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Over 70 Democratic lawmakers have accused the acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of failing to uphold legal protections for transgender and nonbinary workers. In a letter, they allege the agency deprioritized or dismissed gender identity discrimination claims under Andrea Lucas’s leadership. Supporters of the letter argue this violates civil rights law and Supreme Court precedent, while critics may contend the agency is aligning with broader federal policy directives.

Thousands of grocery workers across Southern California are preparing for a possible strike, citing alleged unfair labor practices by major chains like Ralphs, Vons, and Albertsons. The union claims these companies have engaged in surveillance, intimidation, and retaliation against employees. Workers say the dispute centers on both better compensation and workplace respect, while the companies argue they are bargaining in good faith and already offer competitive wages and benefits. Supporters of the union emphasize staffing shortages and mistreatment, while critics worry a strike could inconvenience shoppers and disrupt access to affordable groceries.

A federal judge has ruled that Susan Grundmann, a Democratic appointee to the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), can remain in her position while she appeals her dismissal by the Trump administration. The decision rejects the administration’s request to remove her immediately, despite an ongoing legal challenge. Judge Sparkle Sooknanan found that Grundmann’s role at the FLRA—an agency that resolves labor disputes between federal employees and management—does not carry significant executive power, distinguishing it from other recent Supreme Court cases involving agency officials. With Grundmann’s term ending July 1, the judge also noted there was no urgent harm in allowing her to serve out the remainder.

A new federal hiring requirement mandating job applicants to explain how they would support the Trump administration’s executive orders is raising alarm among civil service experts and former officials. Critics argue that the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) updated application process risks politicizing roles traditionally viewed as nonpartisan—such as food safety inspectors and wage investigators—by evaluating candidates based on alignment with the president’s policy goals. While OPM defends the essay as a tool to streamline hiring and replace outdated criteria, many warn it could act as a de facto loyalty test and undermine the expertise-driven integrity of federal agencies.

Contract negotiations between the Canadian federal government and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) are resuming next week, marking a new phase in talks that affect over 120,000 public servants across the country. The union is pushing for improved wages, job security, and stronger remote work protections—key issues that fueled the nationwide strike in 2023. While PSAC says it's ready to negotiate in earnest, government officials maintain they will bargain in good faith but remain cautious about major changes, particularly around remote work and workforce size.

Connecticut’s Congressional delegation is urging dietary supplement manufacturer i-Health to reinstate a group of warehouse workers fired amid an ongoing labor dispute. The Enfield-based employees, who unionized with Teamsters Local 671 in March 2024, allege they were terminated in retaliation for participating in a December strike over exhausting schedules and stalled contract negotiations. The company disputes the legality of the strike and maintains that work conditions hadn’t changed. Lawmakers, however, argue the firings may violate federal labor laws, calling the move unethical and retaliatory. A hearing before the National Labor Relations Board is expected in September.

Roughly 450 former CDC employees are being reinstated after initially losing their jobs as part of a sweeping federal workforce reduction under the Trump administration, according to a Health and Human Services spokesperson. The workers, who came from key public health divisions such as HIV prevention, environmental health, and global disease surveillance, were among the 2,400 CDC jobs slated for elimination in April. The decision to reverse the layoffs follows public backlash and concerns over risks to public health. An internal email confirmed the revocation of layoff notices, allowing staff to resume their roles in critical oversight areas like lead poisoning prevention and air quality monitoring.

Railroad operator CSX announced Wednesday that its five-year labor agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has been ratified by union members. The contract, which covers around 3,400 locomotive engineers—or roughly 20% of CSX’s frontline workforce—includes wage increases and health care improvements consistent with terms reached in prior deals with 13 other unions. According to the company, nearly 75% of its unionized employees are now covered under ratified agreements.

A proposal to freeze state worker salaries from Governor Gavin Newsom was rejected by the California Legislature in its latest budget plan, offering temporary relief to public employees. Union leaders welcomed the move, calling it a show of solidarity amid heightened attacks on organized labor. Still, budget negotiations are far from over, with furloughs, retirement contribution pauses, and telework revisions still under discussion. Lawmakers face a June 27 deadline to finalize an agreement with the governor, who retains line-item veto authority that could still affect raises.

Hollywood’s video game performers may soon return to work following a tentative agreement between SAG-AFTRA and major gaming companies. The deal, announced after nearly a year of stalled negotiations, centers on protections against the misuse of artificial intelligence. Union members had walked off the job in July 2024, citing concerns over AI’s potential to replicate performers’ voices and likenesses without consent. SAG-AFTRA says the new contract includes critical AI safeguards, along with other gains. The strike will continue until a formal suspension agreement is reached and the deal is ratified by union members.