Lauren Godles is a student at Harvard Law School.
The Hamilton Project released a series of new research papers last week related to the re-integration of formerly incarcerated people. In one of the papers, Jennifer Doleac proposes five principles for policy makers to adopt in order to increase access to the low-skill labor market for individuals with criminal records. These include an increase in work-readiness programs and ways to communicate that work readiness to potential employers. Doleac also analyzes the most recent studies on Ban the Box legislation, and concludes that, perversely, “racial discrimination becomes more likely in the wake of policies that make it more difficult for firms that desire criminal record information to obtain it.” Furthermore, she writes, Ban the Box tends to disadvantage minority applicants without a criminal record, because of negative assumptions about those applicants based on race. For more on Ban the Box legislation, read OnLabor’s recent coverage of the issue here, here, and here.
This election cycle has featured seemingly endless talk about NAFTA and manufacturing jobs, and Donald Trump has promised to “take our jobs back from China and all of these other countries.” However, many have pointed out that those jobs have not, and probably will not, come back. So what will happen to America’s manufacturing towns? Politico tells the uplifting story of how Winston-Salem, NC, the former home of R.J. Reynolds, bounced back from the tobacco company’s departure through investments in technology and medicine. Instead of manufacturing cigarettes, the city is now manufacturing human organs.
And lastly, in a tale of two union-less positions, the New York Times reports that Spanish-language soap opera stars in the U.S. are paid far less than industry standard, because the industry’s union (SAG-Aftra) does not represent actors on the Spanish-speaking shows. So at least one telenovela star, Pablo Azar, has resorted to driving for Uber when he’s off the set.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
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 […]