby, women’s sport reporter for BBC Global News. She’s in Vancouver to cover the Women’s World Cup Final. She tweets
Brandi Chastain, retired soccer player and former member of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. Her game-winning penalty kick during the 1999 Women’s World Cup Final led the U.S. to a win over China. Chastain is now a coach for the varsity soccer team at Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose
The best SoCal weekend getaways
The long 4th of July weekend is upon us. There’s no better time to get in your car and go somewhere. But where?
Travel experts Elizabeth Harryman and Paul Lasley join Larry to offer their suggestions. Call in and let us know yours.
Guests:
Elizabeth Harryman, travel editor at Westways magazine, published by Southern California AAA. She tweets
Paul Lasley, travel writer at the website, OnTravel.com