Economic Policy Institute

The past few years have seen a rise in workers who are interested in, but unsure about, unions, according to a new report from John Ahlquist, Jake Grumbach, and Tom Kochan (MIT Institute for Work and Employment Research (IWER)). These "union curious" workers could be unsure because of a lack of exposure to unions or knowledge about their impacts. Read the report to learn more about this pivotal and growing group of "union curious" workers: https://lnkd.in/eYC9ADpU

The labor market is better by some measures than before the pandemic, according to EPI's Elise Gould. Read more about the comparisons and what Gould will be watching on Jobs Day this Friday: https://lnkd.in/emySypUm

July 3 is CROWN Day, marking 5 years since the CROWN Act was first passed in CA. Since then, 25 states have passed the CROWN Act to protect BiPOC folks from hair-based discrimination at work and school. "Lawmakers in the remaining half of states with no CROWN Act—as well as members of Congress—have one clear piece of unfinished business they should prioritize for the next session: making sure Black and brown people are protected against hair-based discrimination," writes Jasmine Payne-Patterson. Learn more on our blog: https://lnkd.in/ebqMjCys

Poverty is a policy choice. We can change policies by electing leaders who prioritize the needs of people over profits. Tomorrow, June 29th, we’re gathering for the #MoralMarchOnWashington DC and to the polls to hold our leaders & candidates accountable. https://lnkd.in/dhcsgFFR

Did you know nearly one-third of the workforce, or 52 million people, earn less than $15/hour? No one should have to work 3 jobs to feed their families. On 6/29, the #MoralMarchOnWashington D.C. and to the Polls will amplify the policies elected leaders must champion if they want our votes. https://lnkd.in/dhcsgFFR

Tipping and the subminimum wage for service workers are practices that are #RootedinRacism and hail from the exploitation of formerly enslaved Black workers following emancipation. After emancipation, formerly enslaved Black workers were often relegated to service jobs. Instead of paying Black workers any wage at all, employers suggested that guests offer Black workers a small tip for their services. Thus, the racist practice of tipping was born. US labor law has allowed this practice to continue. Although the federal minimum wage is $7.25, the "subminimum wage" for tipped workers is only $2.13. In many states and most of the South, employers rely on customers to make up the other $5.12 the worker is owed. The legalization of the subminimum wage created a two-tiered system that continues today as a means of racial and economic control. Though this separate and unequal treatment of tipped workers is rooted in anti-Black racism, today it harms workers of color more broadly. The tipped workforce in the US is nearly 2/3 women, and disproportionately composed of women of color. Tipped workers earn low wages, experience high rates of poverty, and are vulnerable to exploitation in the workplace—particularly in the form of wage theft & sexual harassment. To address the discriminatory treatment of tipped workers across the country, lawmakers must eliminate the tipped subminimum wage and give tipped workers the same basic protection afforded to other workers in almost all other jobs—a minimum hourly wage, regardless of tips. https://lnkd.in/eCjj7yfh

"Robust language assistance programs protect Asian American and Pacific Islander workers from exploitative practices & enable them to fully participate in the workforce," according to EPI's Adewale Maye and Stevie Marvin in a new blog examining the economic impact of language proficiency on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Read their policy recommendations at the link below: https://lnkd.in/eeQiSBZP

"Robust language assistance programs protect Asian American and Pacific Islander workers from exploitative practices & enable them to fully participate in the workforce," according to EPI's Adewale Maye and Stevie Marvin in a new blog examining the economic impact of language proficiency on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Read their policy recommendations at the link below: https://lnkd.in/eeQiSBZP

Tipping and the subminimum wage for service workers are practices that are #RootedinRacism and hail from the exploitation of formerly enslaved Black workers following emancipation. After emancipation, formerly enslaved Black workers were often relegated to service jobs. Instead of paying Black workers any wage at all, employers suggested that guests offer Black workers a small tip for their services. Thus, the racist practice of tipping was born. US labor law has allowed this practice to continue. Although the federal minimum wage is $7.25, the "subminimum wage" for tipped workers is only $2.13. In many states and most of the South, employers rely on customers to make up the other $5.12 the worker is owed. The legalization of the subminimum wage created a two-tiered system that continues today as a means of racial and economic control. Though this separate and unequal treatment of tipped workers is rooted in anti-Black racism, today it harms workers of color more broadly. The tipped workforce in the US is nearly 2/3 women, and disproportionately composed of women of color. Tipped workers earn low wages, experience high rates of poverty, and are vulnerable to exploitation in the workplace—particularly in the form of wage theft & sexual harassment. To address the discriminatory treatment of tipped workers across the country, lawmakers must eliminate the tipped subminimum wage and give tipped workers the same basic protection afforded to other workers in almost all other jobs—a minimum hourly wage, regardless of tips. https://lnkd.in/eCjj7yfh

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