New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie
A federal judge recently gave
exotic dancers protection from misclassification as independent contractors rather than employees, but in New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would have protected truck drivers from misclassification.
By classifying truckers as independent contractors, trucking companies can often put the burden of maintaining a truck on the driver even though it's used solely for the company's business, in addition to avoiding payroll taxes, unemployment insurance, and other
costs of employing people:
“Because of the Governor’s veto, unethical companies will continue to skirt the law by gaming the system to avoid paying their fair share of taxes,” said [the bill's sponsor, Assembly Deputy Speaker John S.] Wisniewski. “In doing so, they will also continue to deprive their drivers of Social Security, Medicare, Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment benefits.”
Christie didn't stop targeting workers there, though. He also sent a bill requiring that businesses receiving tax credits pay prevailing wage for maintenance workers back to the legislature for "minor changes." Those minor changes, of course, would
let businesses take state tax credits without paying the prevailing wage. That's a pretty direct attack on construction unions, which is not usually much of a surprise coming from Christie. Except that in this case it's noteworthy since several construction unions actually endorsed Christie in his bid for re-election. And it happened the same week as the AFL-CIO convention was
voting through a resolution sponsored by the Building and Construction Trades Department calling for a "'pragmatic, bipartisan approach' to electoral efforts 'that focuses primarily on candidates’ positions on issues of direct importance to workers.'" One hopes the endorsements Christie received are not being seen as a model for the future.
A fair day's wage
- A scab garbage truck driver jumped a curb and hit a striking garbage worker in Maryland; luckily the injuries weren't life-threatening.
- Detroit-area fast food restaurant Moo Cluck Moo pays a living wage of $15 an hour. So ... Netroots Nation 2014 field trip? Also, if you're in the Boston area, burrito chain Boloco pays a relatively decent wage of around $10 and has a Nutella-flavored frozen yogurt shake that I would drink right now if I could.
- More tipping frustrations for waiters, this time courtesy of the IRS.
- Is paid sick leave killing Seattle?
Celebrating the one-year anniversary(ish) of Seattle's Paid Sick Leave ordinance, today members of the The Main Street Alliance of Washington, a coalition representing more than 2,500 small businesses across Washington state, released a report that basically confirms that despite the business-killing socialist Hellscape promised by paid sick leave opponents, business is still booming in King County.
- A state judge ruled Indiana's recently adopted anti-union freeloader law violates the state's constitution. The state attorney general will appeal.
- A big organizing drive in the works:
IAM is embarking a long-term effort to unionize some 5,600 workers at 23 North American plants run by Jeld-Wen, an international company with additional factories in Europe and Asia. The union's interest was raised after being approached by pro-union workers anxious to establish higher wages and safer working conditions, particularly at plants in Chiloquin and Klamath Falls, Ore., says Bill Street of IAM.
- Oh, look at that. That's the share of college-educated workers in fast food growing. And not because the jobs are getting better.
Education