Why Biden’s labor agreements rule is a huge win for New Jersey | Opinion
Posted OnJanuary 16, 2024 byBy Cyndie Williams President Biden has recently taken another big swing to support workers by issuing a final rule that requires project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal construction projects costing more than $35 million. This rule, which stems from an executive order he signed in 2022, will ensure all workers on these projects benefit from collective bargaining,…Read More…
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES FINAL RULE ON CLASSIFYING WORKERS AS EMPLOYEES OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS UNDER THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT
Posted OnJanuary 9, 2024 byWASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule to help employers and workers better understand when a worker qualifies as an employee and when they may be considered an independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The rule provides guidance on proper classification and seeks to combat employee misclassification, a serious problem that impacts…Read More…
Union apprenticeships offer pathway to career after high school
Posted OnJanuary 3, 2024 byLife is starting to get real for high school seniors across the country. The holidays bleed into class trips, proms, term papers and one of the biggest decisions of their lives: What’s next? It’s a pivotal moment, and the pressure can be overwhelming. That pressure often leads young adults to make decisions they may ultimately…Read More…
Biden administration expands union labor requirements for building projects
Posted OnDecember 19, 2023 byOn Monday, the Biden administration announced a final rule requiring project-labor agreements on federal construction projects costing more than $35 million. The regulation from the General Services Administration stems from President Joe Biden’s2022 executive order mandating the use of these commitments, in which employers agree beforehand to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with one…Read More…
The United Auto Workers win is a win for all
Posted OnNovember 30, 2023 byThe tentative agreement between General Motors and the United Auto Workers union is a major victory for workers who were on strike for six weeks. The deal, which follows earlier agreements with Ford and Stellantis, includes significant pay raises, cost of living adjustments and improved benefits for the 18,000 UAW members at GM. It…Read More…
Navigating truths and falsehoods of New Jersey’s offshore wind plans
Posted OnOctober 11, 2023 byOffshore wind represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for New Jersey. This new industry offers us a chance to revitalize our economy, foster innovation and promote our skilled workforce. It means thousands of good-paying union jobs for New Jersey workers while moving us one huge step closer to a clean energy future. And, yet, the rampant spread…Read More…
Economic inequality is tearing apart communities. Here’s one way to address the crisis
Posted OnSeptember 7, 2023 byEconomic inequality is a runaway train that must be stopped and the most obvious solution, according to Todd Vachon, the head of Rutgers University’s Labor Education Action Research Network, is to involve the men and women who drive the economy in the process. Put another way: States like New Jersey must empower local workers if…Read More…
The Labor behind Labor Day
Posted OnSeptember 1, 2023 byBy Cyndie Williams Every morning when I walk into my office, I see a portrait that was built into the wall by the cabinetmaker who called this space theirs long before me. The man in the portrait is obviously from a different era, with eyes that seem to watch over you from every angle, like…Read More…
US Treasury unveils wage, apprenticeship guidance for clean energy tax credits
Posted OnAugust 29, 2023 byBy David Lawder August 29, 2023 12:04 PM EDT Updated an hour ago. WASHINGTON, Aug 29 (Reuters) – The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday released detailed guidance on wage and apprenticeship requirements for projects using clean energy tax credits, providing flexibility for fixing underpayment errors and for projects unable to hire apprentices. The proposed new Internal…Read More…
Philly teen carpenter apprentice helps transform Wells Fargo Center
Posted OnAugust 21, 2023 by“I would have never thought I was going to be a carpenter,” said 19-year-old Saulih Khalifah. “I played basketball in high school. I went to college for basketball.” But Khalifah, a 2022 graduate of Academy At Palumbo, had to work with the tools he was given. “When I first started working in high school, I…Read More…