Labor & Commerce
RSSLabor law, workforce development, professional licensing, occupational safety, business regulation, and trade. Subject area covered by both chambers' Labor & Commerce committees.
Alaska's labor agency has management and a union teaching bargaining together
A city HR director and an IBEW business agent will teach Alaska public employers and unions how to bargain, together, at a state session this month.
by Walter AlaskaNews10h ago1 min readAI
An Anchorage restaurant is accused of employing 24 minors without permits
Twenty-four employees aged 13 to 17 are alleged to have worked at an Anchorage restaurant without work permits, in at least 1,279 violations.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3d ago2 min readAI
Alaska lacks the skilled workers for the LNG project, a report says
A state analysis says Alaska can't train enough workers for the LNG project — even as the state that funds much of that training warned of the gap in 2018.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readAI
Anchorage union deals would sweeten benefits amid a labor shortage
Two union contracts before the Anchorage Assembly would sweeten benefits — rehire leave credit, easier holiday pay, master's tuition — for a labor shortage.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readAI
Anchorage tightens the rule on city workers' holiday pay
Anchorage is tightening its holiday-pay rule for city workers: miss any part of the shift before or after a holiday and you forfeit the pay. It hits six city unions, up for a July 21 vote.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Tessera hiring event comes to Mat-Su Job Center July 29
Tessera is hiring veterans, military spouses, and people with disabilities at the Mat-Su Job Center on July 29 for facility management, manufacturing, and warehousing roles.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Alaska Airlines crews could lose state break protections
A federal proposal would strip state-guaranteed meal and rest breaks from airline crews, including Alaska Airlines flight attendants — leaving only the federal standard in place.
by Alaska News1mo ago1 min readAI
Alaska raises unemployment benefits, updates travel insurance law
Alaska raised its maximum weekly unemployment benefit to $470, the first increase since 2009, and will adjust it annually going forward.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min readAI
Job and training help for western Alaska's storm-displaced residents
Months after last October's storms displaced western Alaska residents, the state has gathered job and training help for them, part of a still-growing recovery effort.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
A new federal complaint line for Alaska's rural producers
Alaska farmers and ranchers fed up with federal enforcement have a new complaint portal — though in a state where Washington controls the land, it's a new ear, not a remedy.
by Melinda Communities.News2mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska's minimum wage hits $14 — the raise voters ordered
Alaska's minimum wage rose to $14 on July 1 — step two of the raise voters passed in 2024, which also handed every worker in the state paid sick leave.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
Tom Begich goes after Dunleavy over vocational-training vetoes
Begich is hammering Dunleavy for vetoing job-training money while the state promises a pipeline built by Alaskans — a rare direct shot at the governor from the campaign trail.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
A union-labor fight is breaking out over who builds Alaska's gas line
Alaska's forever-promised gas line finally has a fight worth watching — a union-labor mandate, a governor hopeful crying foul, and no one's seen the actual text.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Anchorage Assembly to consider AMEA-ASEA merger recognition June 23
Anchorage Assembly votes June 23 on recognizing ASEA as the bargaining representative for municipal employees after a union merger took effect in April.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Anchorage Assembly to vote June 23 on 5 labor agreements across 4 unions
Anchorage Assembly votes June 23 on five labor agreements with four unions that relax holiday pay eligibility and add benefits including a steward position and parental leave updates.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska AFL-CIO endorsed Peltola for Senate and Hill for House Wednesday
Alaska AFL-CIO endorsed Peltola and Hill. The federation traditionally goes Democratic. The other side wasn't asked.
by Alaska Newsadded 2mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska Building Trades, LNG subsidiary sign worker hiring pact
8 Star Alaska, a Glenfarre LNG subsidiary, signed a hiring agreement with Alaska Building Trades Councils on June 11 to prioritize Alaska workers for the 800-mile pipeline and LNG terminal. • The Alaska Legislature is considering House Bill 381 to cut project taxes and cap gas prices at $16 per unit for state utilities.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
Alaska job centers promote tax credits for hiring ex-felons
Alaska's 13 job centers promote federal tax credits and bonding insurance to employers who hire people with felony records, offering employers up to 40 percent of first-year wages in tax breaks.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min readAI
Labor department hosts Fairbanks skills event Wednesday
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development hosts a skills and employment event Wednesday, June 3, in Fairbanks through its Job Center Network.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min readAI
Alaska House passes pay-card wage bill after fee provision removed
Alaska House passed a bill allowing employers to offer pay cards as an alternative to paychecks, with protections against merchant fees and free cash withdrawals. A provision to stop credit card companies from charging fees on restaurant tips and taxes was removed during committee review.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min readAI
Alaska Senate adds unemployment benefit increase to insurance bill
Alaska Senate raised the state's maximum weekly unemployment benefit to $470 by amending an insurance bill, after rejecting a higher $525 proposal over cost concerns.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min readAI
Alaska House raises unemployment benefits, expands telehealth coverage
Alaska House raised maximum weekly unemployment benefits from $370 to $470, first increase since 2009. • Expanded telehealth coverage and raised disability pay for firefighters and police from 40 percent to 75 percent. • Updated insurance laws to clarify rebates and ban misleading advertising.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska House passes five healthcare licensure compacts in single bill
Alaska House unanimously approved five healthcare licensure compacts for physicians, physician assistants, EMS personnel, psychologists, and social workers to help the state compete for federal rural health funding.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min readAI
