A group of international union representatives met in New York yesterday to plan another round of day-long protests at fast-food restaurants — this time across the United States and around the world. The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the Washington Post report that the unions are planning the protests as a follow-on to the fast-food protests begun in New York in 2012, which led to a nationwide push for a $15-per-hour minimum wage. The demonstrations are expected to take place on May 15 in over 30 countries.
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are asking the Obama administration to exempt fast-food restaurants on military bases from his executive order raising the minimum wage for federal contractors to $10.10 per hour, the Washington Post reports. The lawmakers are concerned that because federal contracts restrict the prices concessioners can charge on military bases, the executive order might drive them away from operating on bases.
In California, lawmakers have introduced a bill to regulate employers’ increasing use of long-term temporary workers, or “perma-temps,” the Los Angeles Times reports. The bill, which is widely backed by labor unions and modeled off of similar legislation in Illinois and Massachusetts, would make both labor contractors and client companies jointly liable for payment of wages, accurate reporting of hours, wages, benefits, and insurance. The purpose of the bill is to prevent companies from relying on temporary workers to avoid minimum-wage and maximum-hour labor laws, although opponents argue that the bill would make companies responsible for lapses beyond their control.
Yesterday, the Obama administration announced plans to allow the spouses of highly trained immigrants to work in the United States, the New York Times reports. Currently, the spouses of immigrants on temporary H-1B visas — who number in the hundreds of thousands — are not allowed to work in the United States. The new proposal would authorize the spouses of H-1B visa-holders who have applied for a green card to work.
The Labor Department announced today that the United States productivity rate dropped 1.7 percent between January and March, the Washington Post reports. The Department attributes the decline to unusually harsh winter weather, as factory output and retail sales have increased since temperatures increased.
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July 5
A Los Angeles city councilor introduces a proposal to expand fair scheduling practices to fast food workers; contract negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and video game companies struggle on AI; Greece allows for a six-day work week.
July 4
Texas judge halts FTC ban on noncompetes; Biden Administration releases proposed rule protecting workers from excessive heat; California grocery workers ratify new labor contract after authorizing strike.
July 2
University of California strikes end while legal dispute continues; Disneyland workers raise awareness with park visitors; bus workers in Alabama set example for labor policy
July 1
Labor law impacts of Loper Bright and Jarkesy rulings; Unions push for workforce board represntation.
June 30
Explaining the turnaround in Starbucks-union negotiations; overtime rule implementation against Texas enjoined; California reforms PAGA
June 28
Gig driver classification deal reached in Massachusetts; Amazon drivers in Illinois strike over ULP; CEO pay accelerates.