The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) is meant to alleviate some of the “work, life” problems that arise every day in families across the country. FMLA is a federal law that requires employers to provide employees leave for qualified medical and family reasons, without risk to the employees job. The law sought … Continue reading
By Eileen Lohmann On November 6, the people of the United States will choose between two fundamentally different presidential candidates, and in an economic climate in which the rate of unemployment is 7.8 percent, each candidate has offered his own solution to create jobs and grow the economy. President Barack Obama’s plan to revitalize the … Continue reading
By Josh Tucker This November, Michigan voters will not only be electing its local and national representatives, but will also be voting on six different state proposals, five of them potential amendments to the Michigan Constitution. Proposal 2, specifically, would constitutionally recognize Michigan public and private employees’ right to organize into labor unions and bargain … Continue reading
Maybe this election year will finally put a stake through the heart of efforts by corporations and extremist right-wing millionaires to silence the voice of California’s working families in the political arena. This year, it’s called Prop. 32 and it’s a near-clone of 2005’s Prop. 75 and 1998’s Prop. 226, which voters defeated by 53% to 47%. Both times, huge mobilizations by … Continue reading
On June 5, 2012, Senate Democrats fell 8 votes shy of the 60 votes needed to proceed to a vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 3220). The Act, as written would, among other things, amend the Equal Pay Act to allow employees to recover punitive damages for gender discrimination and would require employers to … Continue reading
On May 23, 2012, a group of Senate Democrats, led by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) along with various interest groups called on Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 797 and H.R. 1591) which was introduced in 2011 by Senator Mikulski and Representative DeLauro (D-CT) in 2011 and would update the Equal Pay Act. … Continue reading
The Maryland State Senate unanimously passed a bill titled, “Labor and Employment – Username and Password Privacy Protection and Exclusions.” If Governor O’Malley signs it, Maryland will become the first state to prohibit employers from requiring potential candidates to provide passwords to their Facebook accounts. The bill, which “Prohibit[s] an employer from requesting or requiring … Continue reading
A Wisconsin law that made it easier for victims of wage discrimination to have their day in court was repealed on Thursday, after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) quietly signed the bill. The 2009 Equal Pay Enforcement Act was meant to deter employers from discriminating against certain groups by giving workers more avenues via which to press charges. Among other provisions, … Continue reading
When Sean Davis of Lunenburg, Mass. lost his Census job in October 2010, he figured he’d be able to claim unemployment insurance for 99 weeks. That’s how long benefits lasted, according to the state government and every news report about unemployment at the time. Of course, he hoped he’d find a job way before 99 … Continue reading
The Western District of Wisconsin issued its much anticipated opinion in WEAC v. Walker today on the constitutionality of Wisconsin Act 10, the public-sector anti-collective bargaining bill that was enacted into law last June after a monumental political fight. Of course, Act 10′s passage continues to have ramifications as Governor Walker was officially subjected to a recall … Continue reading
