David Weil

Labor Secretary’s Top Aides Forced Out

There were no tawdry DOL scandals during the @Obama or Biden administrations. Just dedication to enforcing our laws. Just sayin'. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/u... @drdavidmichaels.bsky.social @juliesulabor.bsky.social @alt-dol.altgov.info

Amazon Drives Low Wages: The Unraveling of Workplace Protections for Delivery Drivers - The Shift Project Read the Full Article Amazon has revolutionized shopping and challenged traditional brick-and-mortar retail. But at the heart of this logistics […]

And the full report by @dschneider.bsky.social @juliesulabor.bsky.social and Kevin Bruey here. Amazon Drives Low Wages: The Unraveling of Workplace Protections for Delivery Drivers - The Shift Project share.google/qVfQzHAX2QTj...

The unraveling of workplace protections for delivery drivers: A tale of 2 workplace models A first-of-its-kind study finds Amazon’s delivery drivers earn less and face more instability than their unionized counterparts.

The conflict could not be more clear: Here is Bezos' big dog in this fight! theconversation.com/the-unraveli... @nelp.org @josheidelson.bsky.social

Opinion | A win for 11.9 million workers Most independent contractors want the flexibility they lose when they become direct employees.

So the editorial board of @washingtonpost.com supports the Trump rule on independent contractors. Yet NO disclaimer that Bezos and Amazon depend on misclassification of drivers for their biz model. @prospect.org
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Rejecting Decades of Science, Vaccine Panel Chair Says Polio and Other Shots Should Be Optional

And speaking of failing to understand the most basic idea of externalities, another voice from this twisted administration. Jonas Salk is rolling in his grave. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/h...

Trump’s E.P.A. Has Put a Value on Human Life: Zero Dollars

This action says it all about this administration: the value of reducing deaths in the workplace, community, and from exposure to risk? $0. Even the most conservative economists would say this is insane policy. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/c...

Despite Crackdown on Activism, Tech Employees Are Still Picking Fights

Important piece by @noamscheiber.bsky.social on why tech workers exercise voice and organized even in tough times. Hint: They realize they are more like each other than their boss. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/b...

Trump DOL levied 95% fewer penalties per month (in constant dollars) than under Obama ($26 million per month under Obama vs. 1.3 million per month under Trump).

More evidence of the collapse of federal wage theft enforcement under Trump from @goodjobsfirst.org. See more details at goodjobsfirst.org/worker-prote...

When comparing monthly enforcement averages by presidential term:
Wage and hour penalties have decreased 94% during Trump’s second
Workplace health and safety penalties have dropped 45% during the second Trump Administration.

Under Trump v.2:
Combined wage and hour and safety penalties dropped 66% in inflation-adjusted dollars.
Wage and hour penalties dropped 83%.
Wage and hour enforcement cases declined by 97%.
Workplace health and safety penalties dropped 47%.
Health and safety enforcement cases fell by 35%.

Worker Protections in Freefall: The Collapse of Federal Labor Enforcement under the Second Trump Administration - Good Jobs First Worker Protections in Freefall: The Collapse of Federal Labor Enforcement under the Second Trump Administration - Good Jobs First

It matters to workers who is President: @goodjobsfirst.org reports that 2025 has witnessed a dramatic drop in federal enforcement of wage and workplace safety regulations. goodjobsfirst.org/worker-prote...

YouTube video by Capital & Main Home Care Workers Are Losing Minimum Wage Protections — and Fighting Back

We all have relied at one time on homecare help. I was proud to work for @barackobama.bsky.social to make sure these workers receive overtime and minimum wage protection. Now Trump wants to take it away. We need to fight like hell to make sure that doesn't happen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNYt...

Home Care Workers Are Losing Minimum Wage Protections — and Fighting Back Three million care workers, many of them Black and Latina women, could be classified as “companions” instead of professionals.

I led the DOL's Wage and Hour Division when the homecare rule was affirmed and we implemented it for 2+million workers and the people they help. This article captures the cost of Trump's effort to take away those protections. capitalandmain.com/home-care-wo... @nelp.org @capitalandmain.bsky.social

Opinion | Americans Won’t Have Faith in the Rule of Law Until the Law Works for Them

In the context of a White House that chafes at the rule of law, we need to think about real enforcement for work, consumers, and citizens--not just laws on the books. Read this great piece by @daveyseligman.bsky.social & @srf1802.bsky.social to see why. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/01/o...

