Gallup Senior Economist Jonathan Rothwell synthesizes data challenging the notion that globalization and manufacturing’s decline explain President Trump’s electoral victory. When controlling for demographic factors, Mr. Trump was only three percent more popular among manufacturing workers than non-manufacturing workers. Current supporters of the president are less concerned than their countrymen about how trade and technology may impact their work. Writing for the New York Times, Rothwell notes that conscious racial attitudes correlate strongly with support for Trump; in the Atlantic Ta-nehisi Coates analyzes the depth and breadth of unacknowledged racial attitudes in connection with the president’s rise to power.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced an increase in the minimum wage for work done on federal contracts: contractors are currently guaranteed $10.20 per hour, and their minimum wage will increase to $10.35 per hour effective January 1, 2018. The analogous minimum cash wage for tipped employees will increase from $6.80 to $7.25 at the same time. Politco notes that this move has the Trump Department of Labor carrying out—not rescinding—an Obama-era executive order, though it’s unclear how many workers will be affected by these increases.
Commentators react to Tuesday’s Census reports showing a higher national median household income and lower rate of poverty for 2016 than 2015. “The Economy Isn’t Broken,” concludes David Brooks. If anything, low labor productivity is the problem. Patricia Cohen takes a longer view, arguing that earnings aren’t as high or equitable as they seem. The median lifetime income for an American man has decreased 19 percent since 1967, with high earners faring markedly better than others.
Daily News & Commentary
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June 6
In today’s news and commentary, Governor Jared Polis directs Colorado’s labor agency to share information with ICE; and the Supreme Court issues two unanimous rulings including exempting a Catholic charity from paying unemployment compensation taxes and striking down the heightened standard for plaintiffs belonging to a majority group to prove a Title VII employment discrimination […]
June 5
Nail technicians challenge California classification; oral arguments in challenge to LGBTQ hiring protections; judge blocks Job Corps shutdown.
June 4
Federal agencies violate federal court order pausing mass layoffs; Walmart terminates some jobs in Florida following Supreme Court rulings on the legal status of migrants; and LA firefighters receive a $9.5 million settlement for failure to pay firefighters during shift changes.
June 3
Federal judge blocks Trump's attack on TSA collective bargaining rights; NLRB argues that Grindr's Return-to-Office policy was union busting; International Trade Union Confederation report highlights global decline in workers' rights.
June 2
Proposed budgets for DOL and NLRB show cuts on the horizon; Oregon law requiring LPAs in cannabis dispensaries struck down.
June 1
In today’s news and commentary, the Ninth Circuit upholds a preliminary injunction against the Trump Administration, a federal judge vacates parts of the EEOC’s pregnancy accommodation rules, and video game workers reach a tentative agreement with Microsoft. In a 2-1 decision issued on Friday, the Ninth Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction against the Trump Administration […]