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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.

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