The following article by Harold Meyerson appeared in The American Prospect. New York Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani has provoked accusations of impending communism by his proposal to build five municipally owned grocery stores in neighborhoods that are food deserts. To New York’s hedge fund moguls and Republicans everywhere, the specter of Stalinism looms behind…
Oakland— The California Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) is awarding $8.55 million in Workers’ Rights Enforcement grants to 16 prosecutors’ offices across the state. Now in its second year, this first-of-its-kind grant program supports local efforts to combat wage theft and other labor violations by providing critical funding to hold lawbreaking employers accountable.
With this funding, local prosecutors can strengthen and expand their capacity to investigate wage theft, build specialized enforcement units, and increase prosecutions against employers who break the law.
What California Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower said: “Wage theft is a serious crime that devastates working families and weakens California’s economy. I am proud to announce an additional $8.55 million in grant funding to continue advancing our critical work in holding perpetrators accountable through increased prosecutions for wage theft. We remain firmly committed to partnering with community organizations, industry leaders, and public prosecutors to end these abusive practices. Workers deserve every dollar they’ve rightfully earned, and law-abiding employers deserve a level playing field.”
Demand remained high this year, with local prosecutors requesting more than $10.7 million in total funding. While only $8.55 million was available, the strong interest reflects a growing commitment among local offices to take an active role in protecting workers and holding employers accountable.
Each office was eligible to apply for up to $750,000 in competitive grant funding. Grant funds are restricted to personnel and audit-related costs to ensure resources are specifically directed toward wage theft enforcement efforts.
The 16 public prosecutors who applied for the grant will receive awards as detailed below:
| Public Prosecutor | Award |
|---|---|
| Alameda District Attorney | $750,000 |
| Contra Costa District Attorney | $360,000 |
| Fresno City Attorney | $750,000 |
| Long Beach City Prosecutor | $250,000 |
| Los Angeles City Attorney | $400,000 |
| Los Angeles County Counsel | $250,000 |
| Los Angeles District Attorney | $750,000 |
| Oakland City Attorney | $630,269 |
| Orange County District Attorney | $700,000 |
| San Diego City Attorney | $400,000 |
| San Diego District Attorney | $750,000 |
| San Francisco City Attorney | $600,000 |
| San Francisco District Attorney | $233,256 |
| San Mateo District Attorney | $750,000 |
| Santa Clara County Counsel | $750,000 |
| Sonoma District Attorney | $226,475 |
“I thank the California Labor Commissioner’s Office for providing additional resources that bolster our fight against worker exploitation, enhance partnerships, and forge new county-wide alliances to uncover wage theft across San Mateo County’s major industries,” said San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe. “We have uncovered hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen wages, filed criminal charges, launched several investigations, and built a strong network of community partners who ensure every victim’s story reaches our team. With this momentum, we are relentlessly pursuing every dollar owed and sending an unmistakable message: in San Mateo County, stealing from workers will cost you far more than you ever saved.”
“The Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant has been essential in empowering our city to investigate and prosecute wage theft in Fresno,” said Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz. “With this grant funding, we’ve established a dedicated prosecution unit within the City Attorney’s Office focused on holding violators accountable. We want our residents to know that we will not tolerate bad actors stealing from hardworking people.”
Established in 2023 with $18 million in funding over two years, the Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant Program provides competitive funding to support state labor law enforcement and assist workers in combating wage theft, preventing unfair competition and protecting state revenue. Today’s announcement marks the second round of grant funding, following the initial $8.55 million awarded in 2024. Additional information on the Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant Program is posted online.
About the Labor Commissioner’s Office
Within the Department of Industrial Relations, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (California Labor Commissioner’s Office) combats wage theft and unfair competition by investigating allegations of illegal and unfair business practices.
In 2020, LCO launched a multi-pronged outreach campaign, Reaching Every Californian. The campaign amplifies basic protections and builds pathways to affected populations, so workers and employers understand legal protections and obligations, as well as the Labor Commissioner’s enforcement procedures.
Getting paid in cash might feel normal in your industry—but if there’s no pay stub, no taxes withheld, and no record of your hours, you could be at risk of wage theft, tax trouble, and losing vital protections.
California law guarantees every worker—whether you’re a caregiver, construction worker, or restaurant employee—the right to legal wages, pay stubs, overtime, and workers’ comp. Here’s what you need to know.
