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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE)

@ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social
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The Institute for Research on Labor and Employment connects world-class research with policy to improve workers’ lives, communities, and society. irle.berkeley.edu

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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
SSRP applications are now open! Social Sciences Research Pathways is a yearlong paid research development program that connects @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social undergrads with grad student mentors to conduct hands-on research. Learn more and apply: irle.berkeley.edu/student-opportuni…
A roomful of students sit in the a conference room smiling toward the camera
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Register today: The Gender Wage Gap Conference, Sept 17 and 18 at IRLE This in-person conference features research examining reasons for gender wage gaps around the world and policy responses to them. #EconSky
The Gender Wage Gap 
Special Issue Conference

Featuring research from Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society

Thu, Sept 17 and Fri, Sept 18 
IRLE Conference Room
2521 Channing Way, Berkeley
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Economists warned California not to raise the minimum wage to $20. They were wrong in almost every way so far, according to a new study from CWED researchers Michael Reich and @dsosinskiy.bsky.social. Read more: fortune.com/2026/04/15/u...
fortune.com
Study: California’s $20 minimum wage barely raised prices—and proved economists wrong about job loss | Fortune
“The results are nowhere as dire as predicted,” Berkeley’s Michael Reich told Fortune.
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Effects of a $20 Minimum Wage: The latest from Michael Reich and @dsosinskiy.bsky.social on California’s landmark $20 fast food minimum wage provides some of the strongest evidence yet that substantial wage increases can improve worker earnings without reducing employment. #EconSky
Effects of a $20 Minimum Wage: Evidence from Granular
Data on Wages, Employment and Prices

 DENIS SOSINSKIY, University of California, Berkeley
 MICHAEL REICH, University of California, Berkeley
April 1, 2026

Abstract
On April 1, 2024, California implemented a $20 hourly wage floor for workers in large chains in fast food restaurants and snack and non-alcoholic beverage bars. The new standard, which corresponds to 69 percent of the state’s median full-time wage, surpasses all prior benchmarks in minimum wage policies and research. We use difference-in-differences (DiD) and triple difference (DDD) event study methods and granular data that permit distinguishing trends affecting the entire industry from those caused by the new minimum wage policy. Our granular pay data come from Glassdoor job postings and Square payroll data, granular mobility-based employment data from Advan, and
granular prices scraped from over 2,000 restaurants in California and control states.

We find that the policy increased average weekly wages for covered fast food workers by about 11 percent and did not reduce employment. Compared to controls, prices increased by 1.5 percent, equivalent to 6 cents for a $4 item. Employers passed about 50 percent of the higher wage costs to consumers as higher prices, consistent with a monopsony model.
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Can economic policy make life more affordable? Join us next Wednesday for a special seminar with @jaredb-econ.bsky.social, @lauradtyson.bsky.social, @jrothst.bsky.social and Michael Reich. Event details: irle.berkeley.edu/event/can-ec...
Special Seminar. Can Economic Policy Make Life More Affordable? Jared Bernstein, former chair, Biden administration’s Council of Economic Advisers 

Discussants: Jesse Rothstein (Public Policy, Economics) and Laura Tyson (Haas)

Moderated by Michael Reich (CWED). Wednesday, March 11 
4:00–5:30 PM
IRLE Conference Room
2521 Channing Way

irle.berkeley.edu/events. Numerous polls show widespread dissatisfaction with the U.S. economy and, by extension, with both major political parties. In response, Democrats and Republicans are advancing competing approaches to make the economy more affordable.

