Labor News & Commentary November 7, 2024 Amazon violated labor laws during unionization efforts at its warehouse in AL.

[Omaha Steve]

By Luke Hinrichs

Luke Hinrichs is a student at Harvard Law School.

In today’s news and commentaries, voters across the country approve ballot measures to raise minimum wage and require employers to provide paid sick time; Uber and Lyft drivers in Massachusetts win the right to unionize; and NLRB judge rules that Amazon violated labor laws during unionization efforts at its warehouse in Alabama.

On Election Day, voters in various states across the country had the opportunity to vote on stat ballot measures to raise minimum wages and require employers to provide paid sick time. In Alaska, by a large margin, voters approved the initiative to gradually rise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by July 1, 2027, up from $11.73 currently. Alaska voters also approved of a measure to require employers to give workers one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, capping the available leave at 40 hours for small companies and 56 for larger companies. The ballot measure notably includes a ban on captive audience meetings, prohibiting employers from requiring their employees to listen to the employer’s religious or political views, including their opinions on labor unions.

In Missouri, voters approved the measure to increase the minimum wage, gradually raising it to $15 an hour by January 1, 2026, up from $12.30 currently. Starting in 2027, the minimum wage will be adjusted to inflation. Missourians also approved of a measure to require employers to give workers one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, but it provides exceptions for small businesses.

FULL story: https://onlabor.org/november-7-2024/