Proposed change to Labor Standards Act would allow employers to steal tips

This Monday (December 4th 2017), the Trump Department of Labor released a proposed rule to rescind portions of its tip regulations. Here is the Economic Policy Institute's statement on the change and its implications. Essentially: the new language says that provided servers are paid minimum wage (most aren't, now), employers can take their tips. And not just take their tips to distribute them among the back-of-house staff who don't make tips— just pocket them, for whatever purpose, including giving them to shareholders.

Customers in the US are expected to tip because restaurant owners are allowed to pay their staff less than regular minimum wage; the federal minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13 an hour. Customers are supposed to make up the rest in tips. Under these new rules, the food service industry basically gets to go "psych, we're paying $7.25 an hour now!" and treat all tips like random gifts to the business. Say you go eat at a Waffle House; the $3 you leave for the waiter is so that she gets paid, it's not a random $3 goodwill donation to the owners of Waffle House.

The restaurant lobby is going to argue that these rules are good, because back-of-house workers like cooks and dishwashers are poorly paid. And that part is true, $7.25 an hour is not enough to live on. You know what would actually fix that, though? Raising the minimum wage and requiring restaurants to pay more for labor.

The public comment period on the proposed rules change is open until January 4th, 2018. You can read the proposal in the Federal Register, and submit a formal comment, through this link. 

2017 Economic Justice Forum

Saturday, December 16th 2017, from 10am-3pm, in Richmond, the Virginia Civic Engagement Table, Virginia Latina Advocacy Network, and others are holding an day-long event to discuss economic justice issues, including student loan debt, affordable housing, raising the minimum wage, access to healthcare, and wage theft. 

Venue to be determined. Free. 

For more information and to RSVP, see this link. 

VCUarts Adjuncts Organizing for Fair Pay

Check out the Facebook page for VCUarts AOFP, the VCUarts Adjuncts Organizing for Fair Pay, and their website. 

Non-tenure-track faculty do much of the work in institutions of higher education (and make up two-thirds of the faculty), but are paid poverty wages. The average pay for adjunct teaching positions in the U.S. is $30,000 per year and some positions have benefits— by contrast, the average yearly pay for VCUarts adjunct instructors is $10,000 with no benefits. Of the top 10 arts schools in the country (of which VCU is consistently ranked in the top 3), VCU is dead last for adjunct pay. Tuition keeps going up: what's the administration spending it all on?

This is relevant even if you aren't a VCU adjunct or student. As one of the largest employers in the city, the university helps "set" wages. When VCU employees win better pay, it gives other workers in the area another lever to use to exert pressure on their employers. 

Labor Day Rally with the Fight for $15

Ready to celebrate Labor Day right, with a rally for a higher minimum wage and union rights for all?

Monday, September 4th 2017, from 12-1:30pm, at the Plaza at Main Street Station (1500 East Main Street, Richmond VA), the Fight for $15 is celebrating Labor Day with a rally for union rights for all workers!

Family friendly, transportation available. Call Emily at (504) 502 2737 for more information.

Target Workers on Strike in Christiansburg, Virginia

Learn more, including how you can support workers striking for dignity on the job, here.

Folks out near Christiansburg, Virginia: workers at the local Target are going on strike to rid themselves of an abusive manager. Nobody should have to deal with sexual harassment or racial antagonism at work (or ever), and since the Target management won’t get rid of this guy, the workers have to take action themselves. 

For info on how you can support, see the page and website.

Fight for 15 and the Movement for Black Lives: April 4th Day of Action

Tuesday, April 4th 2017, Raise Up: the Fight for 15 and the Movement for Black Lives are holding a joint national day of protest to demonstrate for racial and economic justice. This day will mark the 49th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. by James Earl Ray. 

In Richmond, VA Raise Up will be holding a Speak Out and March for MLK's Legacy. The event will run from 5-7pm, at Great Ship Lock Park (located at the intersection of Shockoe Bottom's Dock Street and Pear Street). The event will feature speeches from low wage workers fighting for a $15/hr minimum wage and a union, state legislators, free food, and more. Family friendly. 

For more info and to RSVP to the Richmond event, see this link. 

Similar events will be held nationwide. To learn about a protest planned near you, see this link and fill out the contact form. 

Job Searching While LGBT: Free Workshop

Tomorrow, March 15th 2017, from 6:30-8:30pm, at Diversity Richmond (1407 Sherwood Avenue, Richmond VA), the Richmond Business Alliance is holding a know-your-rights style discussion of best practices for LGBT job seekers, with a focus on transgender applicants.

If you have questions about navigating employment so that you can survive under capitalism, especially in regards to what you have to disclose about yourself, this workshop might be able to help you out.

Free, open to the public. The venue is wheelchair accessible, with single-stall unisex bathrooms, and free lot parking. For more info and to RSVP, see this link. 

After attending this event, you may also be interested in this workshop and job fair, also hosted at Diversity Richmond, on Saturday March 25th. 

2017 Virginia General Assembly: Bills Involving Labor

Note: Bills can still be filed until January 20th, so new items may be added. To see my master list of 2017 legislative topics, click here.

