Yesterday, Washington’s State Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued The GEO Group, operator of one of the largest private immigration detention centers for paying thousands of detainees $1 per day instead of the minimum wage. The GEO Group claims the center, operating under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has a volunteer work program and rates specified by the federal government in 2011. The Washington Post reports.
U.S. jobless claims fell unexpectedly last week, but the short-term outlook for markets is unclear given the continuing impact of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Though claims shot up in Texas as Hurricane Harvey approached, last week, claims in Texas fell by 45% as people returned to work.
Six years ago, before Foxconn pledged to spend $10 billion and create 13,000 jobs in Wisconsin, Foxconn pledged to build plants and add jobs in Brazil. Though the Brazilian government expected an addition of 100,000 jobs, the area where Foxconn said it would build its plant has been abandoned and jobs have not been created. Foxconn’s attempts to replicate its factories’ success in China may require finding new ways to gain government support and subsidies. The New York Times reports.
The French CGT union has called for a second day of protests today after an initial protest on September 12. On Saturday, the far-left presidential candidate, Jean-Luc Melenchon will hold his own set of demonstrations, and on Monday, truck drivers will try to choke traffic and limit access to gasoline supplies. Information about the labor law was previously reported on the blog here.
Daily News & Commentary
Start your day with our roundup of the latest labor developments. See all
October 22
SCOTUS declines Wilcox appeal; Penn State research assistants win bargaining rights; SEIU sued over military leave firing.
October 21
DOL withdraws tipped-worker rule; Instacart settles hiring-bias claims; Phillips 66 locks out New Jersey refinery workers.
October 20
Korean unions oppose labor exemption bill; Portland city workers prepare for strike; UPenn grad student union looks to dismiss university filing
October 19
FDA reverses course on policy prohibiting off-duty union activity; FAA and NATCA reach deal to secure pay increase for air traffic controllers.
October 18
Federal judge again halts cancellation of the Bureau of Prisons’ CBA; tabletop gaming workers face roadblocks in union recognition.
October 16
Department of Labor reduces wage-and-hour enforcement at unionized workplaces; Fain's victory poses question of federal monitor's extension.