Early Wednesday morning, agents descended on 98 7-Eleven stores in 17 states, from California to Florida, and arrested 21 employers. Federal immigration authorities are beginning to heavily scrutinize businesses that hire unauthorized workers. Wednesday morning’s enforcement operation was the largest operation against employers under the Trump administration. 7-Eleven has terminated the franchise agreements of franchisees convicted of violating federal immigration laws. The New York Times reports.
In the last few days of his administration, Governor Chris Christie signed into law a bill that banned discrimination against breastfeeding in the workplace. This law is an extension of the New Jersey’s civil rights law, and requires employers to provide break time and a suitable location for breastfeeding women to express milk in private. The Associated Press reports.
In Wisconsin, a Republican-sponsored bill that would prevent local governments from enacting ordinances pertaining to employment matters is facing debate. The bill would not allow local governments to pass ordinances on working hours, overtime, benefits, and discrimination and wage claims. This effort to curtail local governance has increased in recent years; since 2016, at least 15 states have passed 28 pre-emptive laws covering everything from barring higher local minimum wages to blocking more generous paid leave provisions. The New York Times reports.
After the tax plan cut corporate taxes from 35 to 21 percent, companies like American Airlines, AT&T, Bank of America, and Nationwide Insurance are handing their employees $1000 bonuses. These bonuses are ways corporations have “shared their bounty” wth employees, but are non-permanent, one-time payouts. The Washington Post reports.
Toyota and Mazda have agreed to build a $1.6 billion assembly plant in Alabama that will employ about 4,000 workers. Alabama will provide tax incentives, which are expected to be close to $1 billion over several years. President Trump has been vocal about his desire for automakers to expand U.S. production and last year, threatened Toyota with hefty tariffs if it built its Corolla sedan in Mexico rather than the U.S. The New York Times reports.
Daily News & Commentary
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January 18
Met Museum workers unionize; a new report reveals a $0.76 average tip for gig workers in NYC; and U.S. workers receive the smallest share of capital since 1947.
January 16
The NLRB publishes its first decision since regaining a quorum; Minneapolis labor unions call for a general strike in response to the ICE killing of Renee Good; federal workers rally in DC to show support for the Protecting America’s Workforce Act.
January 15
New investigation into the Secretary of Labor; New Jersey bill to protect child content creators; NIOSH reinstates hundreds of employees.
January 14
The Supreme Court will not review its opt-in test in ADEA cases in an age discrimination and federal wage law violation case; the Fifth Circuit rules that a jury will determine whether Enterprise Products unfairly terminated a Black truck driver; and an employee at Berry Global Inc. will receive a trial after being fired for requesting medical leave for a disability-related injury.
January 13
15,000 New York City nurses go on strike; First Circuit rules against ferry employees challenging a COVID-19 vaccine mandate; New York lawmakers propose amendments to Trapped at Work Act.
January 12
Changes to EEOC voting procedures; workers tell SCOTUS to pass on collective action cases; Mamdani's plans for NYC wages.