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The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee will vote on November 19 on the nomination of Scott Mayer, a Boeing-company lawyer, to fill a seat on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The appointment could affect the federal board’s capacity to act on labor disputes, especially as it currently lacks a quorum.

Over 100 members of the U.S. Congress—on a committee led by Senator Bernie Sanders—wrote to Starbucks’ CEO urging the company to resume fair contract talks with the union and cease what they describe as “union-busting” tactics. The letter calls on Starbucks to reverse course and negotiate a fair deal.

Unionized baristas at Starbucks voted overwhelmingly to authorize an open-ended strike should no contract be reached by November 13, coinciding with the company’s major “Red Cup Day” promotion. The union is demanding better staffing, pay, and protections; Starbucks says it already offers top retail jobs and can operate through the holiday season.

A challenge brought by the Freedom Foundation against an Oregon corrections union’s fee policy has been rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. The suit claimed the Association of Oregon Corrections Employees violated workers’ First Amendment rights by allowing charges for representation services even after they opted out of membership. With lower courts dismissing the case for lack of standing, Oregon’s robust labor protections remain intact, continuing to draw opposition from anti-union organizations.

As the Boeing strike nears its fourth month, company leaders have introduced a revised contract featuring a $6,000 signing bonus and higher base pay for St. Louis-area workers. The new offer removes stock options from earlier versions in favor of more immediate cash and retains improvements to vacation and sick leave. Union members are set to vote on the proposal Thursday, which could bring employees back to work by mid-November if approved.

Over a hundred members of Congress are urging Starbucks to return to the bargaining table with Workers United, the union representing thousands of its baristas. The letters—sent Monday by the Congressional Labor Caucus and a group of senators led by Bernie Sanders—come as the union threatens an open-ended strike beginning November 13, coinciding with Starbucks’ busy Red Cup Day. Lawmakers argued the company can afford to raise pay and benefits, while Starbucks maintains it has offered competitive compensation and remains ready to negotiate if the union re-engages.

October saw an uptick in U.S. services activity, marking the strongest expansion in eight months even as hiring remained sluggish amid tariff pressures and the ongoing government shutdown. The Institute for Supply Management’s index rose to 52.4, reflecting solid demand in sectors like retail and transportation. Economists noted that while new orders surged, weak employment and rising input costs suggest a mixed outlook for the broader economy heading into the fourth quarter.

Unionized Starbucks baristas have voted to authorize an open-ended strike if a contract with the company isn’t reached by November 13, coinciding with Starbucks’s Red Cup Day. Starbucks Workers United, representing over 9,000 employees nationwide, said potential strikes could begin in more than 25 cities and expand if negotiations stall. The union accuses Starbucks of stalling talks and committing unfair labor practices, while the company maintains that any agreement must reflect its already strong retail jobs.

Musicians with the True Concord Voices and Orchestra in Tucson remain in limbo as the federal government shutdown stalls their unionization efforts. The National Labor Relations Board, which has been unable to rule on disputes due to a lack of quorum, has left the musicians’ petition for recognition unresolved. True Concord’s management has declined to voluntarily recognize the union, frustrating players who say collective bargaining would protect their rights, improve pay and safety conditions, and bring parity with other unionized orchestras in the region.

Just days before a planned strike, Temple University Health and two major hospital unions reached a new three-year contract covering more than 2,600 nurses and staff. The agreement includes wage increases of over 3% per year, expanded safety measures such as new panic buttons and security officers, and commitments to hire more staff to ease workloads. Union leaders called the deal a defensive but meaningful victory that preserves key benefits and improves conditions for hospital workers.