Latest line: A good week for Joe Simitian, a bad week for health care workers
Santa Clara County supervisor Joe Simitian receives a significant endorsement in the race to succeed congresswoman Anna Eshoo, giving him an advantage over his rivals.
Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed budget includes a delay in the $25 hourly minimum wage for health care workers to help close the state deficit. [ more ]
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao | Saru Jayaraman and One Fair Wage | KQED
On Jan. 9, 2023, Sheng Thao became the 51st mayor of Oakland and the first Hmong American to lead a major city in United States history.She was born and raised in Stockton, to parents who immigrated from Laos to escape genocide.In her early 20s, Thao escaped an abusive relationship and experienced housing insecurity while raising her son as a single mother.
Political leaders are keeping a low profile on the school labor dispute.
Los Angeles is an outlier among the nation's biggest cities: Unlike the District of Columbia, Chicago and New York, its mayor does not control the schools.Historically suspicious of power, Los Angeles long ago limited City Hall's authority over public education and conferred power on an independent school board.
Fast-food workers make $20 an hour. California's other low-wage earners ask: What about us?
Low-wage workers in certain sectors in California are not benefiting from the recent increases in minimum wages, causing disparity and a call for equal treatment. [ more ]
The ACTU is calling for a 5% pay rise for minimum and award workers.
The Fair Work Commission sets minimum and award wages in Australia annually after reviewing submissions from unions, employers, and government. [ more ]
Spain PM's shock election call brings unruly coalition to heel
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's snap general election call breaks apart the coalition he built with the far-left United We Can party, marking a line in the sand with a movement born from grassroots activism whose electoral fortunes have nosedived.On Monday, Sanchez brought forward a national election expected in December to July 23 after the conservative Popular Party, or PP, and far-right Vox movement dramatically increased their vote share in Sunday's local and regional elections.
Toronto ride-share, food delivery drivers join U.S. and U.K. strikers calling for more fair pay | CBC News
Ride-share and food delivery drivers in Toronto went on strike to demand fair pay and better treatment after a report revealed that some drivers make less than minimum wage.
A joint report by Ridefair Toronto and the Rideshare Drivers Association of Ontario found that some drivers on ride-hailing apps in Toronto make $6.37 to $10.60 per hour after expenses, which does not meet the province's minimum wage standards. [ more ]
Fenway Restaurant Pays $320K to Nearly 60 Employees Following Federal Investigation
Sojuba, a Korean restaurant and bar, is paying $320,000 in back wages and damages to 59 employees following a federal investigation into labor practices.
The restaurant was found in violation of multiple labor laws including distribution of tips, minimum wage payments, and overtime pay.
The investigation also uncovered that the restaurant instructed workers what to say to investigators, in violation of anti-retaliation protections. [ more ]
Beer giant Brewdog backtracks on real living wage for employees
Brewdog is facing backlash for backtracking on its pledge to pay the real living wage, opting to hire new staff at the statutory minimum wage rate instead.
The company will also freeze pay for bar staff in London, despite the rising cost of living in the capital. [ more ]
Some South L.A. residents call for embattled City Councilman Curren Price to step down
(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
With the fate of yet another Los Angeles City councilmember up in the air following criminal corruption charges, a group of his constituents said they are clear on the path forward: Curren Price should resign.In front of the gates of Price's district office in South Los Angeles, a small crowd of about a dozen rallied Saturday to demand the council veteran step down.
New York City Sets New Minimum Wage for Food Delivery Workers
Perhaps more than any other American city, New York relies on a growing army of delivery workers who have braved successive waves of Covid, extreme weather and toxic air as remote work has reshaped the economy.Now, they're getting a raise.Starting July 12, New York City's app-based delivery workers must be paid at least $17.96 an hour, not including tips the first such minimum pay-rate in the country for an industry that exploded in popularity during the pandemic.
Spare a thought for Gustavo, the guy delivering your ramen in the wildfire smoke
Gustavo Ajche snapped a selfie on the street while making his rounds on Wednesday.Gustavo Ajche As many New Yorkers isolated inside this week to avoid the smoke that enveloped the city, one man was rushing ramen across town for a customer's dinner.He's one of thousands of workers who just had to suck it up literally.