A worrisome stat but critical to commit to memory: @nytimes.com reports the top 10% account for 50% of consumer spending. That's how income inequality can let the few do well while the many sink. Beware. @epi.org @hiltzikm.bsky.social

@alexshultz.bsky.social and I have a long discussion of how all those packages show up on your door so quickly--and who is paying the price of "free Prime delivery." Hint: There is no such things as a free lunch...

YouTube video by Lionsgate Movies Good Fortune (2025) Official Trailer #2 – Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari, Keke Palmer, Keanu Reeves

I normally leave it to others to recommed movies, but Good Fortune is a sweet comedy about life, empathy and gig work. And even about organizing unions. @veenadubal.bsky.social is even thanked in the credits! youtu.be/SAMkXY2Ja80?...

Gigs That Work For All | Common Dreams ​A California pilot program offers a new blueprint for workforce development.

Think that gig work requires sacrificing worker rights? Pronita Gupta and I describe a way to provide good jobs and REAL flexibility for those who need both. And it doesn't rhyme with "tuber." www.commondreams.org/opinion/gig-... @caseygrants.bsky.social @theworkeragency.com

How Amazon Is Conquering (and Ruining) the Package Delivery Market To fulfill billions of orders, Amazon leans on gig workers and subcontractors—an anti-labor practice afflicting most sectors of the economy. We spoke to the preeminent expert on the subject.

With Black Friday fast approaching, @alexshultz.bsky.social spoke with David Weil (@profsheenalives.bsky.social) about how Amazon leans on gig workers, a profoundly anti-labor practice, for their billions of deliveries:

www.hardresetmedia.com/p/how-amazon...

How Amazon Is Conquering (and Ruining) the Package Delivery Market To fulfill billions of orders, Amazon leans on gig workers and subcontractors—an anti-labor practice afflicting most sectors of the economy. We spoke to the preeminent expert on the subject.

I had a long discussion with @alexshultz.bsky.social of @hardresetmedia.com about how the rise of Amazon undermines work for delivery drivers and wider impacts on labor. www.hardresetmedia.com/p/how-amazon...

The unraveling of workplace protections for delivery drivers: A tale of 2 workplace models A first-of-its-kind study finds Amazon’s delivery drivers earn less and face more instability than their unionized counterparts.

UPS & Amazon represents an epic battle of two work systems: one offering protections for workers and good jobs and one that undermines them. Guess whose winning? share.google/wrWucVQJshXU... @danielschneider.bsky.social @juliesulabor.bsky.social @bruey

Amazon Drives Low Wages: The Unraveling of Workplace Protections for Delivery Drivers - The Shift Project Read the Full Article Amazon has revolutionized shopping and challenged traditional brick-and-mortar retail. But at the heart of this logistics […]

Amazon and UPS jobs represent two competing futures for work. As the largest US private delivery company, Amazon's market power and non-employment practices impact the working conditions of UPS and other workers beyond its own delivery drivers. shift.hks.harvard.edu/amazon-drive...

UPS with its unionized workforce is hiring more gig workers. Wonder why? How about the pressure from Amazon that directly hires no one. We discuss that below. www.wsj.com/business/log...

Remember that the lowest quartile of the income distribution grew faster than the top quartile during the Biden administration (meaning decreased inequality)? Guess what is happening now? Yep. We are back to widening earnings gap. Just in time for the holidays...

Sadly you are probably right.

Trump Administration Live Updates: President Pardons Binance Founder With Ties to First Family’s Crypto Venture

He tears down the WH East Wing without any warning, plan or approval. He pardons hucksters like George Santos and now an individual who committed crimes with direct connections to his family. Democrats: Where the hell are you? www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...

Fresh for Prime Day, my report with @dschneider.bsky.social @juliesulabor.bsky.social and Kevin Bruey shows how the rise of Amazon depresses wages, benefits and protections for their drivers compared to union drivers @ UPS. This is how good wages and protections unwind. @shift-project.bsky.social

How ICE Terror Campaigns Are Used to Discipline Labor While Chicago sees a surge of ICE detentions, workers are facing retaliation as immigrants when they advocate for their rights.

Intimidating workers because of their immigration status weakens rights and protections for ALL workers. A disturbing report in @prospect.org . prospect.org/labor/2025-1... @nelp.org @aflcio.org @shift-project.bsky.social

Commentary: Trump won't last forever. Here's what it will take to rebuild what he's tearing down Trump's targets and adversaries start to think about how to rebuild the America he has demolished.

@hiltzikm.bsky.social on the challenges of a post-Trump era in terms of labor, health, and science. It's not a pretty picture, but important to think ahead... www.latimes.com/business/sto...