The letters before a bill’s number designate its chamber of origin. HB= House Bill, SB= Senate Bill, HR= House Resolution, etc.

Bills to support:

SB 785 raises the minimum wage to $8/hr by July 2017, and to $11.25/hr by 2020. SB 978 raises the minimum wage to $10/hr by July 2017, and to $15/hr by 2019. HB 1444 would increase the minimum wage to $10/hr by July 2017, and to $15/hr by 2021. $15/hr is a living wage for much of Virginia; to find the living wage for your city, you can use this Living Wage Calculator from MIT.

SB 783: Prohibits discrimination for public employment, in matters of sexual orientation or gender identity.

SB 824: Requires employers to provide paid sick leave to full-time employees, starting in 2018, with sick leave hours accruing at a rate of no less than 1 per 50 hours worked. Also establishes civil penalties for employers who break the law.

Bills to oppose: 

HB 1394: An anti-labor bill which establishes that employees which work for a franchised store are not the employees of the franchisor. This bill is intended to contravene the National Labor Relations Board's 2015 ruling which found that franchisors are liable for the labor law violations of their franchisees, because they have indirect control over hiring decisions and work standards as “joint employers.” This ruling makes it easier for unions to bargain collectively and for groups of workers to name franchisors in lawsuits.

HB 1596: Bans the state from requiring its contractors to pay a prevailing wage– IE, prevents the state from declining to contract with a firm because it pays only minimum wage.

Raise Up Fight for $15 Community Meeting on the November 29th Strike

Tomorrow, Tuesday November 15th 2016, from 6:30-8pm, at 904 North 1st Street, Richmond VA, Raise Up, the Fight for $15, is holding a community meeting on events planned for the November 29th low-wage worker strike. This date is the four year anniversary of the first major citywide strike of fast food workers in New York City. From the event description: 

Despite setbacks across the nation, this election showed that raising wages is a winning issue with voters. 4 states - Arizona, Colorado, Maine and Washington - overwhelmingly approved ballot measures to raise the minimum wages. Low wage workers in VA are asking all progressive allies to join us in the streets on November 29th and in the months and years ahead to push elected officials to fight for working families, for immigrant justice, for Black Lives.

For more info and to RSVP, see this link. 

Raise Up! Fight for $15 Community Dinner

Tomorrow, Wednesday November 9th 2016, from 6:30-8pm, at 904 North 1st Street, Richmond VA, Raise Up! The Fight for $15 is holding a community dinner. From the event description:

“Do you believe in raising the minimum wage and fighting for justice for our communities? We are making real change and getting more money for our families!”

Free, open to the public. Food and childcare provided. For more information and to RSVP, see the Facebook event page here. 

Virginia Raise Up For $15 Community Meeting

Tuesday, October 11th 2016, from 6:30-8pm, at 904 North 1st Street, Richmond VA, Raise Up! VA is holding a community discussion and planning meeting to discuss the work of the past few months, hear from community organizations about their work, and plan for the remainder of the year. From the event description: 

“There’s ongoing work around the Fight for 15 agenda that includes $15 and union rights for all workers, homecare and childcare for all, fighting racism, and justice for immigrants during the election season, and more actions and a major strike planned later this fall. We hope you’re able to join us to discuss all this and more about how to build our collective struggles and continue our march forward for justice!" 

For more information and to RSVP, see the link. 

Right to Respect Speak Out and Rally Against Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Raise Up! VA

This Thursday, October 6th 2016, from 11:30am-2pm, at the East Broad Street McDonald’s (1800 East Broad Street, Richmond VA), Raise Up! VA is hosting an open forum and speak-out on women’s rights in the workplace. From the event description:

“Women face sexual harassment on the job all too often and it is time to include a woman’s right to agency over her own body and spirit as part of the conversation around worker’s rights.

"Everyone deserves to feel safe and protected in their workplace. No one should feel forced to compromise themselves or their morals in order to earn a living. This is a human right. Workers will be speaking on their experiences and their vision for a safe, fair working environment. Join us!”

To RSVP, see the link. For more information or to request a ride, call 856-261-4544.

Support Striking McDonald's Workers in Richmond, VA- EMERGENCY Call to Action

Tomorrow, Thursday July 21st 2016, from 12-2pm, at the Chamberlayne Avenue McDonald’s (2011 Chamberlayne Avenue, Richmond VA), the employees of this McDonald’s location are going on strike, and are calling for public support. Since coming under new management, workers at this location have been disrespected, had their pay withheld, been denied basic safety equipment like oven mitts, had their hours drastically cut, and been subjected to changes in the pay schedule without warning.

Several workers at this location have already been evicted from their homes due to wage theft and pay schedule changes by management. Employees are suffering daily burns and constant disrespect. This is intolerable.

For more information, contact Anna Scholl at anna@prosgressva.org or 540-460-1269. To RSVP, see the link.

McDonald's can afford to pay a living wage; they just don't want to!

From the Fight for $15: “We NEED living wages and they CAN afford it.”

McDonald’s workers generate that $20 billion in profit; how is it fair that they don’t even make enough to eat while some shareholder, who didn’t lift a finger, gets to reap the reward?