Perspectives
Universal basic income could redress the high cost of underemployment in Chicago
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In a booming economy failing to provide enough living wage jobs, the city can more than afford to try Ald. Ameya Pawar’s proposal to relieve poverty.
Perspectives: The Powers That Be
From police to schools to transit, a crisis of accountability in Chicago
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As Rahm Emanuel courts flashy projects amid a slew of scandals, it seems the mayor is more accountable to big-money donors than to neighborhood constituents.
Employment and Labor
Proposed labor watchdog would give city’s worker protection laws some teeth
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The Office of Labor Standards would enforce Chicago’s minimum wage increase, guaranteed paid sick days, and guard against wage theft for vulnerable workers.
Perspectives: The Powers That Be
Highway expansion drives jobs away from communities that need them
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The costly projects will add to the exodus of jobs to the suburbs making employment out of reach for low-income Chicagoans who rely on public transit.
Cuando les roban el salario, pocos trabajadores de Illinois recuperan sus sueldos
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Los trabajadores que reportan robo de salarios ahora enfrentan periodos de espera más largos, un porcentaje mayor de despidos y más burocracia.
Employment and Labor
Wage theft victims have little chance of recouping pay in Illinois
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Low-wage workers face long waits and high dismissal rates when filing stolen wage claims with the state labor department.
Perspectives: The Powers That Be
On $15 minimum wage hike, Rauner should listen to constituents
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A bill sitting on the governor’s desk would heed the call of Illinois voters, a majority of whom endorsed a minimum wage increase in a 2014 referendum.
Employment and Labor
Chicago needs to better enforce labor ordinances, aldermen and advocates say
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Lax enforcement of the minimum wage hike highlights the need for a dedicated Office of Labor Standards to ensure workers are getting their due, worker groups say.
Employment and Labor
Chicago’s lax enforcement of minimum wage hike leaves workers in the lurch
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Unlike in other cities, no new resources have been dedicated to policing new labor ordinances in Chicago, resulting in toothless oversight and few options for underpaid workers to recoup wages.
Perspectives: The Powers That Be
Emanuel should move to protect airport workers from exploitation
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As a sanctuary city, advocates say Chicago lawmakers should “walk the walk” and ensure Midway and O’Hare employees, many of whom are immigrants and refugees, can make a living wage and get benefits.