According to the New York Times, apprenticeships have the power to help Americans gain jobs and secure rising wages. This article details Destina Garcia, a woman who secured an apprenticeship as a community health worker and then secured a permanent job. President Trump has called on using federal job-training money to expand the number of apprenticeships from 500,000 to 5,000,000. Research shows that well-designed apprenticeship programs can provide significant benefits.
According to the New York Times, from 2013 to 2016, Americans of all races and socio-economic groups saw their wealth grow; however, the biggest gains occurred for the richest Americans. Since 2013, the top 10% of Americans saw their wealth rise by 40% whereas the bottom 20% only saw its wealth increase by 6%. Finally, the racial wealth gap remained with the average White family having ten times as much wealth as the average African American family.
According to the Des Moines Register, 13 bargaining units with over 1,300 Iowa teachers voted to maintain their union status. Iowa’s new collective bargaining law requires public sector unions to recertify their unions every time they face a new contract negotiation. Republicans in the State Legislature supported this law as a way to hold unions accountable to their members.
Daily News & Commentary
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December 16
Second Circuit affirms dismissal of former collegiate athletes’ antitrust suit; UPS will invest $120 million in truck-unloading robots; Sharon Block argues there are reasons for optimism about labor’s future.
December 15
Advocating a private right of action for the NLRA, 11th Circuit criticizes McDonnell Douglas, Congress considers amending WARN Act.
December 12
OH vetoes bill weakening child labor protections; UT repeals public-sector bargaining ban; SCOTUS takes up case on post-arbitration award jurisdiction
December 11
House forces a vote on the “Protect America’s Workforce Act;” arguments on Trump’s executive order nullifying collective bargaining rights; and Penn State file a petition to form a union.
December 8
Private payrolls fall; NYC Council overrides mayoral veto on pay data; workers sue Starbucks.
December 7
Philadelphia transit workers indicate that a strike is imminent; a federal judge temporarily blocks State Department layoffs; and Virginia lawmakers consider legislation to repeal the state’s “right to work” law.