organized labor

A New York labor union has outmaneuvered the state's political establishment, according to reporting by the New York Times. The piece examines how organized labor secured a decisive win over party leaders and elected officials, a result being read as a sign of unions' growing clout in Democratic politics and a warning to incumbents who cross working-class voters in New York.

Columbia University's postdoctoral workers union held a practice picket as it prepares for a potential strike. The demonstration is a rehearsal ahead of what could be formal strike action in the ongoing labor dispute. The union says it is organizing its members should contract negotiations fail to produce an agreement.

A legal challenge has been filed against New York's so-called 'union protection act', a labor law measure that critics have taken to court. Details of the plaintiffs, the specific provisions targeted, and the court's response remain limited in available reporting. The case adds to ongoing national disputes over labor union rules and state-level protections for organized labor.

Nurses at SSM Health Dean Medical Group have voted to form a union, according to Spectrum News. The vote marks a significant step for the Wisconsin-based medical group's nursing staff, who will now gain collective representation in dealings with their employer over workplace conditions and pay.

The Welcoming Center, a Philadelphia-based immigrant support organization, is preparing to release a new report examining immigration's economic and social impact on the Philadelphia region. The findings are expected to inform local policymakers, businesses, and community groups as immigration continues to shape the region's labor force and neighborhoods. Coverage by local outlet WHYY has drawn attention to the upcoming release.

The union representing about 150 doctors at Allina Health's Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and its Unity campus in Fridley, Minnesota, announced Wednesday that it has reached a tentative agreement for a first contract with the health system. The deal follows a four-day strike by the physicians, marking a significant step after their dispute over working conditions and contract terms.

Black Agenda Report's radio program, hosted by Margaret Kimberley, aired a segment featuring labor organizer Chris Smalls discussing his book 'When the Revolution Comes: A Fight for the Future of the Working Class'. Smalls rose to prominence leading the Amazon Labor Union. The episode frames his organizing experience within broader debates on working-class politics and activism in the United States.

An Oregon union is making a $10 million political contribution, but says the money is not aimed at any particular Oregon race this year. The announcement from a labor organization, covered by NPR for Oregonians and Oregon Public Broadcasting, is drawing attention to how union money will flow into the state's politics. Details about which candidates or causes may ultimately benefit remain unclear.

Five unions gathered at Cal State Los Angeles for a 'Strike Ready Rally', signaling growing labor action in California's higher education system. Workers used the event to show unity and readiness for a potential strike, with the rally drawing attention to ongoing contract disputes and working conditions across the California State University system.

Whitney Museum of American Art staff in New York City are set to walk off the job on October 5 in a strike over their contract. The New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO is signaling union support for the workers. The walkout threatens disruptions at one of the city's leading art institutions amid broader labor organizing across US museums.

A new commentary by Garrison Lovely argues that people should stop shaming workers for using AI tools and instead organize collectively to prevent human obsolescence. Lovely writes that the tech industry is pursuing a 'perverse quest to replace humans' and says workers cannot cede the best available tools to 'the other side.' The piece frames AI adoption as a practical reality that should not carry stigma, redirecting debate toward labor organizing and protecting workers' interests.

The union at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York has announced a strike date, timed just before the museum opens its major Roy Lichtenstein retrospective. Labor organizers at the institution have been pressing for a new contract, and the threatened walkout threatens to shadow one of the museum's biggest exhibitions of the year. Art world observers are watching whether the dispute is resolved before opening day.

Warehouse workers at Amazon's SWF1 facility have gone on strike over alleged unfair labor practices, according to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which is supporting the action. The strike adds to ongoing disputes between Amazon and organized labor, with the union accusing the company of violating workers' rights. The company has repeatedly denied similar allegations in past labor conflicts.

The Kansas Farmers Union Board of Directors has issued a statement calling for immigration policy to be re-humanized. The farm organization argues that current enforcement-focused approaches harm immigrant workers who are essential to agriculture, and urges policymakers to adopt more humane treatment of migrant labor. The statement was published by agricultural news outlet Morning Ag Clips.

On September 30, 1892, in the aftermath of the Homestead Steel Strike, union leaders faced prosecution for treason, the first time in U.S. history workers' leaders were charged with the crime. Henry Clay Frick, chairman of Carnegie Steel, persuaded the chief justice of Pennsylvania's supreme court to issue the treason charges. The case became a landmark example of how companies used the courts against organized labor.

The California Teachers Association is highlighting the link between higher education and union power, drawing attention to organized labor's role in shaping colleges and universities. The discussion touches on how faculty and staff unions influence working conditions, academic policy, and the broader future of public education in California and beyond.

A judge has rejected Starbucks' attempt to dismiss a trademark lawsuit brought by the union organizing its US workers. The case, filed by Starbucks Workers United, will now move forward. The dispute is part of the ongoing legal fight between the coffee chain and the union over branding and labor campaign materials, and it adds to a string of setbacks for the company in its battle with organizers.

Lyft has agreed to pay $272.5 million in what is described as the largest California settlement over worker classification, resolving claims that its drivers were misclassified as independent contractors. Under the deal, drivers remain unclassified as employees but gain the right to organize unions and negotiate with the company over wages and benefits, under legislation carried by Assembly Members including Buffy Wicks.

A new book examines the 1934 Minneapolis truckers' strike, a violent labor battle that helped pave the way for the city's middle class. The strike, marked by deadly clashes between workers and police, was a turning point in organizing the city's transport industry and strengthening union power. The book's release is drawing attention to how those labor fights shaped Minneapolis' economic and social history.

New photographs show workers preparing for a potential strike in the period before a new contract was ultimately agreed upon. The images document picket sign preparation and organizing efforts that were underway while negotiations were still unresolved. The contract was later settled without the need for a walkout, but the photos offer a look at how seriously workers were readying for job action.

The Washington Retail Association is highlighting its role advocating on behalf of retailers across Washington state. The organization represents retail businesses on policy and regulatory issues affecting the industry, working with state lawmakers on matters such as taxes, labor rules and business costs. The message reaffirms its statewide advocacy mission at a time when retailers face continued economic pressures.

The Northwest Labor Press argues that meeting clean energy targets and keeping the power grid reliable depends on unionized workers building and maintaining the infrastructure. The piece ties organized labor directly to preventing blackouts, framing skilled union workforces as essential to delivering new generation and transmission capacity on the timelines governments have promised.