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Labor

The biggest news about labor, jobs, unemployment, and how America works.

Culture
King the Land is a Netflix hit about love and labor rightsKing the Land is a Netflix hit about love and labor rights
Culture

Can romance’s fantasy of wealth survive the labor rights movement? Let’s ask, uh, this frothy K-drama.

By Aja Romano
Politics
Why thousands of LA service workers are on strikeWhy thousands of LA service workers are on strike
Politics

Airport employees, sanitation workers, and more have authorized their first strike in 40 years.

By Li Zhou
Unions
What a trucking company bankruptcy tells us about labor tensions in AmericaWhat a trucking company bankruptcy tells us about labor tensions in America
Unions

The freight trucking company Yellow struggled for years. It’s blaming its union anyway.

By Whizy Kim
Technology
Workers are mad as hell this summerWorkers are mad as hell this summer
Technology

From actors to delivery drivers, why 2023 is a perfect storm for strikes.

By Rani Molla
Technology
A UPS strike would have been worse than you thinkA UPS strike would have been worse than you think
Technology

Our reliance on delivery gave the Teamsters union a lot more leverage in UPS negotiations.

By Rani Molla
Future Perfect
Telephone operation was a good career for women. Then it got automated.Telephone operation was a good career for women. Then it got automated.
Future Perfect

How automation wiped out a whole career for young women — and how young women adapted.

By Dylan Matthews
Education
Teachers are striking for more than just pay raisesTeachers are striking for more than just pay raises
Education

What Oakland’s teachers union reveals about labor strikes in 2023.

By Courtney E. Martin
Culture
Hollywood’s historic double strike, explainedHollywood’s historic double strike, explained
Culture

SAG-AFTRA now joins the WGA on the picket line. What does that mean for viewers?

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
Hollywood is staring down the barrel of a double strikeHollywood is staring down the barrel of a double strike
Culture

What happens if everybody walks off the job?

By Alissa Wilkinson
World Politics
Why strikes might disrupt your summer EurotripWhy strikes might disrupt your summer Eurotrip
World Politics

Inflation in Europe and the United Kingdom is prompting a wave of labor action across the continent.

By Jen Kirby
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court deals another blow to labor unionsThe Supreme Court deals another blow to labor unions
Supreme Court

The Court’s new decision is a significant blow to workers’ right to strike.

By Ian Millhiser
Policy
The Republican push to weaken child labor laws, explainedThe Republican push to weaken child labor laws, explained
Policy

It’s not just about a labor shortage.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Technology
Starbucks won’t admit to breaking the law by union bustingStarbucks won’t admit to breaking the law by union busting
Technology

Longtime CEO Howard Shultz testified before a Senate committee as the company’s labor violations stack up.

By Rani Molla
Education
The massive Los Angeles public school worker strike, explainedThe massive Los Angeles public school worker strike, explained
Education

Unions are protesting low wages and “unfair” working conditions during the three-day strike.

By Nicole Narea
Policy
Stop requiring college degrees for jobs that don’t need themStop requiring college degrees for jobs that don’t need them
Policy

Employers are finally tearing down the “paper ceiling” in hiring.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Policy
Child labor protections are the latest Republican targetChild labor protections are the latest Republican target
Policy

Arkansas is leading the charge against laws that protect kids — despite revelations of dangerous child labor nationwide.

By Ellen Ioanes
Labor
The five-day workweek is deadThe five-day workweek is dead
Labor

The calls for something better are just getting louder.

By Anna North
Politics
What Michigan Democrats will do now that they control a key swing stateWhat Michigan Democrats will do now that they control a key swing state
Politics

Michigan Democrats are going big and bold on abortion and unions with their new trifecta.

By Nicole Narea
Technology
What banning noncompetes could mean for the US workforceWhat banning noncompetes could mean for the US workforce
Technology

President Biden wants to change how we think about anti-competitive behavior.

By Sara Morrison and Rani Molla
Politics
The Supreme Court hears a case this week that endangers workers’ ability to strikeThe Supreme Court hears a case this week that endangers workers’ ability to strike
Politics

Glacier Northwest v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters should be a straightforward case. But nothing is ever straightforward in this Supreme Court.

