
Holt McKeithan is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s News and Commentary, Waffle House workers allege rampant wage theft, employers of seasonal migrant workers in Colorado systematically violate labor laws without consequence, and striking journalists at Law360 win a contract.
Waffle House workers, along with the Union of Southern Service Workers, accused the restaurant of a massive scheme of wage theft in a complaint with the United States Department of Labor. A survey by the Strategic Organizing Center found that 90% of Waffle House workers claimed to have had wages stolen by the chain in the past year. The DOL complaint alleged that Waffle House violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by requiring tipped workers to perform untipped labor, often up to three hours per shift.
Nearly one in ten Colorado employers relying on seasonal migrant workers have stolen wages or illegally charged their workers, according to an investigation by the Denver Post. Common violations include failing to reimburse workers for visa applications or transportations, illegally deducting fees for Medicare and Social Security, and failure to pay for housing and work supplies. Immigrant and Latino workers are the most likely to suffer wage theft. This rampant abuse occurs despite, or perhaps because of, the fact that Colorado farmers overwhelmingly rely on H-2A visa workers. Though the Denver Post’s investigation revealed systematic violations, the state and federal governments rarely bar the companies from hiring H-2A visa workers.
Journalists at Law360 reached a deal with their employer following a week-long ULP strike. The five-year contract guarantees an average wage increase of 12%, increases family leave, and ensures job protections surrounding AI.
Daily News & Commentary
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October 6
EEOC regains quorum; Second Circuit issues opinion on DEI causing hostile work environment.
October 5
In today’s news and commentary, HELP committee schedules a vote on Trump’s NLRB nominees, the 5th Circuit rejects Amazon’s request for en banc review, and TV production workers win their first union contract. After a nomination hearing on Wednesday, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee scheduled a committee vote on President Trump’s NLRB nominees […]
October 3
California legislation empowers state labor board; ChatGPT used in hostile workplace case; more lawsuits challenge ICE arrests
October 2
AFGE and AFSCME sue in response to the threat of mass firings; another preliminary injunction preventing Trump from stripping some federal workers of collective bargaining rights; and challenges to state laws banning captive audience meetings.
September 30
the NTEU petitions for reconsideration for the CFPB layoff scheme, an insurance company defeats a FLSA claim, and a construction company violated the NLRA by surveilling its unionized workers.
September 29
Starbucks announces layoffs and branch closures; the EEOC sues Walmart.