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☆ Transit workers who lost jobs when they didn't get Covid vaccines are awarded $1M
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Antonio Planas | Antonio Planas Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

A federal jury awarded the six ex-BART workers between $1.1 million and more than $1.5 million each, court records show. Kevin Snider, who served as lead attorney, said the workers didn’t compromise their religious convictions for their jobs. A class-action lawsuit filed in October 2022 said BART granted the vaccine religious exemption for some, but denied accommodations in every instance. Between then and February 2022, about 179 employees submitted requests for religious exemptions, and 70 were approved, the suit said. However, one in three BART employees seeking medical exemptions were granted an accommodation, according to the suit.

Persons: ”, Kevin Snider Organizations: Bay, Rapid Transit, BART, Northern, Northern District of, The Pacific Justice Institute, Covid Locations: California, U.S, Northern District, Northern District of California

☆ Microsoft reaches settlement in California over claims it punished employees for taking protected time off
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Microsoft is paying $14.4 million to settle a case in California over allegations that the company retaliated against employees who had taken legally protected time off. Within core Microsoft, women represented 31.2% of the workforce in 2023, up from 27.6% in 2019, according to the company's latest diversity report. Employees have reported feeling worried about retaliation after asking for protected leave, according to the California complaint. As part of the settlement, Microsoft will provide training to direct and second-level managers of staff members in California and to human-resources employees who deal with their bonuses and merit increases. Managers will also be instructed not to consider time off for protected leave when making "impact" decisions.

Persons: Microsoft's, Microsoft didn't, Satya Nadella, Mustafa Suleyman Organizations: Microsoft, Mobile, California's Civil Rights Department, Employees Locations: Barcelona, California, Redmond , Washington

☆ University of California Workers Vote to Authorize Strike in Rebuke Over Protest Crackdowns
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Jonathan Wolfe | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But academic workers in the University of California system authorized their union on Wednesday to call for a strike over something else entirely: free speech. 4811, represents about 48,000 graduate students and other academic workers at 10 University of California system campuses and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The strike authorization vote, which passed with 79 percent support, comes two weeks after dozens of counterprotesters attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles, for several hours without police intervention, and without arrests. The vote does not guarantee a strike but rather gives the executive board of the local union, which is part of the United Auto Workers, the ability to call a strike at any time. Eight of the 10 University of California campuses still have a month of instruction left before breaking for summer.

Persons: Lawrence, counterprotesters Organizations: University of California, U.A.W, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, United Auto Workers Locations: Los Angeles

Starting Monday, fast-food workers in California at chains with more than 60 national locations earn $20 an hour, higher than the state's broader minimum wage of $16 per hour. California pay is already highwatch nowWhile the new fast-food minimum wage is among the highest in the U.S., California employers are used to paying more for their labor. Even when it is not mandated, restaurants usually find themselves paying more than the minimum wage to attract hourly workers. As a full-service restaurant chain, the company won't be obligated to pay its California workers $20 an hour. Advocates prepare to go biggerFrom start to finish, the California law, which was backed by the Service Employees International Union, has been controversial.

Persons: David Paul Morris, Gavin Newsom, Matthew Haller, Daniel Zhao, Zhao, Lauren Crabbe, she's, Crabbe, Matthew Clark, Jennifer B, Perez, I'm, it's, Newsom, Greg Flynn, Flynn Organizations: McDonald's Corp, Bloomberg, Getty, International Franchise Association, CNBC, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Service Employees International Union, Gov, SEIU Locations: Oakland , California, U.S, California, , California, Fresno, San Francisco, Long Beach

☆ Chipotle’s Labor Costs Are Rising. Customers Will See It in Pricing.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Jennifer Williams-Alvarez | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A law in California raising the hourly minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20, starting in April, will increase Chipotle’s labor costs in the state on average by 15% to 20% next year. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesChipotle Mexican Grill is expecting a significant bump in labor costs next year because of a new law in California. Starting in April, minimum wage for fast-food workers in California will increase to $20 an hour, up from the state’s current hourly minimum wage of $15.50. The law applies to fast-food chains with at least 60 national locations and will come as the state’s minimum wage is set to rise to $16 an hour in January. Chipotle currently pays California workers in the high teens, around $17 to $18 an hour, said Chief Financial Officer Jack Hartung.

