🏛️ This week the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Minnesota's ban on captive audience meetings which force employees to listen to political, religious, or anti-union employer views—on work time. 1/
Since 1938, workers have counted on overtime pay when working over 40 hrs/week. But Project 2025 proposes allowing to skirt the rules. States need to act now to defend/protect workers’ right to overtime pay. @dskamper.bsky.social and @jensherer.bsky.social describe how ↴
Before 2008, workers in every state were guaranteed 26 weeks of unemployment insurance if they lost a job. Today, many states have cut back benefits, some to as little as 12 weeks. With the economy teetering, unemployment benefits are more important than ever.
Did you know that kids as young as 10 can be employed on farms, and there are no limits on how many hours they can work?
Federal child labor laws are much weaker in agriculture, the most dangerous industry for children.
But states can step in to keep kids safe: www.epi.org/publication/...
Did you know that in 6 states—AL, AR, LA, MS, SD, TN—you aren’t guaranteed any info about your own paycheck?
To increase transparency & prevent wage theft, other states require pay stubs w/ written info on how pay was calculated
Learn more about the laws in your state: www.epi.org/publication/...
24 states & DC have discrimination laws that are more expansive than federal law.
19 states offer weaker protections. With Trump gutting federal protections, state laws are more important than ever.
How well does your state protect you from discrimination? www.epi.org/publication/...
In 2023, 385 workers died from hazardous working conditions every. single. day.
The highest fatality rates? WY, WV, AR, AK, MN, and ND.
As federal workplace protections are dismantled, states need to step in to protect workers on the job.
Learn more: www.epi.org/publication/...
Millions of workers earning less than $60k/year were on track to get overtime pay until Trump took it away. But states can step in and make sure workers get the overtime pay they’ve earned. AK, CA, CO, ME, NY, and WA have done so. Has your state? Learn more: www.epi.org/publication/...
"We are facing an all-out war on workers," EPI's @jensherer.bsky.social told America's Work Force Union Podcast. “We’re in a situation right now where no workers can count on the federal government to protect their basic fundamental rights.”
Listen here: awf.labortools.com/listen/jenni...
Solidarity with brave CDC employees (past and present) and their AFGE union standing up for themselves, their agency’s mission, and all of us.
I hereby nominate NYT spelling bee developers to take over headline writing
Trump nominated right-wing Project 2025 contributor EJ Antoni as the next Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner.
Trump wants to hide the consequences of his bad policies by manipulating BLS data—but it won’t work, says EPI Chief Economist @joshbivens-econ.bsky.social:
www.epi.org/press/trump-...
Quote this with a book you read way too young that explains why you are the way you are.
(Read in 2nd or 3rd grade when I was 7 or 8; can’t remember which b/c I had the same amazing teacher both years).
One more fave not mentioned yet: Morristown: In the air and sun
That reminds me, I did show it in at least one class… way back in the academic freedom glory days of the 2010s.
Top favorite! One of best depictions of collective bargaining process ever captured on film. Plus best in-film explainer on union security.
In the face of federal attacks on workers, many states used this year's legislative season to pass bills that protect workers and improve job quality.
Here's how states took action for and against workers:
www.epi.org/blog/2025-wo...
Ghislaine Maxwell, who helped Jeffrey Epstein procure and sexually abuse young women, was transferred to a cushy minimum-security prison in Texas in the midst of Trump needing her support with the Epstein files.
We all know what's happening but shouldn't lose focus. www.jezebel.com/since-no-one...
Today, President Trump directed his team to fire the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) because he didn’t like the jobs numbers they released. This is a move straight out of an autocratic playbook, says EPI President @hshierholz.bsky.social
www.epi.org/press/trumps...
Good on her.
This is not the biggest issue but, as an economist, I am amazed at how many people and vehicles ICE is wasting to make a single, simple arrest.
Imagine if we staffed Head Start classrooms like that!
Passionate Black woman (NEA Pres. Becky Pringle) on stage with arms raised while addressing crowd at Good Trouble rally
White woman (AFGE local 220 President) stands next to American flag while speaking to crowd at Good Trouble rally
Black man dressed in suit (Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson) stand at podium on stage addressing crowd at Good Trouble rally
Crowd of people holding signs in Daley Plaza, downtown Chicago
Always good to be with union siblings in Chicago, but especially good on a day like today.
If I hear one more reporter say these attacks on universities and science are about "antisemitism," I am going to lose it. This is about destroying higher education full stop and it doesn't help to parrot the White House's talking points. www.science.org/content/arti...
For what it's worth, this is precisely the reason the Klan wore hoods when they terrorized communities and disappeared unfavored minorities.
Historically, it wasn't called doxxing it was just recognizing a fascist community member.
for anyone wondering how it's possibly legal to restrict DC 33 picketlines in Philadelphia:
like many (most?) states, PA has mass picketing laws on the books dating back to the 1930s, and those laws are an incredibly underexamined problem for worker power.
Happy anniversary to the Fair Labor Standards Act! 🎉
We hope you last another 87 years—and that you get some long-overdue improvements!
The FLSA brought us important labor standards like the federal minimum wage and child labor protections.
Check out our work on these important topics: 🧵
Large crowd of people holding signs in front of golden-domed old capitol building.
NO KINGS #iowacity Crowds at 35+ other events across the state are ranging from 50 in tiny towns to at least 10K in Des Moines.
Devastating loss. Grieving with my MN friends and family and sending love to all state legislators and public servants who should never have to live in fear.
“One of the strongest natural proofs of the folly of hereditary right in kings, is, that nature disapproves it, otherwise, she would not so frequently turn it into ridicule by giving mankind an ass for a lion.” #nokings #thomaspaine
