LABOR

The layoffs began with a first round last month, and MGB expects about 1,500 positions to be affected in all.

New England Public Media, a public radio and television station based in Springfield, laid off 13% of its employees on Wednesday.

Amherst-Pelham Regional School District Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman responded publicly today to allegations she threatened employees with physical harm and used inappropriate language. The events are described in an anonymous letter sent to the district school committee and others.

Connecticut's minimum wage goes up to $16.35 an hour in the new year — by far the most in New England and the third-highest state minimum wage in the country.

The announcement comes nearly six weeks after CEO Peter Banko issued a statement saying Baystate has had more than $300 million in operational losses in the past few years.

Today on The Rundown with Carrie Saldo, a full panel of 5 NEPM journalists dissect and analyze the ballot questions you will see when you visit the polling station.

Ballot Question 5 in Massachusetts would increase the hourly pay of tipped workers to the state's $15 an hour minimum. Right now, state law requires employers to pay at least $6.75 an hour. Supporters say the proposal would allow workers to have a more predictable wage. Opponents say it is likely to increase the price of going out to dinner and reduce tipping.

All of the approximately 500 Pathlight employees will keep their jobs and work for ServiceNet, which will end up with about 2,200 people on its payroll.

En noviembre, los votantes votarán si los conductores de Uber y Lyft pueden formar sindicatos o no; actualmente trabajan como contratistas independientes.

Question 3 on the Massachusetts ballot asks voters to decide whether or not rideshare drivers can form a union as independent contractors. These drivers are not considered employees by the National Labor Relations Act, but this proposal seeks to create a pathway to unionization on a state level.