Alabama Organizers File Federal Lawsuit, Take Stand Against Wage Theft
A group of Alabama organizers filed a federal lawsuit last week on behalf of immigrant laborers who say their employers never paid them. The workers and their supporters gathered at the steps of the Hugo Black Courthouse in Birmingham Friday afternoon to celebrate the lawsuit.
Three men claim they are owed up to $10,000 each in unpaid wages. Jessica Vosburgh is director of the advocacy group Adelante. She says the men’s plight is not uncommon, and now hopes more victims will come forward.
“For these three workers who are filing a suit today, there are 30 or 300 or 3000 more workers, especially immigrants and people of color, who were too scared, intimidated or threatened by their bosses to stand up and exercise their rights under the law,” Vosburgh announced to the crowd.
The event marked the beginning of Adelante and Greater Birmingham Ministries new program called WOW – Winning Our Wages, designed to combat wage theft. The Economic Policy Institute says wage theft probably costs workers in the U.S. millions of dollars annually.
Mary Scott Hodgin
The advocacy group Adelante and Greater Birmingham Ministries led the effort to file the lawsuit. The organizations are coming together to educate the public about wage theft through a program titled WOW, Winning our Wages.
Alabama regulators approve two-year electric rate freeze and two solar projects for a Meta data center
Critics say the rate freeze will only delay financial burdens on Alabama Power customers while preserving a high profit rate for the utility.
Auburn tabs USF’s Alex Golesh as its next coach, replacing Hugh Freeze on the Plains
The 41-year-old Golesh, who was born in Russia and moved to the United State at age 7, is signing a six-year contract that averages more than $7 million annually to replace Hugh Freeze. Freeze was fired in early November after failing to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three seasons on the Plains.
Alabama Power seeks to delay rate hike for new gas plant amid outcry
The state’s largest utility has proposed delaying the rate increase from its purchase of a $622 million natural gas plant until 2028.
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones announces run for Alabama governor
Jones announced his campaign Monday afternoon, hours after filing campaign paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office. His gubernatorial bid could set up a rematch with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Republican who defeated Jones in 2020 and is now running for governor.
Scorching Saturdays: The rising heat threat inside football stadiums
Excessive heat and more frequent medical incidents in Southern college football stadiums could be a warning sign for universities across the country.
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor to join our award-winning team covering important regional stories across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
