What’s Zapping Workers Wallets and Small Business Profits?

I worked for an apartment complex here in Tampa for over a year, and I had been promoted to maintenance supervisor. The complex was understaffed so I worked long hours, and I was constantly on call. Everyone at the complex knew how hard I worked and though it was tiring, I was proud of the […]

Minor League Baseball Pay: Way Off Base

Major League Baseball (MLB) Spring Training is in full swing, no pun intended, and yet Minor League Baseball (MiLB) players will work but not be paid. That is why the United Food and Commercial Workers’ union and other labor allies passed out leaflets at four major league spring training games to raise awareness among fans […]

Wage Theft: Limiting My Customers Buying Power

As a small business owner I am committed to compensating my employees for any and all of the work they complete for me, but I can’t solve the issue of wage theft alone. Wage theft ordinances are essential in setting a standard for employers and informing employees of their rights. While running my business part […]

Committee Meeting for the Secrecy Bill, March 4, 2015

The Florida Senate continued its push this week to take university job searches for presidents, provosts, and deans out of the sunshine so that these critical decisions could be made in the backrooms and cocktail bars of state politics.  SB 182 would exempt portions of the search process from Florida’s cherished Sunshine and open records […]

Responsible Wage Ordinance Passes Unanimously!

On Thursday, February 26th, the City of Miami Commissioners unanimously voted to pass the “Responsible Wage Ordinance.” The Coalition for Responsible Wages, a diverse group of faith, labor, community-based organizations, immigrant rights groups and university researchers came together to fight for an ordinance that will raise the wages of Miami’s construction workers and their families. […]

Save Small Businesses from the TPP: Stop Fast Track!

The purpose of American trade policy should be to help American businesses thrive and create good jobs at home. It should not be a giant giveaway to big corporations that can make more money by sending jobs overseas and avoiding taxes while we are left to foot the bill. The Chamber of Commerce and the […]

Florida Business Owners Support Fair Hiring Legislation

Main Street Alliance of Florida members travelled to Daytona Beach to join other community leaders in making a presentation to the Daytona City Commission on “ban the box” legislation. The legislation would remove the question, “Have you ever been convicted of a felony,” from job applications allowing applicants to be considered based on their experience […]

Here’s What’s Wrong with TPP

Congress will soon consider legislation to give the President “Fast Track” Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). As the President of the Northwest Florida Federation of Labor, which represents thousands working families in Northwest Florida, this is cause for grave concern. Past trade deals have a poor track record and are known job killers (including 118,000 jobs […]

TP the TPP: Good, Bad and Ugly

The Good The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) is billed as a 21st century trade agreement that will expand economic opportunity for American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses. TPP is on track to be the largest international trade agreement with promises to boost economic growth, support American jobs, and grow Made-in-America exports to some of the […]