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Unexpected job gains in Canada pushed the June unemployment rate down to 6.9%, defying forecasts of an increase. Sectors like wholesale, retail, healthcare, and manufacturing saw notable growth, mostly in part-time roles. Wage growth slowed to 3.2%, which could influence the Bank of Canada’s upcoming rate decision.

Over a thousand State Department employees began receiving termination notices Friday as part of a large-scale workforce reduction. The layoffs follow a Supreme Court decision that allowed the Trump administration to proceed with dismissals across federal agencies. Critics say the cuts jeopardize U.S. diplomatic strength amid escalating global crises.

Sanitation workers in the Boston area have been on strike for nearly a week, demanding improved wages and healthcare from Republic Services. As trash piles up across several towns, the company announced it will meet with Teamsters Local 25 and a federal mediator to resume negotiations. The union accuses Republic of stalling talks and misleading the public about its willingness to bargain.

Hundreds of thousands of workers across India held a one-day nationwide strike protesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic reforms, including privatization efforts and labor law changes. Organized by major trade unions and farmer groups, the strike disrupted coal mining, banking, transportation, and public services. Protesters argue the reforms favor corporations over workers and erode job security and benefits.

A federal appeals panel has paused a lower court’s order that required the government to uphold union contracts for federal employees. This decision allows the Trump administration to disregard collective bargaining agreements at several agencies while the case is under appeal. The Ninth Circuit will hear arguments on July 17.

A major California housing reform passed with unexpected support from the Carpenters union, breaking from other construction unions that opposed the bill. Unlike the Trades Council, which insists on strict union labor standards, the Carpenters backed a more flexible approach to improve pay and conditions for non-union workers. Their stance has deepened divisions within organized labor and raised tensions over wage policies. Lawmakers credited the Carpenters with helping advance long-stalled housing efforts.

Nurses and support staff at McLaren Macomb Hospital in Mount Clemens, Michigan, wrapped up a three-day unfair labor practice strike this week, protesting what they describe as chronic understaffing, unsafe patient conditions, and poverty-level wages. The strike, led by more than 660 members of OPEIU Local 40, ended July 9, though registered nurses say they’ve been locked out until July 12 due to the hospital’s contract with replacement staff. The hospital, located in southeastern Michigan, maintains it meets national care standards and has offered competitive wage increases, but union leaders argue the proposals fall short of ensuring safe staffing. They say they’re prepared to return to the bargaining table after two years of stalled negotiations.

After more than a week of stalled trash pickup, pool closures, and high-stakes negotiations, Philadelphia’s largest municipal union has reached a tentative deal with the city, bringing an end to the citywide labor strike. The agreement between AFSCME District Council 33 and Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration includes a $1,500 bonus and a 9% raise over three years—less than the union’s original ask, but still hailed as a major win for city workers. Roughly 9,000 employees across sanitation, airport maintenance, libraries, and other departments are returning to work, with trash collection set to resume Monday. Pools that had been drained due to the strike are also in the process of reopening. Union members still need to ratify the contract before it's final.

A growing wave of lawsuits is challenging how major employers handle unvested 401(k) funds when workers leave their jobs early—specifically, whether using those forfeitures to cover company contributions violates federal benefits law. While most courts so far have ruled in favor of employers, several cases are still advancing, and two key appeals are pending in the Ninth Circuit. Legal experts say the outcome will likely hinge on the specific language in each company’s 401(k) plan.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Tuesday that there will be “no amnesty” for undocumented farmworkers, reaffirming the Trump administration’s push to remove all immigrants in the U.S. illegally. Despite warnings from the farm sector about the potential impact on the food supply, Rollins said the goal is a fully American workforce, suggesting automation and Medicaid recipients could fill labor gaps. She also confirmed plans to limit foreign ownership of farmland, with an executive order expected soon.