Steph's blog

Retail workers are suing Sterling Jewelers, the nation's largest specialty retail jeweler.

A new coalition of labor and community organizations is fighting for equitable development in the Bronx.

Workers Picket Upper East Side Specialty Market

While it might be surprising to some that sweatshops still exist in the USA in 2009, low-income immigrant workers around the country are all too familiar with the grim reality of long hours, illegally low pay, and abuse from management.

In our last blog post, we had some bad news for tipped workers, as they were yet again left out of the federal minimum wage increase. For this blog post, the tune is a bit more upbeat.

While the federal minimum wage increased to $7.25 per hour last week, the minimum wage for tipped employees remains the same. Since 1991, the minimum hourly wage for tipped work has been just $2.13.

It is common practice for companies to misclassify employees in order to be exempt from paying overtime. Employers are required to pay time-and-a-half to employees who work over 40 hours per week.

Over 600 workers at a Rite Aid distribution center in Lancaster, California have been fighting for their basic rights as workers.

California settled a toxic dumping suit with Kmart and is now suing Target (San Francisco Business Times).

In November, the Brandworkers blog reported on the death of Jdimytai Damour, a 34-year-old man who was trampled to death by the Black Friday crowds while he worked a temporary position at a Wal-Mart store in Long Island.

Yesterday, Wal-Mart cut a deal with Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice to pay $2 million and implement a new safety plan at 92 of its locations. In exchange for this, Wal-Mart will not face criminal charges, and Mr. Damour's family would have to waive their right to bring a separate civil suit against Wal-Mart if they participate in the victim's fund. (Associated Press)