The New York Times reports that a growing number of low-wage workers are struggling to escape poverty. Today’s low-wage workers are older and more educated than low-wage workers in years past, but many have been unable to find higher-paying jobs. According to the Center for Economic Policy Research, more than half of workers who earn $9 or less per hour are 25 or older, and 41 percent of low-wage workers have had some college education.
According to the New York Times and the Washington Post, Toyota shut down production at two factories near Bangalore, India, in response to a ten-month labor dispute. The company claims that employees stopped the production line and threatened and abused supervisors. As a result, Toyota said that it had “no other option but to declare a lockout of the premises.” The lockout will prevent 6,400 employees from going to work.
The New York Times reports that many destitute workers have been recruited to clean up the devastated Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan. Some experts have expressed concern that these low-wage workers do not have the training they need to conduct cleanup operations safely. Deteriorating labor conditions at the plant may have contributed to a string of recent leaks and errors that caused environmental damage and put workers at risk.
Finally, on the opinion pages, Edward P. Lazear of the Wall Street Journal argues that the labor market may not have made as much progress in February as most analysts suggest. Mr. Lazear contends that one sign of our lack of progress is the length of the average workweek: the average workweek was 34.2 hours in February, down from 34.5 hours in September.
Daily News & Commentary
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June 30
Antidiscrimination scholars question McDonnell Douglas, George Washington University Hospital bargained in bad faith, and NY regulators defend LPA dispensary law.
June 29
In today’s news and commentary, Trump v. CASA restricts nationwide injunctions, a preliminary injunction continues to stop DOL from shutting down Job Corps, and the minimum wage is set to rise in multiple cities and states. On Friday, the Supreme Court held in Trump v. CASA that universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that […]
June 27
Labor's role in Zohran Mamdani's victory; DHS funding amendment aims to expand guest worker programs; COSELL submission deadline rapidly approaching
June 26
A district judge issues a preliminary injunction blocking agencies from implementing Trump’s executive order eliminating collective bargaining for federal workers; workers organize for the reinstatement of two doctors who were put on administrative leave after union activity; and Lamont vetoes unemployment benefits for striking workers.
June 25
Some circuits show less deference to NLRB; 3d Cir. affirms return to broader concerted activity definition; changes to federal workforce excluded from One Big Beautiful Bill.
June 24
In today’s news and commentary, the DOL proposes new wage and hour rules, Ford warns of EV battery manufacturing trouble, and California reaches an agreement to delay an in-person work mandate for state employees. The Trump Administration’s Department of Labor has advanced a series of proposals to update federal wage and hour rules. First, the […]