New York City Has Lost Tens of Thousands of Retail Jobs, Report Finds
The retail industry in New York City has shed thousands of jobs since the pandemic, even as the rest of the job market has almost fully recovered, according to a new report released on Thursday from the Center for an Urban Future, a public policy think tank.The study found that in the three years since February 2020, New York City lost 37,800 retail jobs, an 11.1 percent decline, while the overall private employment sector has regained all but 0.8 percent of jobs.
Why Sunak is latest in long line of Tory PMs unable to cut net migration
Successive Conservative prime ministers have aimed to reduce net migration but they never seem to get there.In 2010, David Cameron pledged to bring net migration the difference between the numbers who arrive in the UK and the numbers leaving down to tens of thousands.He missed every year.Theresa May, the longest serving home secretary for 60 years with a hardline reputation, said she would hit the target while PM she did not.
Bill Perkins, Defender of His Harlem Constituents, Dies at 74
Bill Perkins, who for 24 years as a legislator from Harlem championed his community by, among other things, challenging Donald J. Trump's aggressive demand for the death penalty when five teenagers, who were later exonerated, were arrested in connection with a rape in Central Park in 1989 died on Tuesday at his home in Manhattan.
Bob Reiter: How Chicago's labor movement has moved toward inclusiveness
Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries and into the present day, the Chicago labor movement has faced significant challenges and made remarkable strides toward fostering a more inclusive and equitable workforce.By recognizing historical struggles, we can appreciate the progress achieved while acknowledging the ongoing journey toward true diversity and social justice.
Most carers not paid for travel time between appointments study
Three out of four care staff who look after people at home are not being paid for the time it takes them to travel between appointments, according to new research.Unison said its survey of more than 300 care workers across England revealed that employers are effectively breaking minimum wage laws, costing staff hundreds of pounds each month.
End of free movement did not increase wages, Government advisers say
The end of freedom of movement has not led to a significant increase in wages, Government advisers have said.A study of the agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality and transport sectors by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) found few organisations had increased wages to compete for staff despite the smaller number of workers available after Brexit.
Chicago's minimum wage still not enough to afford rent, report says
The minimum wage in Chicago is still not enough for many people to afford rental housing in 2023, a new report from Housing Action Illinois and the National Low Income Housing Coalition says.In theChicago metro area, which has the most expensive housing in the state, a person would need to earn $27.69 an hour working 40 hours a week, or about $57,600 a year, in order to afford a two-bedroom apartment, or work 85 hours a week if they make minimum wage.
Labour should fix social care with better pay and free short-term support'
Major reform of England's beleaguered adult social care sector could be ushered in by the next Labour government under plans that include boosting pay for care workers, expanding the scope of free support and asking all people to contribute 50 a week towards costs.A report by the Fabian Society thinktank, commissioned by the shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, and the trade union Unison, sets out a roadmap for a national care service (NCS) that they hope would address the existing patchy, impersonal and inadequate state provision.
A campaign against inheritance tax led by a multimillionaire? These really are desperate times for the Tories | Polly Toynbee
Governing parties in their death throes thrash about, gasping for life rafts and hunting through old lists to recapture the tried-and-tested vote-winners of yesteryear.The campaign by more than 50 Tory MPs and the Telegraph to abolish inheritance tax is a prime example.Didn't it work its magic once before, when George Osborne spooked Gordon Brown out of calling an election in 2007 by promising a 1m threshold?
One of the City's Oldest Butchers Is in Danger of Closing
Staubitz Market in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn has recently filed for bankruptcy, unable to recover from its financial losses caused by the ongoing pandemic.
Despite its closure, Staubitz Market will still honor its commitments to its employees and vendors.
The closure of Staubitz Market highlights the importance of supporting local businesses, which are often hit hardest by economic downturns. [ more ]
German rail union cancels planned two-day strike after employers meet minimum wage demand
A labor union representing more than 200,000 railway workers in Germany said Saturday that it was cancelling plans for a two-day strike after employers met one of its key demands.The EVG union had said earlier this week that its members would walk out for 50 hours from late Sunday until late Tuesday.
