Fewer American teenagers are looking for summer jobs, despite more employers looking to hire seasonal workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects this summer’s teen workforce participation rate to be around 40% as compared with 70% in the late 1980s. The BLS has identified several potential causes for this drop-off including: (1) increased summer school requirements for teenagers; (2) more older Americans are remaining in the workforce; and (3) more immigrants competing with teenagers for jobs.
While many workers face wage theft (i.e. employers not paying minimum wage, overtime, or not paying workers at all), under the Trump Administration many undocumented workers are afraid to report these violations. Under President Obama, the Department of Labor and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agreed that ICE would not interfere with wage theft violations. While President Trump has not formally changed this policy, undocumented workers are nevertheless concerned about ICE potentially launching immigration proceedings against them if they report wage theft.
Dockworkers in Spain began a three-day strike to protest layoffs resulting from reform of the sector. After the Spanish Parliament passed a bill to end the monopoly that allows only certain workers to load and unload cargo, the national union launched a strike with approximately 6,000 workers.
Daily News & Commentary
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August 4
WestJet reaches a deal to end a flight attendant strike; the NLRB rules Whole Foods legally banned Black Lives Matter display; a commentary argues college athletes should have the right to collectively bargain.
August 3
Queens College faculty stage protest; UAW holds presidential debate; the Protect College Sports Act gets new life.
August 2
WestJet flight attendants go on strike, and the American Federation of Government Employees challenges another VA attempt to terminate its collective bargaining agreement.
July 31
Legislators move to end mandatory arbitration in employment contracts; NYC tip laws result in greater pay for delivery workers; women's college basketball players seek to unionize.
July 30
Supreme Court denies Cemex's bid to pause bargaining order; employers remain exposed to Title VII suits over English-only rules; Texas judge declines to enjoin NLRB proceeding despite unconstitutional removal protections.
July 29
NYC public defender strikes spread to the Bronx; NLRB drops challenge to New York labor law after Amazon wins its case; new data shows appointments of women and minorities to S&P 500 boards at lowest level in a decade.