Leora Smith is a student at Harvard Law School.
Department of Labor officials told the The Guardian that it is getting harder to conduct workplace investigations because undocumented workers are refusing to cooperate with investigators. According to the report, the current government’s policies have stoked such fear of deportation among undocumented workers that in some instances workers are “declining to accept back wages owed to them and running away from staff who show up at their workplaces.” As a result, it is becoming harder to learn about workplace violations, and to enforce proper standards. The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have a Memorandum of Understanding, still in place, stating that they will not interfere in Department of Labor investigations.
The Wall Street Journal reports on worker shortages facing the construction and farm industries as a result of “demographic trends coupled with a skills mismatch.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the number of unfilled construction jobs has almost doubled in the last five years with around 150,000 jobs currently unfilled. Farmers also report vast labor shortages that resulted in tens of millions of dollars of crops rotting in their fields before being cultivated. At the root of the problem, according to the article, is an aging workforce – an average construction equipment operator is 46 years old – reduced visas for guest workers, delays in visa processing, and a shrinking undocumented workforce.
And a new group on Capitol Hill, the Blue Bollar Caucus, is working to win back blue-collar voters in traditionally Democratic states. Labor leaders met with Caucus co-chairs, Rep. Marc Veasey of Texas and Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, for a listening session this week.
In international news – a small city council in Canada is taking a novel approach to the problem of underpaid temporary workers, by voting to stop using temporary staffing agencies altogether. A recent report from the province of Ontario, where the City of Brantford is located, found that 75% of temp agencies inspected were violating provincial labor laws.
Daily News & Commentary
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July 19
The Bronx Defenders Union announces a tentative collective bargaining agreement; Amazon workers continue a strike in Skokie; Bangladesh students continue protests over government job quotas.
July 18
NLRB General Counsel issues memorandum reaffirming commitment to using 10(j) injunctions; Labor Department obtains a landmark anti-retaliation injunction; and a new report investigates the rise in union curious workers.
July 17
Senator J.D. Vance joins Donald Trump’s campaign, targeting pro-labor voters, Project 2025 includes gutting the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and Seattle Boeing workers prepare for a strike vote.
July 16
Teamsters president speaks at RNC; Starbucks decertification campaign fails; Biden taps new PBGC leader
July 15
Workday bias suit moves forward; DOL proposes new LMRDA rule; Bronx Defenders to go on ULP strike
July 14
Teamsters president to speak at RNC; youth work permit requirement rollbacks; eulogies to Jane McAlevey.