Persons: Justin Sullivan, Chipotle, Jack Hartung Locations: California

☆ Chipmaker Qualcomm to lay off over 1200 California workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Workers in California will soon receive a minimum of five days of paid sick leave annually, instead of three, under a new law Gov. The law, which takes effect in January, also increases the amount of sick leave workers can carry over into the following year. “Too many folks are still having to choose between skipping a day’s pay and taking care of themselves or their family members when they get sick,” Newsom said in a statement announcing his action. Newsom already signed a law to raise the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 an hour. Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, a Democrat from Santa Cruz who authored the law and is a former local elections official, said the law creates necessary guardrails around elections.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Newsom, “, ” Newsom, ” Jennifer Barrera, ” Andrea Zinder, Shasta, Donald Trump, ’, Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, ”, Cathy Darling Allen, Hart InterCivic, Darling Allen, Patrick Henry Jones, ” Jones didn’t, ___ Sophie Austin, @sophieadanna Organizations: — Workers, Democratic, Wednesday, California Chamber of Commerce, unionize, Food, Commercial Workers Western States Council, Dominion Voting Systems, Santa Cruz, Democrat, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Northern California, Shasta, Santa, Shasta County, United States

☆ Morgan Stanley says buy these defensive growth stocks as economy disappoints
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In an uncertain market environment, Morgan Stanley thinks investors can regain confidence with some large-cap defensive stocks. All are members of the top 1000 by market cap universe, have outperformed on a year-to-date basis, and are classified as a growth stock based on Morgan Stanley's proprietary factor classification model. "In our view, the best way to express that in a portfolio is to hold a barbell of defensive growth (select growth stories and more traditional defensive sectors like Healthcare and Consumer Staples) with late-cycle cyclicals (Industrials and Energy)." Here are some names from Morgan Stanley's playbook: McDonald's is a sure defensive play, according to the firm. Still, Morgan Stanley analysts view the burger chain as a growth stock that is set to outperform in the coming months.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Morgan, Michelle Weaver, Consumer Staples, Morgan Stanley's, FactSet Organizations: Healthcare, Consumer, Energy, Costco, Apple, Analysts, Accenture, Ross Stores, Marriott Locations: California

☆ A fight between fast-food chains and unions in California is over, for now – what to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Gavin Newsom's office, also creates a nine-person council that will decide on future wage hikes for the fast-food industry in California through 2029. The deal will mean a wage floor of $20 for California workers at fast-food chains with at least 60 locations nationwide, starting April 1. The council will include four representatives from the fast-food industry, four from the workers' side and one neutral party who will serve as chair. But the fast-food industry was attacking the bill before it even made its way to Newsom's desk. Fast-food workers employed by affected restaurants will see pay increases of as much as 25% hit their paychecks starting in April.

Persons: Mario Tama, Gavin Newsom's, Mark Kalinowski, Newsom, Joe Erlinger, Erlinger, Jan, What's, Joe Pawlak, Technomic, they'll, Joe Pawlak Technomic, Pawlak, Mary Kay Henry, it's, Sean Kennedy, Burger Organizations: Getty, Gov, Equity Research, Democrat, FAST, Yum Brands, Restaurant Brands, McDonald's, Citi Research, Service Employees International Union, SEIU, California State, CNBC, Walmart, Target, Food, National Restaurant Association, Delta Airlines, Los Angeles International Airport Locations: Boyle, Los Angeles , California, California, McDonald's U.S, Minnesota, New York, —

☆ McDonald's franchisee group says new California fast-food bill will cause 'devastating financial blow'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Kate Rogers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

After California lawmakers passed a landmark fast-food bill, an independent advocacy group of McDonald's owners is pushing back against what it says will be a "devastating financial blow" to its franchisees in the state, according to a memo to its membership viewed by CNBC. It includes a wage floor of $20 for California workers at fast-food chains with at least 60 locations nationwide, starting April 1. The National Owners Association, an independent advocacy group of more than 1,000 McDonald's owners, projects in the memo the bill will cost each restaurant in the state $250,000 annually. McDonald's sent its own letter to its restaurant system on Monday, which was viewed by CNBC. The new legislation eliminated the threat of joint franchisor-franchisee liability, which McDonald's said would "destroy the franchise model in California and strip thousands of restaurant owners of the right to run their business."