By Ian Millhiser
Technology
How workers fought back in 2022How workers fought back in 2022
Technology

Workers unionized, quit their jobs, and refused to go back to the office.

By Rani Molla
Politics
The Senate votes to avert a rail strike — and rejects paid sick leaveThe Senate votes to avert a rail strike — and rejects paid sick leave
Politics

A measure to approve seven paid sick days for rail workers has failed in the upper chamber.

By Li Zhou
Technology
It wasn’t an ordinary Red Cup Day at Starbucks this yearIt wasn’t an ordinary Red Cup Day at Starbucks this year
Technology

Empty stores and unused cups: A look at the Starbucks strikes.

By Rani Molla
Technology
The Amazon Labor Union suffers another loss but vows to keep fightingThe Amazon Labor Union suffers another loss but vows to keep fighting
Technology

Amazon workers at the ALB1 warehouse near Albany, New York, voted 406-206 against unionizing.

By Jason Del Rey
Technology
Amazon workers in upstate New York are fighting for a crucial second union winAmazon workers in upstate New York are fighting for a crucial second union win
Technology

The election at the ALB1 Amazon warehouse near Albany could prove the Staten Island union victory was no fluke.

By Jason Del Rey
Politics
The coming fight over the gig economy, explainedThe coming fight over the gig economy, explained
Politics

The Labor Department’s new classification rules could give workers for companies like Uber and DoorDash more rights — if they ever take effect.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Politics
California aims to transform how fast food workers are treatedCalifornia aims to transform how fast food workers are treated
Politics

The restaurant industry lost its fight against a big labor bill recently signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

By Rachel Cohen Booth
Technology
How unions are winning again, in 4 chartsHow unions are winning again, in 4 charts
Technology

Workers have a lot to celebrate this Labor Day.

By Rani Molla
Technology
Starbucks is not playing nice with its new unionStarbucks is not playing nice with its new union
Technology

The company has started bargaining with just 3 of more than 200 unionized stores.

By Rani Molla
Technology
A second Trader Joe’s just unionized. It could be the next Starbucks.A second Trader Joe’s just unionized. It could be the next Starbucks.
Technology

The grocery chain is now famous for Hawaiian shirts, frozen foods, and union jobs.

By Rani Molla
America has an innovation problem. The H-1B visa backlog is making it worse.
Future Perfect

America needs high-skilled immigrants. Here’s why we don’t have more.

By Miranda Dixon-Luinenburg
Money
Labor exploitation, explained by MinionsLabor exploitation, explained by Minions
Money

We can understand the entire history of the capitalist labor market through the Despicable Me franchise.

By Rebecca Jennings
Amazon fired Chris Smalls. Now the new union leader is one of its biggest problems.
Technology

What’s next for the face of America’s new labor movement.

By Shirin Ghaffary
Politics
The House will allow staffers to unionize. Here’s how it will work.The House will allow staffers to unionize. Here’s how it will work.
Politics

It’s a huge win for congressional organizers who’ve been pushing for change.

By Li Zhou
Technology
Why unions are growing and shrinking at the same timeWhy unions are growing and shrinking at the same time
Technology

Joining the picket line like it’s 1939.

By Rani Molla
How a bunch of Starbucks baristas built a labor movement
Technology

Inside Starbucks’s successful 21st-century union drive.

By Rani Molla
Technology
America finally gets an Amazon unionAmerica finally gets an Amazon union
Technology

Amazon wanted to make former employee Chris Smalls the face of labor activism. He just handed Amazon its first US union.

By Jason Del Rey
Technology
It’s harder than ever to get fired or laid offIt’s harder than ever to get fired or laid off
Technology

Employers aren’t letting go of workers. That’s another indicator of worker power.

By Rani Molla
A new era for the American worker
Technology

American workers have power. That won’t last forever.

By Rani Molla
Technology
What the first Starbucks union means for workers everywhereWhat the first Starbucks union means for workers everywhere
Technology

A company-owned Starbucks in New York state is the first in the US to unionize.

By Rani Molla