The Los Angeles Times reports on the phenomenon of young undocumented immigrants forming limited liability companies or starting freelance careers — even employing U.S. citizens — that has resulted from a quirk of federal law. Employers are explicitly prohibited from hiring someone residing in the country illegally, but undocumented immigrants themselves are not explicitly barred from starting businesses or becoming independent contractors on their own.
In the nation’s capital, the Washington Post reports that a vote today in the Washington, D.C., City Council to override Mayor Vincent Gray’s veto of a bill that would require retailers with corporate sales of $1 billion or more operating D.C. locations of at least 75,000 square feet to pay their employees no less than $12.50 an hour in wages and benefits, is likely to fail. The bill, which passed by a vote of 8-5 in July, was largely designed to respond to plans by WalMart to open several locations in the city.
Across the country, the New York Times reports that mounting financial pressures on municipalities and places of higher learning have led to increasingly common and often contentious disputes over who should pay how much for public services in college towns — especially because colleges, as nonprofit, tax-exempt entities, are under no legal requirement to pay local taxes.
In health care news that affects many low-wage workers, the Washington Post’s “Wonkblog” reports that a majority of states have now decided to opt into the Medicaid expansion provision of the Affordable Care Act in light of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett’s announcement yesterday that he plans to do so. Corbett’s decision could provide coverage to approximately 500,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians. Meanwhile, Wonkblog also explains Trader Joe’s decision to drop health insurance benefits for employees who work fewer than 30 hours a week, as the company says that it believes many of its employees will pay less for comparable health insurance by getting subsidies from the government on the new health care exchanges.
In more state government news, the Washington Post reports that the Minnesota legislature is likely to try to raise the state’s minimum wage in next year’s legislative session, the latest of about a half-dozen efforts to increase it over the last two decades. Currently, Minnesota’s minimum wage stands at $5.25 for employees at smaller companies and at $6.15 for employees at larger companies, but most Minnesota workers earn the higher federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
Finally, the Wall Street Journal reports that negotiations between Detroit’s creditors and the bankrupt city’s emergency manager, Kevyn Orr, are scheduled to begin today, formally launching the fight for the city’s assets. Orr has said he prioritizes restoring city services over addressing bondholders’ complaints, despite the fact that five bond insurers are the city’s biggest creditors.
Daily News & Commentary
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August 31
California lawmakers and rideshare companies reach an agreement on collective bargaining legislation for drivers; six unions representing workers at American Airlines call for increased accountability from management; Massachusetts Teamsters continue the longest sanitation strike in decades.
August 29
Trump fires regulator in charge of reviewing railroad mergers; fired Fed Governor sues Trump asserting unlawful termination; and Trump attacks more federal sector unions.
August 28
contested election for UAW at Kentucky battery plant; NLRB down to one member; public approval of unions remains high.
August 27
The U.S. Department of Justice welcomes new hires and forces reassignments in the Civil Rights Division; the Ninth Circuit hears oral arguments in Brown v. Alaska Airlines Inc.; and Amazon violates federal labor law at its air cargo facility in Kentucky.
August 26
Park employees at Yosemite vote to unionize; Philadelphia teachers reach tentative three-year agreement; a new report finds California’s union coverage remains steady even as national union density declines.
August 25
Consequences of SpaceX decision, AI may undermine white-collar overtime exemptions, Sixth Circuit heightens standard for client harassment.