Wage Theft is the Costliest Crime in America
Local 555 Representatives Juan Arellano and Edgar Jauregui were interviewed by Scripps News for an expose on wage theft and its prevalence in the construction industry in Colorado and across the country. Denver City Council recently passed a law making wage theft under $2,000 a crime. It’s speculated that wage theft takes billions of dollars from worker’s paychecks every year. Watch the story here.
Infrastructure Bill Could Expand Opportunities for Women and People of Color
The bipartisan Infrastructure Bill has cleared its hurdle in the Senate and is now sitting in the House for debate and approval. As this Bill is still a work in progress, amendments have been proposed to include provisions of workplace participation goals for women and people of color. Additionally, amendments that include provisions for creating and maintaining respectful workplaces were also suggested. These revisions have the support of numerous organizations, contractors and international unions, including the Carpenters, Bricklayers, Boilermakers and the one Jazz is a member of, the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union. Read more about this in Construction Dive.
Local 801 Women’s Auxiliary Delivers Backpacks to Homeless Children
The Women’s Auxiliary of Local 801 delivered more than 50 backpacks filled with school supplies to underprivileged and homeless children at Columbia Elementary school in greater Salt Lake City. The backpack delivery was the culmination of a Backpack Drive that the Women’s Auxiliary organized through Local 801. The Principal of the school was overjoyed by the donation and looks forward to working with the Women’s Auxiliary on fundraisers in the future.