Leora Smith is a student at Harvard Law School.
A heartfelt, quick reminder that the Thanksgiving mythology is an immigrant mythology.
While many of us probably enjoyed produce from the California Valley as part of Thanksgiving dinner, The New York Times reports that a health and poverty crisis continues to harm California farmworkers and their families. Though farms in the California Valley are producing crops at record numbers, the low salaries paid to farmworkers means they often cannot afford to eat the nutritious food they grow.
Making its rounds on the internet today is this blog article, “Work is a Gift Our Kids Can Handle,” hosted by the Acton Institute.The article argues for rolling back child labor laws and reconsidering mandatory education for all children. Betsy DeVos, President-Elect Trump’s recently announced Secretary of Education, sat on the Institute’s board for ten years and reports say she has donated over one million dollars to the group.
The fourth anniversary of the Fight for $15 is coming up and organizers are preparing for the biggest wave of strikes yet, in a demonstration that the movement has no plans to slow down in the coming years. Five statewide ballot initiatives to increase the minimum wage were voted in alongside a new President on November 8th. Though the President-elect has not been clear on his minimum wage stance, organizers are confident that raising the minimum wage is a “winning issue,” even in the new political climate. Workers in a range of industries are planning to strike including baggage handlers, fast-food workers, teachers, janitors and homecare workers.
Daily News & Commentary
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October 12
Workers at the Obama Foundation begin organizing; MLB submits its latest collective bargaining agreement proposal; Brigham & Women's nurses postpone strike.
October 11
UAW President Shawn Fain succeeds in his reelection bid, and Spanish unions call for a general strike.
October 9
DHS proposes a $100k fee for the foreign grad employment program; Trump suspends tech company access to green card program; and private equity perpetuates poor working conditions for home care workers.
October 8
NLRB judge finds UPS unlawfully restricted union insignia; Harvard graduate workers authorize second strike; OSHA orders Union Pacific to pay $300,000 in damages in whistleblower case.
October 7
DOL scraps plan to remove decades-old wage-and-hour guidance from federal regulations; New York enacts personnel records access law; Starbucks loses bid to dismiss Workers United trademark suit.
October 6
Protect College Sports Act dampens athlete unionization outlook; Stanford RA union decides to withdraw petition