Germany braces for 50-hour train strike after employers refuse union demands
A labor union representing more than 200,000 railway workers said Friday that it was going ahead with a planned strike next week after its demands for better pay were rejected by employers.The EVG union said its members will walk out for 50 hours from late Sunday until late Tuesday.Rail company Deutsche Bahn has canceled all long-distance travel during that period and warned that most regional trains also won't run.
Sanders Denounces Morality of System Where 3 Are Richer Than 165 Million People
Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a rally at the ILA Hall in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 3, 2023.Screenshot: Union of Southern Service Workers via Twitter As President Joe Biden signed into law an agreement Saturday that would shield wealthy tax cheats from stronger IRS enforcement while at the same time enacting cuts to key anti-poverty programs, Senator Bernie Sanders and other progressive allies were busy denouncing the immoral, low-wage economic system in the United States in which just a small handful of mega-billionaires have accumulated more wealth than tens of millions of hard-working but low-paid workers and their families.
Employees at Park Slope Barnes & Noble to Unionize
Employees at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Park Slope are looking to unionize, making them the second New York City branch of the book emporium to organize, they announced Thursday.Roughly 30 workers at the 7th Avenue store near 6th Street have already signed authorization cards in order to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, according to the RWDSU, and notified management of their intention to unionize on May 25.
Park Slope Barnes & Noble employees file for union election * Brooklyn Paper
Photo courtesy of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Employees at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Park Slope are looking to unionize, making them the second New York City branch of the book emporium to organize, they announced Thursday.
Vacancy rates in Travis County have declined overall since last year, per Compensation Office - Austin Monitor
Wednesday, May 24, 2023 by Seth Smalley Employee vacancy rates in key areas of Travis County are declining as a result of measures taken by county commissioners last year, such as increasing the minimum county wage from $15 per hour to $20 per hour, as well as increasing shift differentials, according to the county's Compensation Office.
The price of a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich, arguably this city's most important dish, has nearly doubled in price at Bronx bodegas, according to a new report from Gothamist.The study included responses from six deli owners and some 70 customers, who were interviewed in English and Spanish.They report that the bodega staple, which once cost between $2 and $3.50 for a roll or between $3 and $4.50 for a hero, has shot up in price due to the cost of ingredients like eggs, lettuce, and tomato.
Employees at Oakland Popeyes allege illegal child labor practices, harassment
(Scott Olson / Getty Images)
Employees at a Popeyes in Oakland picketed this week after teen workers, including one who was 13, alleged that they were pressured to work long, late hours in violation of child labor laws."Our employer has violated almost every law put in place to protect young workers like us," two of the younger employees wrote in a statement.
Former dancers sue River North strip club over alleged assaults
Four former dancers are suing a River North strip club, alleging management regularly allowed customers to physically and sexually assault them at work.The dancers' suit alleges that the strip club, Rick's Cabaret Chicago at 1531 N. Kingsbury St., "knowingly fostered a hostile work environment" by allowing customers to commit "egregious assaults and batteries on female dancers, including grabbing and groping dancers' intimate private areas under their clothing, slapping dancers, exposing their genitals, biting, choking and other outrageous and criminal acts."
Mangoes and Agave in the Central Valley? California Farmers Try New Crops to Cope With Climate Change | KQED
Still other problems are emerging as California's weather patterns grow more erratic.Early fall rains have been a problem for walnuts, spoiling ripening fruits.And heat waves - especially when they follow a rain event - can cause fruit to drop or spoil.Almost 40% of last fall's walnut crop was lost when Central Valley temperatures approached 115 degrees, according to Robert Verloop, executive director of the California Walnut Board and the California Walnut Commission.
Erdogan's Election Prospects Take a Hit as a Challenger Drops Out
Three days before Turks vote in crucial presidential elections, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chances of securing a swift victory took a hit on Thursday when one of his challengers left the race, a move likely to benefit Mr. Erdogan's main competitor.The withdrawal of one of the race's four contenders also increased the possibility that the main opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, could obtain a simple majority of votes on Sunday, a win that would suddenly end Mr. Erdogan's 20-year streak as Turkey's most prominent politician.
