Michelle Chen

Contributing Writer

@meeshellchen

Michelle Chen is a contributing writer for The Nation.

NYC garbage trucks

Zero Waste Remains a Dirty Business Zero Waste Remains a Dirty Business

New York and Los Angeles are reforming their waste-management systems, but there’s still a ways to go to clean up the sanitation industry’s labor standards.

Jul 27, 2015 / Michelle Chen

Uber Taxi

Uber Wins a Battle With New York, Now It’s War Uber Wins a Battle With New York, Now It’s War

The fight over NYC’s Uber cap is just the beginning of a deeper struggle over the future of transportation and the gig economy.

Jul 24, 2015 / Michelle Chen

Fight for 15

New York Fast-Food Workers Win Their Fight for $15 New York Fast-Food Workers Win Their Fight for $15

A landmark executive move will serve the state’s fast-food workers some long-overdue justice.

Jul 22, 2015 / Michelle Chen

Grexit

How Can Greece Break Out of the Austerity Trap? How Can Greece Break Out of the Austerity Trap?

Whether it leaves or stays under the yoke of the German-led technocracy, Athens will need to find an alternative path to recovery.

Jul 20, 2015 / Michelle Chen

Beijing Taxi

Cabbies Are Driving the Opposition to China’s Ridesharing Revolution Cabbies Are Driving the Opposition to China’s Ridesharing Revolution

Taxi drivers are striking back to defend their right to a fair living.

Jul 17, 2015 / Michelle Chen

Corinthian Colleges

Why Is It So Hard for Corinthian Students to Get Their Promised Debt Relief? Why Is It So Hard for Corinthian Students to Get Their Promised Debt Relief?

Many former students of the disgraced diploma mill remain in a financial straitjacket, lacking the resources and legal savvy to navigate an opaque relief process.

Jul 15, 2015 / Michelle Chen

LA Street Vendor

Food Cart Vendors Are Getting Kicked to the Curb Food Cart Vendors Are Getting Kicked to the Curb

Street food vendors square off with big business in a David and Goliath feud.

Jul 13, 2015 / Michelle Chen

Jeb Bush in Detroit

Jeb Bush Wants You to Work Longer Hours Jeb Bush Wants You to Work Longer Hours

His vision for the economy is out of step with reality: The US lacks good jobs, not productive workers.

Jul 10, 2015 / Michelle Chen

Nurses Lifting Patient

If You Could Decrease a Workplace’s Injury Rate by 65 Percent, Would You? If You Could Decrease a Workplace’s Injury Rate by 65 Percent, Would You?

When nurses can’t speak up about unsafe hospital conditions without risking their jobs, both labor and the public lose a powerful potential advocate.

Jul 8, 2015 / Michelle Chen

Allegiant Labor Dispute

This Airline’s Scheduling System Is Making Its Pilots Exhausted This Airline’s Scheduling System Is Making Its Pilots Exhausted

Would you want to travel with a company whose scheduling system is leading to fatigue and burnout for the people flying your plane?

Jul 6, 2015 / Michelle Chen

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