Jacob Morrison, President of the North Alabama Area Labor Council and co-host of The Valley Labor Report, joined the America's Workforce Union Podcast to shed light on pressing labor issues facing the state.

Morrison discussed the recent elimination of the state income tax on overtime wages, a move initially celebrated by many. However, the financial implications have been significant, with estimates suggesting a $240 million cost to the state budget in just nine months. Morrison emphasized the need for a balanced approach, suggesting that while tax cuts benefit workers, the state must find sustainable ways to offset the budget shortfall.

A major focus of Morrison's discussion was the introduction of new legislation aimed at penalizing companies that violate child labor laws. He highlighted a bill proposed by state Sen. Merika Coleman, which seeks to revoke tax incentives from companies exploiting child labor. Morrison expressed optimism about the bill's potential to pass, underscoring the importance of protecting young workers and ensuring ethical labor practices.

Morrison also addressed the challenges faced by unions in Alabama, particularly in light of the Anti-Voluntary Recognition Bill. This legislation penalizes companies that voluntarily recognize unions by revoking their tax incentives. Despite this setback, Morrison remains hopeful, and will continue advocating for policies that tie public funding to pro-worker practices, such as paid parental leave and retirement plans.

Hear more from Morrison about the state of labor in the South by listening to the show above.

America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

Tax cut and child labor legislation begin 2025 for Alabama labor

SUBSCRIBE ON:

United Labor Agency’s Alicia Boreman on breaking mental health stigma

Tax cut and child labor legislation begin 2025 for Alabama labor

Ohio AFL-CIO’s Perlman on Labor's Resilience and Future Challenges

RECENT EPISODES

United Labor Agency’s Alicia Boreman on breaking mental health stigma

Tax cut and child labor legislation begin 2025 for Alabama labor

Ohio AFL-CIO’s Perlman on Labor's Resilience and Future Challenges

SUBSCRIBE

NEWSLETTER