A personal tech post in the New York Times explores the possible extension of “Uberization:” “chop[ping] up a broad array of traditional jobs into discrete tasks that can be assigned to people just when they’re needed, with wages set by a dynamic measurement of supply and demand, and every worker’s performance constantly tracked, reviewed, and subject to the sometimes harsh light of customer satisfaction.” Several companies are already attempting to extend Uber’s model to grocery shopping, legal services, and medicine. While Uberization would bring flexibility and new streams of income, the model would also lead to career and income instability. Uber recently provided some of its data to Alan B. Krueger, an economist at Princeton, who published a report finding that, on average, Uber drivers worked less than traditional taxi drivers and earned more per hour. Other economists contest his results, arguing that it’s difficult to factor in how much Uber drivers are spending in expenses.
Politico reports that the AFL-CIO is brainstorming ways to modernize the National Labor Relations Act. The labor federation points to collective bargaining as an obvious response to President Obama’s concern with wage stagnation. Bill Samuels, the AFL-CIO’s Director of Government Affairs, explains that discussion regarding labor law reform have just begun.
In Australia, a Federal Circuit Court recently fined Crocmedia, an Australian company, $18,900 for exploiting two interns who produced radio programs, the New York Times reports. Together, the company owed the interns about $17,400 based on the minimum wage for casual shift workers. Australian law allows fully supervised unpaid work trials and college-backed, short-term student placements. But a benefit test, that asks whether the company or the intern is benefitting the most, is one factor used to determine whether the employer should pay these workers. Judge Reithmuller warned that the fines will increase over time. In the U.S., an intern recently sued Rolling Stone for unpaid wages, according to Politico.
In Canada, the labor market lost almost three times as many jobs in December as predicted, the Wall Street Journal reports. Canada’s unemployment rate was 6.7% in December and the country lost 11,300 jobs. Net job creation for all of 2014 was at the lowest level since 2009, the height of the global recession.
Daily News & Commentary
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July 4
The DOL scraps a Biden-era proposed rule to end subminimum wages for disabled workers; millions will lose access to Medicaid and SNAP due to new proof of work requirements; and states step up in the noncompete policy space.
July 3
California compromises with unions on housing; 11th Circuit rules against transgender teacher; Harvard removes hundreds from grad student union.
July 2
Block, Nanda, and Nayak argue that the NLRA is under attack, harming democracy; the EEOC files a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former EEOC Commissioner Jocelyn Samuels; and SEIU Local 1000 strikes an agreement with the State of California to delay the state's return-to-office executive order for state workers.
July 1
In today’s news and commentary, the Department of Labor proposes to roll back minimum wage and overtime protections for home care workers, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by public defenders over a union’s Gaza statements, and Philadelphia’s largest municipal union is on strike for first time in nearly 40 years. On Monday, the U.S. […]
June 30
Antidiscrimination scholars question McDonnell Douglas, George Washington University Hospital bargained in bad faith, and NY regulators defend LPA dispensary law.
June 29
In today’s news and commentary, Trump v. CASA restricts nationwide injunctions, a preliminary injunction continues to stop DOL from shutting down Job Corps, and the minimum wage is set to rise in multiple cities and states. On Friday, the Supreme Court held in Trump v. CASA that universal injunctions “likely exceed the equitable authority that […]