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What I’ve Been Reading This Week

A development the past few weeks in regard to a potential union forming at a newspaper in Dallas is worth an in depth read.  In a right to work state like Texas (which is not overly unionized), this potential formation of a union at The Dallas Morning News is worth watching closely.

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


Union Brewing at Dallas’ Largest Newspaper 

A few weeks ago, it was announced that a union was forming at Dallas’ largest newspaper, The Dallas Morning News.   This potential union, a combination of 100 employees from The Dallas Morning News and Al Día Dallas, have several grievances including a claim that their employer failed to provide them personal protective equipment quickly enough which resulted in employees being exposed to tear gas while covering stories the past few months.  According to these employees, workers at other news outlets were provided this equipment.  While The Dallas Morning Mews has previously fought back against a union forming before, it will be interesting to see what comes of this particular effort.


Following the Longest Lag in a Minimum Wage Hike, Is Now the Time?

Aimee Picchi at CBS News wrote an article earlier this week noting that since the last minimum wage hike eleven years ago, perhaps now is the time for an increase.  Of note, this is the longest “break” in hikes to the federal minimum wage rate, since the minimum wage rate was bumped up to $7.25/hour back in July of 2009.  With a report out earlier this week that Austin, Texas is the least affordable city to live in (on a minimum wage salary), Picchi suggests that notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic, perhaps now is the time to increase the federal minimum wage rate.


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