Today’s News & Commentary — June 28, 2016
Brexit continues to dominate the news cycle. After relaying yesterday that business leaders in the United Kingdom expected the vote to have a negative impact on them, the Wall Street Journal today reports that some industries might see higher labor costs. Foreign-born workers, who tend to take lower wages than their native-born counterparts, will face an uncertain status in as they await the UK to begin the process to formally leave the European Union. The New York Times reports that some fear the vote has “given free license” to xenophobia.
At home, migrant workers face similar uncertainty in the face of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Unites States v. Texas, No. 15-674. The New York Times shares the stories of a few undocumented immigrants in a newly hostile climate.
According to the Wall Street Journal, initial claims for unemployment benefits last week fell to the lowest level since April. Though it cautiously warns that week to week numbers can fluctuate, the most recent numbers seem to be in line with recent trends which suggest broader stability in the labor market.
The Chicago City Council passed a paid sick leave ordinance yesterday, effective July 1, 2017. The city joins San Francisco, Seattle, and New York among others in legislating this benefit for workers.
