The L.A. Times reports that the U.S. economy added just 74,000 jobs in December, the smallest increase in three years. The news was accompanied by a drop in the unemployment rate to 6.7%, the lowest level since October 2008. However, this decrease was driven by the number of Americans who have given up on looking for work, rather than by those who left the ranks of the unemployed after finding work.
The New York Times features stories of domestic workers who have alleged mistreatment by their diplomat-employers. The story comes after Indian deputy consul general Devyani Khobragade was granted immunity and allowed to leave the country rather than face charges of visa fraud related to allegations of exploitation and wage theft made by her housekeeper.
Trucking company YRC Worldwide faces more difficulties, according to the Wall Street Journal, after Teamsters voted to reject a contract extension that would have continued pay and benefits cuts negotiated in a previous agreement. The company owes nearly $1.4 billion to creditors, some of whom have conditioned refinancing on a renegotiation of YRC’s labor contracts.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
October 16
Department of Labor reduces wage-and-hour enforcement at unionized workplaces; Fain's victory poses question of federal monitor's extension.
October 15
New reporting examines the rollback of child labor protections; California tries to block a strike; NLRB charges Wisconsin mental health provider with firing workers during union drive.
October 14
Eleventh Circuit overturns ERISA exhaustion rule; DHS finalizes removal of automatic renewal for work permits; AFGE challenges SSA over flexible scheduling policy.
October 13
Chicago hotel workers remain on strike; a coalition of Democratic states sues the Labor Department over canceled unemployment insurance grants; the Federal Labor Relations Authority establishes a new mediation framework for federal worker disputes.
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.