Can either approach succeed?
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Miranda Dietz @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social explains why it's a problem that 1 in 3 new Covered California enrollees chose the cheapest, highest deductible health plans in the the latest from @ab-ibarra.bsky.social @calmatters.org Read the article: calmatters.org/health/2026/...
Those out-of-pocket costs do impact people's decisions to get care, so that's worrisome as well. Miranda Dietz, Health Care Program Director, UC Berkeley Labor Center.
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Check out our monthly newsletter for upcoming events, job and research funding opportunities, and the latest research from our centers. 🗞️ Read this month's edition: us17.campaign-archive.com?u=1af5855024... 🔗 Subscribe: irle.berkeley.edu/newsletter-s...
us17.campaign-archive.com
IRLE News: Upcoming events, job opportunities, and new research
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UC Berkeley Labor Center @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Lisa Kresge: “There is a concerted effort among many tech leaders to create mystification around AI as a tactic...to disempower workers, policymakers & anyone who might be critical of the growing concentration of funding & resources.” @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/technology/n...
theguardian.com
How the anxiety over AI could fuel a new workers’ movement
New technology has workers spooked, but experts say it’s creating an opening for a resurgence in worker power
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Students, if you... 🔹 believe all workers in deserve to work and live in dignity 🔹 want to learn how to build worker and community power ...then @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social's paid Labor Summer internship is for you! Learn more and apply by Feb 21: laborcenter.berkeley.edu/labor-summer...
laborcenter.berkeley.edu
Labor Summer Internship
Labor Summer is a full-time, PAID, intensive eight-week educational internship program. Students learn from and work with labor and community organizations in Northern and Central California, applying...
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
The @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social is hiring a health care policy researcher. Join a high-impact team at the forefront of research on the most pressing economic challenges affecting working families in California and across the country. Learn more and apply: aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05275
aprecruit.berkeley.edu
Policy Researcher/Senior Policy Researcher, Health Care Program (Associate/Full Specialist) - UC Berkeley Labor Center
University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Danielle Mahones @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social breaks down why educators across California are striking for fully funded classrooms, appropriate staffing, access to quality healthcare, and more in the latest from @kqednews.kqed.org Listen and read: www.kqed.org/news/1207316...
They are organizing together across districts with parents and students to demand the schools that every California student deserves. Danielle Mahones, UC Berkeley Labor center, on the wage of CA teacher strikes
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Tomorrow at 4pm! irle.berkeley.edu/events/econo...
irle.berkeley.edu
Economic Policy Agendas to Rebuild America – Institute for Research on Labor and Employment
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Great job alert! @capolicylab.bsky.social is hiring a labor economics researcher for a remote or hybrid (LA) role. Design and conduct policy-relevant research in partnership with state and local agencies in California. Learn more and please share widely: capolicylab.org/careers/rese... #Econsky
California Policy Lab: We're hiring
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Join us on Feb 11: @drodrik.bsky.social, Michael Reich, Jennifer Harris, & Paul Pierson @besiberkeley.bsky.social discuss the unraveling of neoliberal economic policy, emerging agendas to address Americans’ unmet needs, and the politics that could make them real. irle.berkeley.edu/events/econo...
Economic Policy Agendas to Rebuild America, with Dani Rodrik (Harvard), Michael Reich (Berkeley), Jennifer Harris (Hewlett), and Paul Pierson (berkeley. Sponsored by IRLE and BESI
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Check out our January newsletter for the latest IRLE events, research, and student opportunities. Read more: us17.campaign-archive.com?u=1af5855024... Subscribe: irle.berkeley.edu/newsletter-s...
us17.campaign-archive.com
IRLE 2025 Impact Report and Upcoming Events
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
IRLE’s 2025 Impact Report Amid rapid social, political, and economic change, IRLE's mission remains constant: connecting world-class research with policy to improve workers’ lives and communities. Learn more: irle.berkeley.edu/about/impact...
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society invites submissions to a special issue examining reasons for gender wage gaps around the world and policy responses to them. Extended abstracts due April 3. Learn more: irle.berkeley.edu/wp-content/u...
Industrial Relations Call for Papers. Special Issue on the gender wage gap. Extended abstracts are due April 3, 2026.
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Reposted by UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE)
Alex Bryson @alexbryson.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Here's a preview of our last edition of the year. Eight papers ranging from the impact of occupational licensing on retirement through to trust in the workplace. Check it out. @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social @sriucl.bsky.social
Here's a preview of our final IR Berkeley of the year out soon.  Eight papers covering issues from the impact of occupational licensing on retirement through to workforce composition and its effect on trust at the workplace.
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Are you a union negotiator, researcher, policymaker, or journalist tracking how digital tech is used at work--and how unions are responding? Explore @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social's inventory of collective bargaining provisions related to workplace tech: laborcenter.berkeley.edu/negotiating-...
