NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Some organizations are pushing for what they call a federal job guarantee, legislation that would ensure that anyone who needs a good job has one.

The Federal Jobs for All campaign, which launched this week, has more than 500 supporters.

Sarah Treuhaft, managing director of the nonprofit group PolicyLink, said while nationwide employment may be low, the data doesn't take into account job quality or economic security.

"The inability to provide good jobs for all is really a key failure of our economy," Treuhaft said. "Too many of the jobs we're creating are low-wage jobs that don't pay enough to make ends meet or provide for a family. Some 44% of American workers now earn less than $18,000 per year."

Several lawmakers have proposed policies that would create pilot federal job-guarantee programs in communities across the country. In addition, the Green New Deal Resolution, introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, also includes a job guarantee.

Treuhaft pointed out that local businesses, social services and taxpayers end up bearing the consequences of high unemployment.

"I think we need to think about the cost that we're paying right now for continued joblessness and for leaving people behind in our economy," she noted.

She added that livable wages and good jobs are connected to the overall health and well-being of communities: "Employment and income are correlated with all kinds of outcomes for health, well being, for democratic participation. We really need to think of it as an investment instead of a cost."

Sixty-one Tennessee counties have unemployment rates below 5%, while 34 counties now have unemployment rates at or above 5%, according to the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development.




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A new proposal from the U-S Department of Labor would clearly define what it means to be an independent contractor. Currently, the Department of Labor's definition refers to independent contractors as, "workers who, as a matter of economic reality, are not economically dependent on their employer for work and are in business for themselves."

A new definition would more clearly distinguish between them and regular employees, who are covered by more federal labor protections.

Jack Fiorito, a distinguished professor at Florida State University, explained what the new definition would do.

"The Department of Labor is saying, in effect, there are too many instances where people are, for all practical purposes, employees," Fiorito said, "but are being excluded from these laws because they're technically considered, according to the contracting party, they're considered independent contractors."

Fiorito said some opposition has come from employers who do not see themselves as such. Others are worried the gig economy would decay since independent contractors would be classified as employees, meaning they would not be making as much money. November 28 is the deadline to submit comments to the Department of Labor about the proposal.

Rapid growth in the recent decade of gig-economy companies that utilize independent contractors has made this rule necessary. But, there could be some big challenges ahead. Fiorito said one of the big ones is that the recent elections will impact whether this proposal comes to fruition.

"If they could do something before the next Congress takes office, that's about another month or so, that would probably be their only chance to do it, really. Because I think the new Congress with a Republican majority in the House is probably going to be looking to roll back any such regulations that the Department of Labor might be considering rather than expanding those," Fiorito said.

He remains uncertain as to whether the new Congress will stall on this issue or come together on it. The new rule would have sweeping implications if enacted. According to the Department of Labor estimates, there are about 22.1-million independent contractors across the nation.

On Nebraska's ballot initiative to increase the state's minimum wage by $1.50 per year between 2023 and 2026, 60% of Nebraska midterm voters said "yes," which means the Nebraska minimum wage will reach $15 an hour by 2026.

Ken Smith, economic justice program director for Nebraska Appleseed, one of 27 groups behind the Raise the Wage Nebraska coalition, acknowledged not everyone is pleased with the win. Smith said although some people feel a period of high inflation is a bad time to raise wages, coalition members believe the opposite is true.

"Our perspective is that if the cost of food and shelter and health care and child care is going up, it is a reason to ensure that Nebraskans are paid a living wage," Smith contended.

Smith pointed out history does not support the concern raising the minimum wage will hurt businesses. He cited Nebraska's experience after the 2014 minimum-wage increase and the experiences of neighboring states, and thinks the positive impact higher wages can have on businesses is one of the reasons some people voted for the initiative.

"And, in fact, it's largely been to the economic benefit of states and cities that have raised the minimum wage," Smith asserted "It's good for businesses, just as it's good for workers, and that's one of the reasons why so many people came out to support this issue in November."

Nearly 300 business owners and executives went on record in favor of the increase.

Another argument the coalition heard was small-town Nebraskans should not need the same minimum wage as workers in the metropolitan areas. Smith pointed to an MIT cost-of-living calculator, which supports the statewide increase.

"And it shows that across the state by 2026, when our wages are now scheduled to hit $15 per hour, that would be a base minimum wage that's needed in every single county across the state," Smith outlined.

The minimum wage applies to tipped workers as well. At the end of a pay period, a tipped employee's guaranteed minimum of $2.13 an hour plus their tips, must add up to at least the minimum hourly wage, or the employer must make up the difference. Smith explained the coalition is aware it does not always happen, and could be addressed separately in the future.

Faculty members at The New School have been on strike since Wednesday, seeking to negotiate a new contract with the school administration.

Some 87% of the school staff is adjunct or part-time. Most are striking, and all five schools on the campus have shut down in solidarity.

Bargaining for more compensation and a more responsive grievance system began earlier this year, but workers say concerns arose in 2018 - and the pandemic delayed getting to the bargaining table.

Zoe Carey - president of ACT-UAW Local 7902, the union local that represents part-time faculty - said part-timers want wages that meet current high inflation levels.

"Contract negotiations were underway for a successor agreement, and then the pandemic hit," said Carey. "And so, part-time faculty agreed to a two-year contract extension, to preserve many of the rights that they had under the contract. But what they didn't get was any wage increases."

Carey said she isn't sure how long the walkout will last.

Both school and faculty negotiators met last Thursday, and have been able to work out certain issues, like curriculum input. But they're still working on other critical concerns.

A statement from The New School says the situation could be resolved with the support of a mediator.

Carey added that other people on campus have been supportive of the part-time faculty's walkout.

A student-led workers' rights group, called Student Faculty Solidarity, has been organizing events to support them.

Seeing this kind of backing, Carey said, gives the instructors strength to continue their quest for a new contract.

"Full-time faculty and students are showing up in droves on the picket line, along with part-time faculty," said Carey. "It's been a hard, long fight - and so, to see that much support from our community, when the university has disrespected part-time faculty for so long, it gives us the push. It really helps us keep going."

She noted that one important element of the compensation issue is that part-time staff is paid only for their time in the classroom.

Faculty negotiators are hoping the university will recognize the time they spend outside the classroom in their pay, as well.