Los Angeles Schools and 30,000 Workers Reach Deal After Strike
The union representing 30,000 education workers reached a tentative deal with the Los Angeles Unified School District on Friday, following a three-day strike that closed hundreds of campuses and canceled classes for 422,000 students earlier this week.Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union, which represents support workers in the school district, sought a 30 percent pay increase and said that many of its employees made little more than the minimum wage and struggled to afford the cost of living in Southern California.
Holidaymakers need careful planning' to find bargain destinations report
UK holidaymakers keen to avoid steep price rises are being forced to choose their destination carefully, new figures show.Falls in the value of sterling against many other currencies and rises in resort prices mean the cost of typical tourist items are higher in four out of five popular resorts and cities compared with a year ago, according to Post Office Travel Money.
So, you've hired a nanny.Unlike your 15-year-old niece who charges you $10 an hour and as much of the ice cream in the fridge as she wants to watch your kid for an evening, your nanny is a professional and should be paid as such.That means accounting for payroll items such as taxes and benefits.This provides long-term protections and bonuses for both you and the person you're employing.
California appeals court reverses most of ruling deeming Prop. 22 invalid
A California appeals court reversed most of a ruling invalidating Proposition 22, the state's 2020 voter-approved gig economy law allowing giant ride-hailing and delivery companies to classify their workers as independent contractors rather than employees.The 1st District Court of Appeal determined Proposition 22 should stand, disagreeing with a 2021 ruling finding that central provisions of the law conflicted with the state Constitution, rendering the law unenforceable, and tossing it out in its entirety.
Hochul hails New York budget as win for workers at NYC rally in Manhattan union hall
Gov. Hochul celebrated the new state budget law as a boon to working New Yorkers at a campaign-style rally in a Manhattan union hall.Hochul said the $229 billion budget, which hikes the minimum wage and includes fresh funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, aims to "lift up all New Yorkers, but particularly the working men and women of our state."
Los Angeles schools close as workers begin a three-day strike.
Classes were canceled for more than 420,000 students on Tuesday as school employees and teachers kicked off a three-day strike in Los Angeles, facing off against administrators in the nation's second-largest school district.The work stoppage began before dawn, with bus drivers walking a picket line outside a Los Angeles Unified School District lot where they normally would be starting their routes.
Los Angeles Schools Close as Workers Begin Three-Day Strike
LOS ANGELES Classes were canceled for more than 420,000 Los Angeles students on Tuesday as school employees and teachers kicked off a three-day strike, facing off against the administrators in the school district, the second largest in the nation.As rain fell before dawn, the work stoppage began with bus drivers walking a picket line outside a Los Angeles Unified School District lot where they normally would be starting their routes.
Here is a look at the life of Martin O'Malley, former governor of Maryland.Birth date: January 18, 1963 Birth place: Washington, DC Birth name: Martin Joseph O'Malley Father: Thomas O'Malley, attorney Mother: Barbara (Suelzer) O'Malley, receptionist for Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) Marriage: Catherine Katie Curran O'Malley (1990-present) Children: Grace, Tara, William, and Jack Education: Catholic University of America, B.A., 1985; University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., 1988 Religion: Catholic Longtime guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
Budget 2023: what it means for people on a range of incomes
2022/23 James, 24, works 35 hours a week for a cafe and is paid the minimum wage of 9.50 an hour, or 332.50 a week.From his annual wage of 15,960 he is left with 14,761, after tax (678) and national insurance (521) are both deducted.2023/24 From April the minimum wage for over-23s in rises to 10.42 an hour.
California court upholds treating app-based drivers as contractors
A California state appeals court on Monday revived a ballot measure allowing app-based services such as Uber Technologies Inc and Lyft Inc to treat drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, in a major victory for the industry.A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based court reversed a lower court ruling in 2021 that the ballot measure, known as Proposition 22, was unconstitutional.
Silicon Valley Bank's Failure Brings Payroll Turmoil for Chicago Restaurant Chain
The Silicon Valley Bank failure is impacting a Chicago restaurant chain.Fry the Coop, a fried chicken sandwich shop with seven locations, could not pay its 227 workers as scheduled on Friday, March 10, according to the chain's owner.While the restaurant does not bank with Santa Clara, California-based Silicon Valley, its payroll company - Ohio-based Patriot Software - does.