Alabama may be a conservative state. But conservative activists still insist the textbooks here are too left-wing. Earlier this year, the State Board of Education approved English Language Arts textbooks for kindergarten through third grade after a public hearing where critics suggested the books had too much Black history and multicultural stories. These books had…
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DOL report finds that disability accommodations have high impact for workers with disability at virtually no cost to employers
The U.S. Department of Labor recently put out a report detailing how they found that nearly half of accommodations for disabled workers have no cost… and yet a very high impact (that is, when employers actually accommodate). The department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy published this report via their Job Accommodation Network (JAN) service, titled…
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What passed in the Alabama Legislature: May 23-25, 2023
Here’s a round-up of the bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week. Tuesday, May 23 Senate SB304, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, establishes minimum qualifications for the Hale County sheriff. It passed 32-0 and went to the House of Representatives, which passed it on Thursday. SB 305, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro,…
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Republicans LOVE Big Government, As Long As It Doesn’t Help Workers
Within the last year, Florida has quickly become a veritable political battleground as Governor Ron DeSantis has been on a roll trying to legislatively force the state into becoming something of an “Anti-Woke Fortress.” From tightening restrictions on education to stop Progressives from “brainwashing” kids, to attacking workers unions and making it more difficult for workers to…
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Public Education in the Alabama Legislative Session
Public schools are the cornerstone of a community and critical to a democratic society. And yet, across the country and right here in Alabama, public education is under attack. We’ve already mentioned efforts like the divisive concepts bill, which directly targets educators and their ability to teach truthfully while also pushing offensive, ridiculous narratives about…
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Alabama voting rights activists warn that House Bill 209 will “criminalize helping people”
Earlier this month, the Alabama legislature’s HB209 bill was officially passed by the House and has moved on to be deliberated on by the Senate, with unfortunately good odds that it will ultimately succeed. We have been reporting at length about how damaging this bill would be when it comes to Alabama citizens casting their…
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BREAKING: Amazon Hit with Labor Board Complaint in Bessemer
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) today issued five complaints against Amazon, including one in Bessemer, Alabama. From the NLRB: “The complaints alleged that the employer promulgated and selectively enforced an unlawful “off-duty access” rule that banned employees from the employer’s facilities when not on shift. Among other remedies, the complaints seek rescission of the…
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“An example of politics and ideology getting in the way of education” | Former colleague of Alabama educator fired for “wokeness” reacts
Earlier this month, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey fired the Early Childhood Education secretary, Dr. Barbara Cooper, following allegations that Dr. Cooper had been promoting so-called “Woke” material in the classrooms. “It’s really an example of politics and ideology just getting in the way of education,” said Adam Keller on The Valley Labor Report, who is…
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America’s child labor epidemic is only just getting started
The issue of child labor in the United States seems to be only just warming up, as the U.S. Department of Labor releases some startling statistics in the middle of the investigation it has been carrying out across the Nation, with a special emphasis on the South. According to a statement the DOL released about…
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What passed in the Alabama Legislature: May 9 – 11, 2023
Here’s a round-up of the bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week. Tuesday, May 9 Senate House Thursday, May 11 Senate House Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor…
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Alabama Political Engagement – Part 2: Moving Forward
One thing that always comes through to me in the AL Democratic Party conversations I’ve observed and participated in is that neither of the two apparent main factions that have quarreled over the years seem all that interested in engaging labor, the left or for that matter, most anyone under the age of 50. We’ve…
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Alabama Political Engagement – Part 1: Examining Conditions
Over the course of The Valley Labor Report, we’ve hosted numerous conversations about the state of the Alabama Democratic Party, including conversations with Chair Randy Kelley, Vice-Chair Tabitha Isner, and SDEC activists. We also had an illuminating conversation with Mark Dudzik about the U.S. Labor Party effort during the 1990s. It’s in that context I…