Skip to main content

What I've Been Reading This Week


I always enjoy reading through different perspectives on the minimum wage hikes (and impacts they will have).  This week was no exception as an article from The Washington Post did a good job summarizing some reports and findings on the impact minimum wage hikes are already having around the country.  If you are going to check out one article on minimum wage hikes this week, I would start with that one.

As always, below are a couple articles that caught my eye this week.


The Gig Economy: The Next Frontier For Union Organization?

Samuel Estreicher at Bloomberg wrote a thought provoking article on Tuesday which suggested that Uber drivers (or really anyone in the gig economy) should be able to organize and form a union that can collectively bargain on their behalf.  Samuel gets into some of the finer details in regard to the independent contractor v. employee debate that revolves around those involved in the gig economy and ultimately comes to the conclusion that these workers should have the right to organize and collectively bargain without risk of antitrust liability.  While this is a shorter article, it is well worth a read.


A Murky Picture Begins to Emerge In Regard to the Impact From Minimum Wage Hikes

As readers are aware, minimum wage hikes are becoming more commonplace in cities, counties, and states across the country.  With those minimum wage hikes, many have started to wonder what impact (positive or negative) will ultimately result for employers and employees alike.  Christopher Ingraham at The Washington Post published an article recently that summarized some findings and reports on the matter and paint a somewhat murky picture.  While some reports suggest that minimum wage hikes in some areas (such as Seattle) will have a detrimental impact, other reports suggest minimum wage hikes (for instance, in California) will actually have an overall positive effect.  However, as these reports point out, the research is still early and incomplete.  Stay tuned.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NLRB: Discussion Among Employees About Tip Pooling is Protected Concerted Activity

  This Advice Memorandum from the National Labor Relations Board’s Associate General Counsel, Jayme Sophir, addressed whether employees which discussed and complained about tip pooling at work constituted protected concerted activity. In relevant part, an employer in New York operated a chain of steakhouses.  While tip pooling was in place at these steakhouses, some of the employees objected to it on the grounds that it was not transparent and improperly divided tips among the workers.  Employees were told not to complain or talk to each other about the tip pool and were told that doing so would endanger their jobs.  Despite the employer later attempting to provide some clarity as to how the tips were being divided, rancor still existed among some employees.  At one point, the employees were told by a general manager that some employees that had been talking about the tip pool were “cleared out” and the employer would continue to do so. In the Advice Memorandum,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking: Labor Secretary Rumored to Be Leaving Administration

A few hours ago, word leaked out that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (“Walsh”) is in the midst of negotiations to head up the NHL Players Union and leave his position at the Labor Department. Walsh, who has served as the sole Labor Secretary under President Biden, has taken part in a labor renaissance of sorts as support for organized labor has increased during his term as Labor Secretary (although the number of workers that have joined a union over the past two years has not grown as mush as some expected.)  He has also overseen the ongoing negotiations with rail workers over a new contract, although that matter is still on shaky ground and playing out as we speak. As for who might step into the vacant Labor Secretary role, there are already rumblings that President Biden should nominate Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su (a strong labor advocate) or even a progressive like Senator Bernie Sanders.  Until Walsh officially gives his notice, however, I would expect some/many potential...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Vetoes Minimum Wage Hike

A few months ago, readers might remember that I pointed out that the New Jersey Legislature had voted to approve a minimum wage hike in the state .  Under the approved legislation, the minimum wage rate would rise to $10.10/hour in the next year and at least $15/hour over the next five.  (The current minimum wage rate in the state is $8.38/hour).  In that article, I had noted that the bill was then going to go before Governor Chris Christie for his approval or veto. As I had suggested previously, I thought that the Governor would likely veto the bill based upon his prior actions and comments on similar legislation.  Well, a few days ago, Governor Christie did just that and vetoed the bill on the grounds that it "would trigger an escalation of wages that will make doing business in New Jersey unfathomable."  Pointing to the increase in hourly minimum wage rates, the Governor referred to the bill as a "really radical increase."  (It is interesting to c...
Post a Comment
Read more