Facebook, Inc., is taking significant steps to make sure that its contractors treat their workers better. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company recently required that any contractors whose employees perform a significant amount of work for Facebook must pay them a minimum wage of at least $15/hour, at least 15 paid holidays annually, sick leave, vacation, and either paid parental leave or a $4,000 compensatory bonus. The company expects to absorb the price increases that come as contractors raise their rates to compensate for the new policies. The move comes as part of a larger trend of Silicon Valley companies voluntarily taking measures to account for the rising inequality in the Bay Area.
According to Politico, the AFL-CIO is working with Congressional Democrats to craft a series of bills to overhaul the NLRA. According to sources, the bills will be unveiled in the next few weeks.
The Los Angeles Times reports that “the Los Angeles city council will hold a special hearing this afternoon on raising the minimum wage.” “Business leaders say the city is rushing the process, because the meeting agenda was not released until yesterday afternoon. Mayor Eric Garcetti suggested raising the minimum wage to $13.25 by 2017, but some lawmakers want the minimum wage to go up to $15.25 by 2019. The city is also discussing whether tips should count towards the minimum wage.”
“On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced emergency protections for the state’s nail salon workers, just days after two New York Times reports detailed widespread wage theft and health risks in the industry.” Lydia DePillis writes in the Boston Globe that nail salon workers are not the only ones left significantly under-protected by labor and health and safety laws. She documents the vulnerability of temporary workers, fracking workers, agricultural and domestic workers, and car wash workers. Many of these jobs are filled by recent immigrants with limited English capacity, who often become ripe targets for exploitation on-the-job.
Daily News & Commentary
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May 5
Unemployment rates for Black women go up under Trump; NLRB argues Amazon lacks standing to challenge captive audience meeting rule; Teamsters use Wilcox's reinstatement orders to argue against injunction.
May 4
In today’s news and commentary, DOL pauses the 2024 gig worker rule, a coalition of unions, cities, and nonprofits sues to stop DOGE, and the Chicago Teachers Union reaches a remarkable deal. On May 1, the Department of Labor announced it would pause enforcement of the Biden Administration’s independent contractor classification rule. Under the January […]
May 2
Immigrant detainees win class certification; Missouri sick leave law in effect; OSHA unexpectedly continues Biden-Era Worker Heat Rule
May 1
SEIU 721 concludes a 48-hour unfair labor practice strike; NLRB Administrative Law Judge holds that Starbucks committed a series of unfair labor practices at a store in Philadelphia; AFSCME and UPTE members at the University of California are striking.
April 30
In today’s news and commentary, SEIU seeks union rights for rideshare drivers in California, New Jersey proposes applying the ABC Test, and Board officials push back on calls for layoffs. In California, Politico reports that an SEIU-backed bill that would allow rideshare drivers to join unions has passed out of committee, “clear[ing] its first hurdle.” […]
April 29
In today’s news and commentary, CFPB mass layoffs paused again, Mine Safety agency rejects union intervention, and postdoctoral researchers petition for union election. A temporary pause on mass firings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been restored. After a trial court initially blocked the administration from mass firings, the appeals court modified that […]