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Lucila Ramirez, 55, has been cleaning the bathrooms and tables at Washington, D.C.’s Union Station for 21 years. Despite her long record of service, Ramirez says she makes only $8.75 per hour, and receives no benefits or sick days. “I work in a federal building doing work on behalf of the government
In the media
Jillian Berman
Washington – On Wednesday, May 8 at 9 a.m. EST, low-wage workers from around the country employed in a variety of firms operating under federal contracts, loans, and leases will join Members of Congress, community leaders, and local elected officials to announce the launch of Good Jobs Nation—a new
Press release/statement
NEW YORK, NY – With much attention on labor strikes spreading across the country to protest low pay and poor working conditions in the retail and fast food industries, national public policy center Demos releases a new report today documenting a surprising part of the economy where low wages are
Press release/statement
The average unemployment rate in the first quarter of this year was 7.7 percent. But for African-American workers that rate was 13.6 percent. For Latinos, it was 9.5 percent. And among those who do have jobs, wages are not rising.
In the media
Jim Kuhnhenn
The vacuous, cheerful expression of the Walmart smiley face has long been associated with the paradoxically dark reality of low-wage work. With the recent fast-food worker walkouts in New York, the golden arches may go down, too, in the annals of class-war symbology.
In the media
Anna Simonton
The class of ’13 has no luck at all. As the graduates take to the streets with their six-month grace periods before their student loan debt bills begin arriving, they face a horrific job market. “At 16.2 percent, the March 2013 unemployment rate of workers under age 25 was [roughly] twice as high as
In the media
Gregory Bresiger
A recent AARP Public Policy Institute report found that average credit card balances for households over age 75 jumped 31 percent during the recession. A separate AARP report found that boomers - households over age 50 - now have higher overall credit card debt than younger people - a reversal of
In the media
Mark Miller
Collusion — and conflicts of interest — between politicians and billionaires now operate across borders. When he was president, Nicolas Sarkozy reserved special favours for the Qataris (including a tax exemption on their highest-value property purchases). Qatar is now prepared to back him in
In the media
Serge Halimi
Dangers for Boomers’ Debt and Savings Here’s the rub: Alarm bells are going off about both the size of midlifers’ debts and their limited savings.
In the media
Chris Farrell
To retirees, the offers can sound like the answer to every money worry: convert tomorrow’s pension checks into today’s hard cash.
In the media
Jessica Silver-Greenberg