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Labor

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

The Democrats’ pro-union strategy has been a bustThe Democrats’ pro-union strategy has been a bust
The present — and future — of the American leftMember Exclusive

Despite Joe Biden’s historically pro-union policies, the Democrats’ share of the union vote is falling.

By Eric Levitz
The massive dock workers’ strike, explainedThe massive dock workers’ strike, explained
Labor

The dock workers’ strike could mean big wage gains but could further disrupt the fragile supply chain.

By Ellen Ioanes
The real impact of the Teamsters’ non-endorsementThe real impact of the Teamsters’ non-endorsement
Politics

The Teamsters aren’t endorsing a Trump or Harris. Does it matter?

By Ellen Ioanes
Why Harris and Trump don’t want a Japanese company to buy US SteelWhy Harris and Trump don’t want a Japanese company to buy US Steel
Vox’s guide to Donald Trump’s 2024 policies

US Steel is a throwback to when American steel and American unions were powerful. Now it might be sold.

By Dylan Matthews
The hidden cause behind your miserable flight delays
Money

Flight attendants are underpaid and overworked — and that hurts passengers, too.

By Whizy Kim
US teacher strikes were good, actuallyUS teacher strikes were good, actually
Education

New research finds labor stoppages raised wages without harming student learning.

By Rachel Cohen
The hidden cost of your Prime Day purchasesThe hidden cost of your Prime Day purchases
Labor

For Amazon workers, the bevy of sales reinforces the human toll of “same-day delivery, lifetime of injury.”

By Sam Delgado
France’s elections showed a polarized countryFrance’s elections showed a polarized country
Explainers

France held back the far right. No one knows what’s next.

By Ellen Ioanes
The death of the summer job is a good thing
Money

Teen jobs aren’t what they used to be. They’re worse.

By Abdallah Fayyad
What the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually meanWhat the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually mean
World Politics

The UK is getting a new government. What is it promising to do?

By Ellen Ioanes
The little-known but successful model for protecting human and labor rightsThe little-known but successful model for protecting human and labor rights
Future Perfect

How a worker-driven initiative is filling in the gaps left behind by corporate social responsibility programs.

By Sam Delgado
If it’s 100 degrees out, does your boss have to give you a break? Probably not.If it’s 100 degrees out, does your boss have to give you a break? Probably not.
The Vox guide to extreme heat

The US doesn‘t have federal heat protections. A standard would save lives. As a heat dome suffocates much of the East, it‘s becoming more apparent that we need better standards in the face of climate change.

By Sam Delgado
The winners and losers of the Biden economy
Politics

Younger workers have done well under Biden. Fast food fanatics have not.

By Eric Levitz
The unionization fight is coming to the SouthThe unionization fight is coming to the South
Today, Explained newsletter

Workers at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama are on their last day of voting for a UAW union. Here’s why it matters.

By Sam Delgado
A unionized Volkswagen plant in Tennessee could mean big things for workers nationwideA unionized Volkswagen plant in Tennessee could mean big things for workers nationwide
Money

The UAW is unlocking worker power in the South. An expert explains why it matters.

By Whizy Kim
Want a 32-hour workweek? Give workers more power.Want a 32-hour workweek? Give workers more power.
Future Perfect

German labor history has some tips on how the US could reduce its workweek.

By Oshan Jarow
Why Lyft and Uber drivers did their largest strike everWhy Lyft and Uber drivers did their largest strike ever
Politics

The protests spotlight gig workers’ lack of basic labor protections.

By Li Zhou
How Boeing put profits over planes
Money

The fall of Boeing has been decades in the making.

By Whizy Kim
We’re all addicted to cheap stuff — and Temu knows it
Money

How the new Chinese shopping site came from seemingly nowhere and is changing the way we shop.

By Whizy Kim
It’s just a tip
Money

You can say no to the tipping tablet. That doesn’t mean you should.

By Emily Stewart
The long, long Hollywood strikes have endedThe long, long Hollywood strikes have ended
Culture

SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP have reached a tentative agreement.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Why stop at the four-day workweek?
Future Perfect

Companies are opting for shorter weeks. But without worker power, they’re just another employer perk.

By Oshan Jarow
One down, two to go: Autoworkers get a tentative deal with FordOne down, two to go: Autoworkers get a tentative deal with Ford
Labor

The UAW strike isn’t over, but it might be soon.

By Emily Stewart
Going on strike is a riskGoing on strike is a risk
Labor

When workers go on strike, there are no guarantees it will work out.

By Emily Stewart
The actors strike negotiations have broken downThe actors strike negotiations have broken down
Culture

The two big sticking points between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP, explained.

By Alissa Wilkinson
The Hollywood writers’ strike is over — and they won bigThe Hollywood writers’ strike is over — and they won big
Culture

Here’s what’s coming in the WGA’s new contract.

By Alissa Wilkinson and Emily Stewart
Everything you need to know to feel smart about the UAW strikeEverything you need to know to feel smart about the UAW strike
Labor

Why are auto workers striking? What’s their special strategy? And wait, what’s the UAW?

By Emily Stewart and Ellen Ioanes
What’s the state of the Hollywood strikes?What’s the state of the Hollywood strikes?
Culture

On the AMPTP’s identity crisis, Drew Barrymore, the fall TV calendar, and whether this will ever end.

By Alissa Wilkinson
The myths we tell ourselves about American farmingThe myths we tell ourselves about American farming
Future Perfect

“Agricultural exceptionalism,” explained.

By Kenny Torrella
What a UAW strike could mean for laborWhat a UAW strike could mean for labor
Unions

Auto workers at the “Detroit Three” auto companies could stop work on September 14.

By Ellen Ioanes
This summer is giving us a glimpse at the dangerous future of workThis summer is giving us a glimpse at the dangerous future of work
The Vox guide to extreme heat

It’s hot and only getting hotter. Could this be the next big labor battle?

By Whizy Kim and Kenny Torrella
Nobody wins in the Hollywood strikes, including billion-dollar studiosNobody wins in the Hollywood strikes, including billion-dollar studios
Money

CEOs like Bob Iger and David Zaslav seem willing to lose money during the writers and actors strikes. Why?

By Emily Stewart
“Going shopping” is dead
Money

Why going to the store sucks now

By Whizy Kim
It’s not just famous actors and big-name writers the Hollywood strikes are hurtingIt’s not just famous actors and big-name writers the Hollywood strikes are hurting
Money

A look at how workers in and outside of Hollywood are being hit by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

By Emily Stewart
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
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
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
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
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
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