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AFL‑CIO affiliates are divided over the rapid expansion of AI‑driven data centers. Building‑trades unions support the boom because it creates high‑paying construction jobs, while nurses’ and flight‑attendant unions warn AI could be used to monitor or displace workers. The split highlights a growing strategic tension inside the labor movement as AI reshapes work.

Leaders from major U.S. unions unveiled Union Now, a national initiative aimed at reversing decades of declining union density. The campaign focuses on funding organizing drives, supporting recognition strikes, and protecting workers from illegal retaliation. Organizers argue that 70% of U.S. workers want a union but only 10% have one, calling the effort a necessary counterweight to corporate anti‑union strategies.

Warehouse workers in Mississauga, Ontario, secured the first union contract ever negotiated with Walmart in Canada. The agreement includes wage increases, improved working‑conditions guarantees, and a lump‑sum settlement for unfair‑labor‑practice allegations. Unifor leaders called it a “historic” breakthrough that could accelerate unionization across Walmart’s supply chain.

Applications for jobless aid rose to 229,000, the highest level since February, though still historically low. Analysts say the increase reflects economic pressure from the Iran conflict, which has pushed up gas prices and strained consumer budgets. Despite the uptick, hiring has strengthened in recent months, with employers adding 172,000 jobs in May. Economists expect the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates steady at its upcoming meeting.

Jeff Bezos told the VivaTech conference in Paris that artificial intelligence will ultimately create a global labor shortage rather than mass unemployment. He argued that AI will lower barriers to innovation and productivity, enabling people to “build and create” more. His comments come as companies worldwide cut jobs citing AI‑driven efficiencies, and as a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows half of Americans fear AI threatens their household’s employment. Bezos maintained that humans have “endless” work to do and that AI will expand, not shrink, economic opportunity.

The U.S. Labor Department warned all 50 states that they must strengthen oversight of unemployment‑insurance systems or risk losing federal administrative funding. Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling said states have allowed “unprecedented fraud” due to outdated technology and weak identity‑verification systems. The announcement singled out California, Illinois, and New York for high improper‑payment rates, though experts note improper payments are not the same as fraud. Democratic governors criticized the move as politically motivated and lacking supporting data.

British manufacturers and union officials warned that high domestic energy costs are pushing companies to shift production — and jobs — overseas. Industry groups say the UK’s energy‑price gap with Europe and Asia has widened, making factories less competitive. Some firms have already relocated operations, citing unsustainable costs. Unions urged the government to intervene to prevent further job losses.

Ecopetrol, Colombia’s state‑owned oil company, reached a final collective‑bargaining agreement with its largest union after weeks of negotiations. The deal covers wages, benefits, and job‑security provisions for thousands of workers. Union leaders said the agreement protects labor rights amid restructuring pressures. The company described the pact as essential for operational stability.

Resident doctors in England suspended planned strikes after receiving a last‑minute pay offer from the government. The dispute had stretched for months, with junior doctors and consultants demanding inflation‑adjusted raises. Union leaders said the new proposal warranted consultation with members before further action. The government called the pause a “positive step” toward resolution.

Workers at South Korean tech company Kakao held a four-hour strike and rally to demand changes to the company's bonus system and stronger job security protections. The union argues that employees are not receiving a fair share of company profits, particularly as AI-related growth boosts earnings. Workers rejected management's proposal to provide restricted stock units instead of cash bonuses. The dispute reflects growing labor activism in the technology sector, where employees are increasingly organizing around compensation and workplace protections.