Your employer must give you:
A detailed pay stub (showing hours, wages, deductions) At least $16/hour (CA min. wage, 2024)—more in some cities Overtime (1.5x pay after 8 hrs/day or 40 hrs/week) Workers’ comp if injured
If they refuse, they’re breaking the law—and you can fight back
In California, dozens of workers at a pallet company gave their labor, their sweat… even their health. But when it came time for protection, no one had their back.”
Americans have watched thousands of undocumented workers rounded up by ICE over the last few months. Now, it seems that ICE is beginning to go after business owners who employ the workers, though some might argue that the penalty for hiring undocumented workers – six months in prison and $3,000 fine per employee – is…
A Fenway first began today. ABC affiliate, WCVB, reports: “For the first time in Fenway Park’s 113-year history, concession and restaurant workers went on strike Friday as the Boston Red Sox begin a three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Members of UNITE HERE Local 26, who work for Aramark, providing food services in the…
After more than two decades of loyal service, Israel Xicohtencatl, a dedicated produce manager at the iconic Citarella Gourmet Market in New York City, was suddenly and publicly fired. His offense? He accidentally ate a coworker’s lunch.
Yes, you read that right. A minor mistake—one that could happen to any of us—ended Israel’s 20+ year career.
On May 28, 2025, Israel unknowingly grabbed a bagged lunch that wasn’t his. As soon as he realized the error, he apologized, tried to make it right, and offered to buy a replacement. But instead of understanding, Citarella’s head of security fired him on the spot.
The next day, the company made it official with a termination letter.
Now, Israel is fighting back—with a lawsuit under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws, accusing Citarella of age discrimination and targeting long-time employees to cut costs.
Israel’s termination wasn’t just a job loss—it shattered his dignity.
“I’ve experienced profound shame and embarrassment,” he says in his complaint. “Coworkers saw it happen. Word spread. My professional reputation is ruined.”
Since his firing, Israel has been unable to find a new job. Employers repeatedly ask why he left Citarella, forcing him to relive the humiliation over and over again. He can’t even use the company as a reference.
Worse, his emotional health has plummeted. Anxiety. Depression. Insomnia. Years of purpose and routine gone—because of a lunch.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Israel says other longtime employees were also let go for similarly petty reasons—one for drinking a coworker’s soda. The lawsuit alleges Citarella is systematically pushing out older, higher-paid workers and replacing them with cheaper, younger staff.
That’s not just unfair—it’s illegal.
If it can happen to Israel, it can happen to anyone.
Loyalty no longer protects workers. Fairness isn’t guaranteed. And justice rarely comes without a fight.
That’s why we founded the Workers Rights Compliance Alliance (WRCA)—to stand up for people like Israel, and for you.
We expose these abuses.
We connect wronged workers with legal support.
We fight for better labor standards across the country.
Join the Movement. Defend Your Rights.If you’ve been fired unfairly, misclassified, denied wages, or treated unjustly in the workplace—you’re not alone.
Join WRCA today—100% free. Tell us your story. Help us protect workers like Israel—before it happens to someone else.
Visit: WorkersRightsComplianceAlliance.com
Justice starts with us. And it starts now.
Home Care Workers Are Being Exploited—Now’s the Time to Fight Back
Every day in California, home care workers—mostly immigrant women—quietly perform some of the hardest and most vital labor in our state. They care for our elderly, our disabled, and our most vulnerable. And yet, many of these workers are underpaid, overworked, and unlawfully denied their rights.
Real Cases. Real Exploitation.
WRCA Is Fighting BackThe Workers Rights Compliance Alliance (WRCA) is a California nonprofit formed to expose and challenge employers who exploit workers through misclassification, wage theft, and labor fraud. We are building a statewide coalition to hold abusive employers accountable—and we want you to be part of it.
Why This Matters Join the FightWRCA is calling on:
Become a Free Member TodayBy joining WRCA, you’ll gain access to:
Join WRCA for free at WorkersRightsComplianceAlliance.com
Let’s end the exploitation of home care workers in California—because dignity is not optional, and justice cannot wait.
The following piece by Harold Meyerson appeared in The American Prospect and is republished below. Donald Trump is no friend of unions, as his order to unilaterally abrogate the government’s contracts with its federal employees’ unions makes unmistakably clear. But in this, Trump deviates from the traditional Republican opposition to unions only in degree. Ronald…
Continues its onslaught on working Americans, the Trump administration announced its intent to repeal a number of rules that protect workers. The Associated Press reports: “The U.S. Department of Labor is aiming to rewrite or repeal more than 60 “obsolete” workplace regulations, ranging from minimum wage requirements for home health care workers and people with disabilities to standards governing…