The New York Times reports that American-born Latinos now make up the majority of the Latino workforce in the country. While immigration rates have declined due to the economic recession, births among Mexicans in the U.S. have increased and contributed to the growing population of American-born Latinos. Since the end of the recession, American-born Latinos have gained 2.3 million jobs. Meanwhile, Latino immigrants lost 340,000 jobs but have gained 453,000 jobs since the economic recovery. In total, the study found that immigrant Latinos made up 49.7% of Latino workers in 2013, a marked decrease from 56% in 2007.
The Metropolitan Opera reported in a tax filing that its general manager, Peter Gelb, earned $1.8 million in pay and benefits in 2012. According to the Met, Gelb has since taken a pay cut. The announcement comes while the Met has sought to cut pay and benefits for its workers during what it calls “one of the biggest financial challenges in its 131-year history.” The Met employs 1,600 full-time and seasonal workers as well as 1,800 part-time workers. At the same time, the tax filing shows that three of the Met’s five highest-paid workers were members of Local I of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Unions continue to contest the Met’s proposals which call for changing work rules related to overtime and extra pay, altering health benefits, and capping pension benefits.
In international news, aircraft mechanics have called off a strike over wages and conditions against the airline Icelandair. The workers had called an initial 24-hour strike on June 16th after the airline failed to successfully negotiate a new contract with employees. In the wake of that strike, Icelandair canceled 65 flights in and out of Iceland’s main airport. However, workers decided to call off continuing to strike after the Icelandic government threatened to ban industrial action at the airline. The Icelandic government has intervened multiple times in collective bargaining in the transport sector in recent months, prompting criticism from opposition groups.
Thailand’s ruling military announced that it would set stricter enforcement of migrant labor in an effort to reduce undocumented workers, forced labor, and human trafficking. More than 150,000 Cambodians, who are present in the construction, fishing, and agriculture industries, have already fled the country after rumors of a military crackdown. A spokesperson for the United Nations’ International Organization of Migration characterized the scope of the exodus as “unprecedented” for the region.
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October 23
Ninth Circuit reaffirms Thryv remedies; unions oppose Elon Musk pay package; more federal workers protected from shutdown-related layoffs.
October 22
Broadway actors and producers reach a tentative labor agreement; workers at four major concert venues in Washington D.C. launch efforts to unionize; and Walmart pauses offers to job candidates requiring H-1B visas.
October 21
Some workers are exempt from Trump’s new $100,000 H1-B visa fee; Amazon driver alleges the EEOC violated mandate by dropping a disparate-impact investigation; Eighth Circuit revived bank employee’s First Amendment retaliation claims over school mask-mandate.
October 20
Supreme Court won't review SpaceX decision, courts uphold worker-friendly interpretation of EFAA, EEOC focuses on opioid-related discrimination.
October 19
DOL issues a new wage rule for H-2A workers, Gov. Newsom vetoes a bill that regulates employers’ use of AI, and Broadway workers and management reach a tentative deal
October 17
Third Circuit denies DOL's en banc rehearing request; Washington AG proposes legislation to protect immigrant workers; UAW files suit challenging government surveillance of non-citizen speech