Persons: Gavin Newsom's, McDonald's, Roger Delph Organizations: CNBC, Gov, Labor, National Owners Association, National Restaurant Association, International Franchise Association, IFA, [ Service Employees International, America, Team, Industrial Welfare Commission Locations: California

Adolph sued Uber in 2019, claiming the company misclassified UberEats drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, who must be reimbursed for work expenses under California law. A unique California law called the Private Attorney General Act, or PAGA, allows workers to sue for employment law violations on behalf of the state and keep one-quarter of any money they win. The California Supreme Court said nothing in that law bars workers from pursuing claims on their own behalf in arbitration while separately litigating large-scale claims in court. Michael Rubin, who represents Adolph, said the ruling could spur companies to reconsider forcing workers' claims into arbitration if large-scale PAGA lawsuits can still proceed in court. Business groups maintain that arbitration is quicker and more efficient than court, allowing workers to recoup more money.

Persons: Erik Adolph, Adolph, Uber, Theane, Michael Rubin, Rubin, Daniel Wiessner, Alison Frankel, Alexia Garamfalvi, Josie Kao Organizations: Technologies, California Supreme, Private, Supreme, Viking, Business, Trade, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Thomson Locations: California, U.S, Albany , New York, New York

☆ California is about to give Hollywood studios a lucrative tax deal during the writers’ strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The state of California is about to give movie and TV studios a new lucrative tax perk. The new, refundable tax credits come as competition for film and TV production from other states and countries is on the rise. In a 2020 SEC filing, Netflix said it had $250 million in California R&D tax credits — far more than it could use. In addition to refundable tax credits and stricter safety standards, the bill establishes specific diversity requirements. The bill also adds a new member to the state’s film commission with diversity, equity, and inclusion expertise.

Persons: Gavin Newsom’s, Newsom, Alec Baldwin’s, Wendy Carrillo, ‘ Rust, Dave Cortese, Baldwin, Halyna Hutchins, ” Cortese, Carrillo, ”, Chris Hoene, that’s, Hoene, ” Carrillo, “ Organizations: CNN, Netflix, SEC, Disney, Comcast’s Universal Studios, Democratic, Warner Bros, Warner Bros ., Hollywood, Guild of America, SAG, WGA, California Budget, Policy Center Locations: California, States, New York, Georgia, Angeles County, Los Angeles

☆ Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus Supplier Paid California Workers $1.58
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Department of Labor randomly investigated 50 clothing companies in Southern California. It found that more than 80% were breaking one or more provisions of federal labor law. One garment maker was paying workers just $1.58 an hour. In what the department described as a "particularly egregious case," one garment manufacturer — making clothes for brands including Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Stitch Fix, and Von Maur, per investigators — was found to be paying some workers an hourly rate of just $1.58. It shows, she argued, "that strong federal action is needed to change the abusive pay rates in the American garment manufacturing industry."

A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based court reversed a lower court ruling in 2021 that the ballot measure, known as Proposition 22, was unconstitutional. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and several gig drivers who challenged Prop 22 will likely appeal the decision to the California Supreme Court, the state's top court. Prop 22 was approved in November 2020 by nearly 60% of voters in California. It exempted app-based drivers from a 2019 state law known as AB5 that makes it difficult to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees. "Across the state, drivers and couriers have said they are happy with Prop 22, which affords them new benefits while preserving the unique flexibility of app-based work," West said.

☆ This former tech worker is helping change laws for people who get laid off
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Ifeoma Ozoma’s path as an advocate for tech workers started with a series of tweets one morning in June 2020. She emerged as a passionate advocate for tech workers by seeking legal protections for whistleblowers. “So many people reached out when I told my story, and most of them were tech workers or workers within the tech industry,” she said. The 30-year-old mentors activists and other people fighting all over the world against workplace discrimination. After leaving Pinterest, Ozoma moved to a farm near Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she grows her own vegetables and raises a flock of chickens nicknamed the Golden Girls.

☆ Ifeoma Ozoma is a passionate advocate for tech whistleblowers. It all started with tweets
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

☆ California signed off a landmark new law that could pave the way for a $22 minimum wage for fast-food workers. Here's how the state's fast food council will work.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-06 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

California has passed legislation to create a Fast Food Council that could pave the way for a $22 minimum wage. The council would create minimum standards for areas like health and safety, wages, and conditions. "Fast food workers are the largest and fastest growing group of low-wage workers in the state and lack sector-specific protections," it continues. Californian counties and cities with more than 200,000 residents would also be able to establish a Local Fast Food Council. The council's purposes would be to "establish sectorwide minimum standards on wages, working hours, and other working conditions," including training and health and safety standards.

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