Tala Doumani is a student at Harvard Law School.
A federal contractor minimum wage increase to $15 an hour is slated to go into effect Jan. 30. In April 2021, President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14026 increasing the minimum pay of federal contractors. The purpose of the Order, in an announcement made by the Labor Department, is to enhance “worker productivity, generate higher-quality work by bolstering employee health, morale, and effort” as well as improve economic security of these workers and their families, many of whom are women and people of color. The Order contains provisions that require the minimum wage in future years to be indexed against inflation. Notably, the Order also eliminated the tipped minimum wage for contract employees and ensures at least $15 an hour for workers with disabilities. The increase will apply to new federal contracts as well as renewals and extensions of existing contracts. Over 320,000 federal contract employees will benefit from the new increase.
Daily News & Commentary
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December 3
The Trump administration seeks to appeal a federal judge’s order that protects the CBAs of employees within the federal workforce; the U.S. Department of Labor launches an initiative to investigate violations of the H-1B visa program; and a union files a petition to form a bargaining unit for employees at the Met.
December 2
Fourth Circuit rejects broad reading of NLRA’s managerial exception; OPM cancels reduced tuition program for federal employees; Starbucks will pay $39 million for violating New York City’s Fair Workweek law; Mamdani and Sanders join striking baristas outside a Brooklyn Starbucks.
December 1
California farmworkers defend state labor law, cities consider requiring companies to hire delivery drivers, Supreme Court takes FAA last-mile drivers case.
November 30
In today’s news and commentary, the MSPB issues its first precedential ruling since regaining a quorum; Amazon workers lead strikes and demonstrations in multiple countries; and Starbucks workers expand their indefinite strike to additional locations. Last week, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) released its first precedential decision in eight months. The MSPB had been […]
November 28
Lawsuit against EEOC for failure to investigate disparate-impact claims dismissed; DHS to end TPS for Haiti; Appeal of Cemex decision in Ninth Circuit may soon resume
November 27
Amazon wins preliminary injunction against New York’s private sector bargaining law; ALJs resume decisions; and the CFPB intends to make unilateral changes without bargaining.