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
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
July 29
The Trump administration released new guidelines for federal employers regarding religious expression in the workplace; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers is suing former union president for repayment of mismanagement of union funds; Uber has criticized a new proposal requiring delivery workers to carry company-issued identification numbers.
July 28
Lower courts work out meaning of Muldrow; NLRB releases memos on recording and union salts.
July 27
In today’s news and commentary, Trump issues an EO on college sports, a second district court judge blocks the Department of Labor from winding down Job Corps, and Safeway workers in California reach a tentative agreement. On Thursday, President Trump announced an executive order titled “Saving College Sports,” which declared it common sense that “college […]
July 25
Philadelphia municipal workers ratify new contract; Chocolate companies escape liability in trafficking suit; Missouri Republicans kill paid sick leave
July 24
Texas District Court dismisses case requesting a declaratory judgement authorizing agencies to end collective bargaining agreements for Texas workers; jury awards two firefighters $1 million after they were terminated for union activity; and Democratic lawmakers are boycotting venues that have not rehired food service workers.
July 23
A "lost year" for new NLRB precedent; work stoppage among court appointed lawyers continues in Massachusetts