As the national debate continues over raising the minimum wage in the fast food, retail, and hotel industries, a new poll suggests that a majority of hiring managers believe that the minimum wage should be higher than the current figure, according to Forbes. Managers who work in industries with a high rate of minimum wage employees were the most supportive of raising the rate. Several Republicans, especially in battleground states, have also expressed support for raising the minimum wage, NPR reports.
The German union Verdi is attempting to organize employees at Amazon, the Wall Street Journal reports. The internet retail giant has been unresponsive so far. “From my point of view, Verdi and Amazon don’t go together,” said Robert Marhan, General Manager for an Amazon warehouse in Bad Hersfeld, Germany. Amazon employees in five job sites went on strike earlier this week, but the strike has ended without the company agreeing to wage talks. Verdi has applied the term “Wild West” to refer to Amazon business practices, a disparaging expression in Germany to describe the U.S. corporate model.
In Venezuela, workers at one of the country’s nationalized steel plants are on strike, accusing President Nicolás Maduro’s administration of delaying contract renewals and paying low wages. The Wall Street Journal reports that the government has responded to union protests with military troops, while clashes between government-sponsored unions and independent unions have resulted in violence.
Hotel Bauen, an Argentine hotel run by a worker cooperative that took over management during the country’s financial crisis, is facing a new challenge. A judge recently ruled that the 130 worker-owners must return the building to the original owners, the New York Times reports. Hotel Bauen is symbolically and practically important to the country’s worker cooperative movement: the hotel has iconic status and also serves as a meeting place for members from other national and international cooperatives. Workers initially received temporary expropriation authority, but efforts to pass national legislation for permanent expropriation have failed.
Daily News & Commentary
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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 […]
June 27
Labor's role in Zohran Mamdani's victory; DHS funding amendment aims to expand guest worker programs; COSELL submission deadline rapidly approaching
June 26
A district judge issues a preliminary injunction blocking agencies from implementing Trump’s executive order eliminating collective bargaining for federal workers; workers organize for the reinstatement of two doctors who were put on administrative leave after union activity; and Lamont vetoes unemployment benefits for striking workers.
June 25
Some circuits show less deference to NLRB; 3d Cir. affirms return to broader concerted activity definition; changes to federal workforce excluded from One Big Beautiful Bill.