Media clips
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People who sign these contracts waive their rights to sue and agree to settle disputes through binding arbitration, a process that’s secretive, expensive and final. An estimated 60 million U.S. private-sector nonunion employees — or 56 percent of the total workforce — are covered by mandatory arbitration policies, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
San Antonio Express-News April 18, 2018 -
‘AMBUSH ELECTION RULE’ COMMENTS: An Obama-era rule to speed up union elections has “made NLRB elections more efficient” and should not be scrapped, according to the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. The group published a letter on the NLRB’s website today; the public comment period closes tomorrow on a December NLRB request for information about whether the rule should be modified or rescinded. EPI says the rule “[streamlined] the process and [allowed] employees to vote on a timelier basis” and “modernized rules” for union elections.
Politico Pro April 17, 2018 -
Ohio ranked second among the 10 largest states for a common type of wage theft, minimum wage violations, according to a report last year by the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank in Washington. It estimates that Ohioans annually lose $600 million to wage theft. .. Many experts say the problem is far greater than the number of complaints indicates. The Economic Policy Institute based its estimate of $600 million in lost wages on data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s monthly federal Current Population Survey. “If our estimates are even close to being true, they suggest that what’s being reported to agencies in Ohio is a tiny fraction of the wage theft occurring, and that back wages collected are an even smaller fraction,” said David Cooper, an the Economic Policy Institute senior economic analyst who co-authored the report.
The Plain Dealer April 16, 2018 -
Though it’s formally called a credit, the EITC is a tax refund that puts extra money in the pockets of lower-income working families and individuals, particularly those raising children. “The EITC is set out to encourage work, and also boost the earnings of low-income workers,” says Hunter Blair, a budget analyst with Economic Policy Institute, a progressive think tank. “It incentivizes people who are low-income workers to work more hours, and incentivizes people who are not in the labor force to enter the labor force.” (Blair quoted throughout)
Equal Voice for Families April 12, 2018 -
Teachers—and other public sector employees—have always enjoyed better benefits compared to private sector peers. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that benefits, including health insurance, retirement pensions, and payroll taxes add up to about 27% of teachers’ total compensation, compared to 22% for other professionals.
Time April 12, 2018 -
Compared to other comparable professions, though, there has been a widening pay gap for public school teachers, a study by the Economic Policy Institute, a progressive, union-backed think tank, found. Public school teachers made an average of 17 percent less than similarly educated professionals in 2015, up from a 1.8 percent gap in 1994. The study found that, when adjusted for inflation, the average weekly wages of public school teachers decreased $30 per week from 1996 to 2015, while the weekly wages of all college graduates rose $124 per week during the same period. And experienced teachers have been the hardest hit — they had a 1.9 percent advantage over entry-level teachers in 1996 and a 17.8 percent penalty compared to entry-level teachers in 2015.
UPI April 12, 2018 -
The dramatic resurgence of the teacher pay issue specifically, says Lawrence Mishel of the Economic Policy Institute, has been simmering for some time. “You’re seeing two factors—the debasement of the teaching profession and the erosion of wages and benefits to the point where educators are rightfully angry,” says Mishel. “They’re determined to protect their families and their profession.” (Larry and Snapshot quoted throughout)
NEA Today April 12, 2018 -
“It would virtually be malpractice” for employer attorneys not to recommend the adoption of class action waivers if they’re approved by the justices, Sunu P. Chandy, legal director of the National Women’s Law Center, told an audience April 6 at an Economic Policy Institute event in Washington. EPI, which is supported principally by foundations and labor unions, identifies itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on addressing the needs of low- and middle-income workers in economic policy discussions.
Bloomberg BNA April 12, 2018 -
EPI president: U.S. must “develop and articulate its own long-term economic development strategy.” A Senate Finance subcommittee convened a hearing today to talk about barriers to market entryin China for foreign firms. Its guest list was ideologically diverse – some question President Trump’s tariff policies – but were still remarkably consistent about the need to respond to China’s state-directed mercantilism. “You cannot be a global company and ignore one fifth of the world’s population,” said Dean Garfield, president of the Information Technology Industry Council. Linda Dempsey of the National Association of Manufacturers called for a bilateral trade agreement between Washington and Beijing. Thea Lee, president of the Economic Policy Institute, pointed out that China makes no secrets about pursuing an aggressive long-term industrial policy to boost its economy, often at the expense of its trading partners. Then Lee said this: (includes excerpt of testimony)
Alliance for American Manufacturing April 12, 2018 -
Valerie Wilson, director of the Program on Race, Ethnicity and the Economy at the Economic Policy Institute, said a majority of those on assistance were already working — but that wages in many jobs remained too low for people to get by. “Work requirements are inconsistent with the realities of poverty in America and are unlikely to provide any resolution,” she said. “The truth is that a majority of poor people who can work, do work — more than 60 percent.” Wilson said low-wage workers are working more hours now that they did nearly 40 years ago. “The problem is that their jobs don’t pay enough,” she said. “People who are on public assistance and don’t work are not choosing between a six-figure salary or staying at home. Taking a low-paying job gets no one closer to economic stability.”
The Washington Post April 11, 2018