laborcenter.berkeley.edu
Negotiating tech
A searchable inventory of contract provisions from over 175 union agreements showing how collective bargaining has been used to address workplace technologies, protect worker rights, and shape technol...
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
#EconSky: @capolicylab.bsky.social is hiring a labor-focused data analyst. Apply today: capolicylab.org/careers/data...
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
📬 Our July newsletter is out now! Meet our research awardees and learn about upcoming student opportunities, fall events, and the latest research highlights from our centers. 🗞️ Read the newsletter: us17.campaign-archive.com?u=1af5855024... 🔗 Subscribe to stay connected: mailchi.mp/berkeley/irl...
lnkd.in
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
🏆 We’re thrilled to announce the recipients of our annual research awards. This year, we received an unprecedented number of applications. The 21 selected projects stood out for their potential for meaningful research insights. Join us in congratulating these exceptional Berkeley scholars.
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Alex Bryson @alexbryson.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Good to see that in the new Clarivate Journal Citation Report the IR Berkeley Impact Factor (JIF) rose from 2.4 in 2023 to 2.6 in 2024, with a move up the rankings in Industrial Relations and Labor from 19/51 to 14/52 @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
#EconSky: Last chance to register for virtual attendance at Friday's Minimum Wages and Monopsony Conference, featuring an all-star line of labor economists. Learn more and register: irle.berkeley.edu/events/minim...
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
We're one week out from the "Minimum Wages & Monopsony Power"! Virtual registration is still open for this one-day event. Register today: irle.berkeley.edu/minimum-wage...
irle.berkeley.edu
Minimum Wages & Monopsony Power Conference 2025 – Institute for Research on Labor and Employment
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Virtual registration is still open for the "Minimum Wages & Monopsony Power" conference! Featuring an all-star lineup of labor economists, this one-day event also honors career of Dr. Michael Reich. 📅 June 6, 2025 | 8am - 5pm 🔗 Register today: irle.berkeley.edu/events/minim...
Minimum Wages and Monopsony Power: MichalReichFest. June 6, 2025. Learn more: irle.berkeley.edu/events
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Starting soon, don't miss the Climate and Society Center's Clair Brown in this important discussion about the Climate Superfund.
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Reposted by UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE)
Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · 20/05/2025
Americans favor labor unions over big business now more than ever, analysis of new data @epi.org from me & Adam Reich of Columbia Labor Lab. In data back 60 years, Americans' sentiments are both warmer toward unions & cooler towards big business than ever before. www.epi.org/blog/america...
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Starting soon! Join @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social, @techequity.us, and Warehouse Workers Resource Center for a three-part webinar series that will cut through the AI hype to help better understand digital technologies in the workplace and how to respond through collective bargaining and public policy.
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Today @ 5:30 pm! @jazbrisack.bsky.social @sbworkersunited.org in conversation with @rbreich.bsky.social.
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
New research from @laurellucia.bsky.social @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social estimates that California could lose up to 217,000 jobs if Congress cuts Medicaid. 🔗 Read the brief: laborcenter.berkeley.edu/wp-content/u...
laborcenter.berkeley.edu
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Register now for the Minimum Wages & Monopsony Power Conference at UC Berkeley on June 6. Join leading scholars for this one-day conference, which also honors Michael Reich’s influential career. Space is limited. Register: irle.berkeley.edu/minimum-wage... #EconSky #MinimumWage #LaborEconomics
Minimum Wages & Monopsony Power Conference 2025. MichaelReichFest. June 6, 2025 at UC Berkeley's Alumni House and streaming via Zoom. Learn more and register: irle.berkeley.edu/events
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
Call for proposals: CA labor economists are invited to submit papers for this year's All-California Labor Economics Conference, to be held Sept 11-12 at @siepr.bsky.social, and organized by @maya-rossin-slater.bsky.social and Isaac Sorkin. #EconSky Apply by May 31: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
🗞️ Our April newsletter is here, full of funding opportunities, upcoming events, and new research from our centers. Read: us17.campaign-archive.com?u=1af5855024... 📬 Subscribe to stay connected with the latest from IRLE: berkeley.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe/po...
us17.campaign-archive.com
IRLE News: Research Funding and Upcoming Events
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
“The minimum wage doesn't kill jobs. It kills job vacancies.” Listen to michaelreich.bsky.social in conversation with Orley Ashenfelter on "The Work Goes On" podcast @princetonecon.bsky.social. irs100.princeton.edu/podcasts/mic...
Michael Reich on how political polarization has impacted debate on the minimum wage
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Our journal, Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, is accepting submissions for a special issue on Gender and Industrial Relations, edited by Rae Cooper, Jennifer Tomlinson, Laura Good and Chris Wright. Submissions due April 14. Learn more: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
📢 Funding opportunity for early career scholars: The Family Policy Hub is offering $10K–$30K grants to Berkeley grad students, postdocs & junior faculty evaluating the effects of family policies on reducing racial inequities. 🔹 Next review date: 4/18 🔹 Apply: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
