Leora Smith is a student at Harvard Law School.
A heartfelt, quick reminder that the Thanksgiving mythology is an immigrant mythology.
While many of us probably enjoyed produce from the California Valley as part of Thanksgiving dinner, The New York Times reports that a health and poverty crisis continues to harm California farmworkers and their families. Though farms in the California Valley are producing crops at record numbers, the low salaries paid to farmworkers means they often cannot afford to eat the nutritious food they grow.
Making its rounds on the internet today is this blog article, “Work is a Gift Our Kids Can Handle,” hosted by the Acton Institute.The article argues for rolling back child labor laws and reconsidering mandatory education for all children. Betsy DeVos, President-Elect Trump’s recently announced Secretary of Education, sat on the Institute’s board for ten years and reports say she has donated over one million dollars to the group.
The fourth anniversary of the Fight for $15 is coming up and organizers are preparing for the biggest wave of strikes yet, in a demonstration that the movement has no plans to slow down in the coming years. Five statewide ballot initiatives to increase the minimum wage were voted in alongside a new President on November 8th. Though the President-elect has not been clear on his minimum wage stance, organizers are confident that raising the minimum wage is a “winning issue,” even in the new political climate. Workers in a range of industries are planning to strike including baggage handlers, fast-food workers, teachers, janitors and homecare workers.
Daily News & Commentary
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October 17
Third Circuit denies DOL's en banc rehearing request; Washington AG proposes legislation to protect immigrant workers; UAW files suit challenging government surveillance of non-citizen speech
October 16
NLRB seeks injunction of California’s law; Judge grants temporary restraining order stopping shutdown-related RIFs; and Governor Newsom vetoes an ILWU supported bill.
October 15
An interview with former NLRB chairman; Supreme Court denies cert in Southern California hotel case
October 14
Census Bureau layoffs, Amazon holiday hiring, and the final settlement in a meat producer wage-fixing lawsuit.
October 13
Texas hotel workers ratify a contract; Pope Leo visits labor leaders; Kaiser lays off over two hundred workers.
October 12
The Trump Administration fires thousands of federal workers; AFGE files a supplemental motion to pause the Administration’s mass firings; Democratic legislators harden their resolve during the government shutdown.