Florida migrant farmworkers and their allies will march from New York to Florida next month to call attention to working conditions in the fields; the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Alliance for Fair Food are calling on the fast-food chain Wendy’s to join the Fair Food Program. WMNF News interviewed Patricia Cipollitti, who works with… Read more »
Strikes, walkouts and rallies in Tampa and Saint Petersburg were part of a nationwide protest demanding a 15 dollar an hour minimum wage. Tuesday’s events in the Tampa Bay metro area culminated with a rally at Gaslight Park in downtown Tampa. The event gathered together a diverse group of supporters with a clearly defined purpose…. Read more »
By Rob Lorei Today in Tampa, low wage workers will be walking out of their jobs and rallying at Lykes Gaslight park as part of a nationwide strike organized by Fight for 15 movement, which advocates for a 15 dollar an hour minimum wage and union representation. Joining us to talk about the ongoing push for… Read more »
By Rob Lorei Hillsborough and Pinellas counties will soon be joining several South Florida counties in passing local ordinances aimed at protecting workers from wage theft. Wage theft is when employees are withheld rightly owed wages or benefits, sometimes through forcing workers to work off the clock, denying paychecks, or garnishing employee tips. It especially affects service… Read more »
Hillsborough County now has a way to help employees who are getting short-changed by their bosses; the County Commission unanimously passed a “wage recovery ordinance” Wednesday morning to resolve disputes when a worker claims wage theft. During public comment, Tampa resident Mike Reedy told commissioners the ordinance would help keep disputes over wage theft by workers… Read more »
Monday the United States reached agreement with eleven partner countries concluding negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership; there’s organized opposition to the TPP from environmental and labor activists, including a field director for the Central Labor Council – Aaron Carmella, who was a guest on WMNF’s MidPoint Monday. We talked about why labor opposes this trade… Read more »
Florida tomato harvesters are celebrating that a labor agreement they hashed out with growers is spreading to other states; the Fair Food Program began as a deal between the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and tomato growers in Florida as a way to increase wages and enhance labor protections. But an organizer with the CIW, Gerardo… Read more »
throughout most of Bernie Sanders presidential run, a lot have attention has been drawn to the fact that he is a self-described democratic socialist. But what exactly is democratic socialism? Joining us is Maria Svart, the National Director of the Democratic Socialists of America, to give insight into the this ideology that pairs democratic political… Read more »
This year signs have popped up in front of schools in Hillsborough County by a large temporary work agency seeking teachers; does this mean there’s a major teacher shortage? This week WMNF News put that question to School Board member April Griffin, who said the district is always looking to hire new teachers but they’ve… Read more »
St. Petersburg City Council will consider a new budget for final approval Thursday; but the union representing more than 1200 city workers is upset at a proposal by Mayor Rick Kriseman to eliminate annual step increases for employees in exchange for an across-the-board 3-percent raise. Rick Smith is chief of staff for the Florida Public… Read more »
By Rob Lorei The presidential race so far has brought a lot of attention to illegal immigration and its affect on low wage jobs, but there is growing attention on the practice of major companies using the H1B work visa to replace US workers with imported, cheaper foreign workers. The H1B visa was originally intended… Read more »
Today Host Rob Lorei talks with two Tampa area workers who just returned from a trip to Brazil to testify at a global hearing on the working conditions of McDonald’s workers from all over the world. Bleu Rainer, a McDonald’s employee for three years, and Nadaije Pail Jajoute, a childcare worker and wage advocate, are part of… Read more »
Head of Florida teachers union criticizes state education budget
Fast food workers protest in Tampa for minimum wage hike
Hillsborough County Commission voted to have an attorney draft a wage theft ordinance.
In Florida Secretary of Labor pushes paid family leave and increased minimum wage
May Day rally for labor and immigration rights in Ybor City
Preview of May Day labor and immigration rally in Tampa
In St. Pete Student Farmworker Alliance announces boycott of Wendy’s
Adjunct instructors at USF will join national walkout Wednesday
WMNF is non-commercial community conscious radio – we survive only due to the generosity of listeners like you. Please consider a sustaining monthly contribution and receive annual coupons for swag when you Join the WMNF Circle of Friends.