📣 UC Berkeley faculty & grad students—IRLE’s annual research awards cycle is now open! Apply by April 11: 🔹 Faculty Research Awards: irle.berkeley.edu/faculty-reso... 🔹 Dissertation Fellowship: irle.berkeley.edu/student-oppo... 🔹 Grad Student Research Awards: irle.berkeley.edu/student-oppo...
IRLE Call for Proposals: 2025-2026 Research Awards: Faculty Research Awards (Up to $30K); Dissertation Fellowship ($15K stipend + tuition/fees); Grad Student Research Awards (Up to $6K)
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Reposted by UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE)
Alex Bryson @alexbryson.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Out now. Issue 2 in 2025. Five of the six papers are free to download via #OpenAcess onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/1468232x... @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social @sriucl.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society: Vol 64, No 2
Click on the title to browse this issue
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Reposted by UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE)
Alex Bryson @alexbryson.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Our special issue on Gender and Industrial Relations is accepting submissions until April 14th. Find out more here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal... @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social @sriucl.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society Call for Papers: Special Issue on Gender and Industrial Relations
<em>Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society</em> Journal publishes research furthering understanding of employment relations, labour markets, & the organization & future of work globally.
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
The latest issue of our journal is out now onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1468...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society
Click on the title to browse this journal
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
New analysis on CA's fast-food minimum wage finds that wages in the industry increased without job loss or significant price increases. Read the latest from Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics Chair Michael Reich: irle.berkeley.edu/publications...
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Reposted by UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE)
Alex Bryson @alexbryson.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Here's a sneak preview of our IR Berkeley issue 2 for 2025 due out soon. Download the Open Access papers for free. @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social
A sneak preview of IR Berkeley Issue 2 for 2025.  Download the Open Access papers for free.
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
IRLE is advancing worker well-being and economic justice. Learn how our research and programs are making a difference in our latest annual impact report. Read the report: irle.berkeley.edu/about/impact...
irle.berkeley.edu
2023-2024 Annual Report – Institute for Research on Labor and Employment
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
michaelreich.bsky.social on the likely impacts of a 3.5% wage ⬆️ on CA's fast food workers: “This would help them keep up with the cost of living. It would have very little effect on the number of jobs and hardly any effect on prices.” spectrumnews1.com/ca/southern-... @anna-albaryan.bsky.social
spectrumnews1.com
California's fast-food workers might get another pay increase this year
The change would keep up with inflation
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Climate and Society Center coordinators Clair Brown and Julia Walsh spoke with @nbcbayarea.com about the new center's efforts to support California's transition to renewable energy with zero-carbon emissions for all communities.
nbcbayarea.com
Watch: UC Berkeley opens Climate and Society Center
UC Berkeley recently opened the Climate and Society Center,” where faculty, students, community activists and policymakers come together to discuss the latest research that could help pass more of Cal...
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Reposted by UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE)
UC Berkeley Labor Center @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
How might eligibility for Medi-Cal change for fast-food workers with the new $20 minimum wage? Read our report: laborcenter.berkeley.edu/estimating-t... @elopezlira.bsky.social @kjacobs9.bsky.social
laborcenter.berkeley.edu
Estimating the impact of California’s $20 fast-food minimum wage on Medi-Cal eligibility - UC Berkeley Labor Center
Our report assesses the impact of AB 1228 by estimating how eligibility for Medi-Cal might change for workers covered under this law. From this, we also estimate potential reductions in federal and st...
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
IRLE mourns the sudden and senseless loss of brilliant and beloved scholar, colleague, mentor and public sociologist Michael Burawoy.
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UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE) @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
🌍 Introducing the Climate and Society Center We are proud to announce the launch of a pioneering new center aimed at accelerating CA’s equitable transition to renewable energy & zero-carbon emissions through rigorous research & community collaboration. Learn more: irle.berkeley.edu/climate-and-...
UC Berkeley Climate and Society Center
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Reposted by UC Berkeley Institute for Research on Labor & Employment (IRLE)
Alex Bryson @alexbryson.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
Out today. The first issue of 2025 for IR Berkeley onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/1468232x... Four of the articles can been downloaded free with #OpenAccess @ucberkeleyirle.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society: Vol 64, No 1
Click on the title to browse this issue
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