real utopias

In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith noted that central aspects of living in poverty include marginalization from public life and suffering the stigma associated with being poor.

Statewide or districtwide, minimum wage increases will go into effect in 20 states by Thursday, and, all told, 29 states will exceed the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour at the beginning of January.

It's almost 2015, which means minimum wage workers are getting a raise. Thanks to a state amendment passed by voters...

Vermont has some of the most progressive wage and hour laws in the country, but low-income workers are still struggling.

Garcetti calls for $13.25 minimum wage by 2017 Los Angeles Times Mayor Eric Garcetti on Monday launched an ambitious campaign to impose a $13.25-an-hour minimum wage requirement for all workers in Los Angeles by 2017, calling it the "largest...

A majority of Kentucky voters want the federal government to raise the minimum wage, but say workers should be allowed to hold jobs at unionized businesses without joining the union or paying its dues.

In an essay published this week by Politico Magazine, venture capitalist Nick Hanauer warned that the widening income gap in the U.S.

In last year's State of the Union speech, President Obama called for congress to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour. Since then, the conversation has shifted to an even-higher $10.10. But there has been a heated debate over the effects of such an increase. One side argues that a wage increase will put more money in people's pockets and aid in the economic recovery. The other claims that such a large increase will put a strain on businesses, causing them to lay off workers. Others still, simply believe that minimum wage workers shouldn't be making any more than they already are.

A century ago, the misery of New York’s urban poor was embodied by the iconic scene of the morning shape-up at the docks, where rough-hewn longshoremen lined up anxiously to see if the boss would pick them for that day’s crew or turn them back empty-handed. These days, the city has a different kind of shape-up—a less visible mill of workers staffing its bustling boutiques and vendors. Instead of assembling at the waterfront, they call the manager to find out how many hours they can get on a given day—stressing about whether they’ll clock enough hours this month to make rent, or hoping their next workday doesn’t interfere with their school schedule or doctor’s appointment.

McDonald's Corp. is named in all the suits, along with franchisees in some, because lawyers say the company exerts control over staffing at all its locations.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says a minimum wage increase would be a job killer. Republicans and the Chamber also say unions are job killers, workplace safety regulations are job killers, environmental regulations are job killers, and the Affordable Care Act is a job killer. The California Chamber of Commerce even publishes an annual list of “job killers,” including almost any measures that lift wages or protect workers and the environment.

Wisconsin progressive groups and Democrats continue to hammer home the message that the state needs to raise its minimum wage.