
Labor News
The latest labor stories, each synthesized from multiple sources with added background and context.
Featured Labor Stories


Discord, a mole and a 10% milestone: the Rockstar union-busting tribunal
A UK/Canada dispute sees IWGB accusing Rockstar of firing 34 workers (31 union members, 3 non-members) in October 2025 to disrupt union activity after the union hit the UK’s 10% recognition threshold, allegedly aided by a mole within the union Discord. Rockstar counters the terminations were for misconduct and to protect confidential GTA VI development amid a heightened security culture. The Glasgow employment tribunal is hearing the case through 2026, with filings detailing both sides’ arguments and the evidence they contend supports their positions.

More Top Stories
San Diego Starbucks supervisor pushes to dissolve union after holiday walkout
New York Post•1 month ago
Meta Glasses at Work Raise Privacy and Harassment Alarms
The Verge•1 month ago
More Labor Stories

Hollywood Unions Pressure Settlement to Shield Jobs in Paramount-WBD Antitrust Fight
Directors Guild of America and IATSE urge California AG Rob Bonta and Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison to settle the Paramount-Warner Bros antitrust case with enforceable conditions to protect workers, arguing that ongoing delays threaten productions ahead of a March 2027 trial.

Hollywood Crew Roster Purge Tests Union Access
The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Contract Services has flagged thousands of IATSE crew for removal from the Industry Experience Roster after determining they did not meet the three-year eligibility threshold (one union project in 2023–2026). The move, the first broad purge since 2022, has prompted protests from some locals and raised concerns that losing roster status could hinder access to union jobs, even as workers can requalify by meeting stricter criteria (such as 30 eligible days on productions). With overall hours of work down since the 2022 strikes and domestic high-budget projects shrinking, industry officials argue purging is tied to location incentives abroad and will be revisited in 2027 contract talks, making the outcome pivotal for many freelancers.

PECO strike ends as union wins pension benefits for newer hires
PECO workers ended a three-day strike after a tentative five-year contract that includes pensions and retirement health benefits for newer hires, 4% annual raises for linemen and gas technicians (4 years) plus 4.5% in year five, and 3% per year for call-center staff; the agreement also adds 24-hour overtime notice and upgraded pay. The 1,600-member IBEW Local 614 workforce will vote to ratify, ending PECO’s first strike in its 145-year history amid heat, outages, and widespread restoration efforts. PECO profits reportedly rose after 2025 rate hikes.

Rockstar staff push for union recognition as GTA VI looms
Rockstar Games workers have filed for voluntary recognition by the IWGB Game Workers Union, claiming a significant cross-site majority and seeking pay transparency, flexible scheduling, and reduced crunch; the move follows past layoffs accused of union busting, a September tribunal on those firings, and ahead of GTA VI’s November 19 launch at a $79.99 starting price, with Take-Two saying it will discuss with the union as industry-wide unionization efforts grow.

SoFi Stadium workers avert strike with tentative World Cup deal
SoFi Stadium workers represented by Unite Here Local 11 voted 96% to authorize a strike, but a tentative agreement with Legends Hospitality was reached Monday night and will be ratified this week. The deal covers about 2,000 workers and addresses pay, protections against subcontracting, and job security, while preserving the right to strike over safety—including immigration-enforcement concerns during World Cup matches. SoFi will host eight World Cup games, and the union says it aims to prevent disruptions while ensuring worker safety.

SoFi Stadium workers authorize strike as World Cup nears
About 2,000 SoFi Stadium hospitality workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, with a walkout possible at any time and potentially timed around the U.S. men’s World Cup opener on June 12; the operator says it has a contingency staffing plan and remains hopeful for a deal.

SoFi Stadium Workers Vote to Authorize Strike Ahead of World Cup Opener
SoFi Stadium workers in Inglewood voted to authorize a strike if contract talks with Legends Global stall, just days before the U.S. World Cup opener at the venue. About 2,000 bartenders, servers, cooks and dishwashers are seeking higher pay, job security, protections from subcontracting, and limits on immigration enforcement, with talks moving slowly and no guarantee of a walkout. Legends Global says it aims to reach an agreement and deliver a strong World Cup experience.

Conde Nast settles with union over Fired Four, three allowed to resign with back pay
Condé Nast and the NewsGuild of New York reached a settlement over the November 2025 firings of four union members dubbed the Fired Four. Three of the workers—Alma Avalle, Ben Dewey, and Jasper Lo—will resign as active employees and receive nearly two years’ pay plus positive letters of recommendation, while the fourth, Jake Lahut, was offered a lesser settlement and will pursue an unfair labor practice case at the NLRB. The union calls the deal a victory for workers’ rights; Condé Nast says no party admitted fault and that the agreement lets all move forward.

Secret NY rail deal ends three-day strike as activists push for transparency
New York’s three-day LIRR strike ended with Governor Hochul announcing a tentative agreement to resume service, but none of the contract terms have been released. The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) denounces the deal as negotiated behind closed doors by the MTA, the five unions, and Albany, and urges full public disclosure and the formation of independent rank-and-file committees to read, discuss, and potentially reject or renegotiate the terms to prevent concessions and restart the strike if needed.

LIRR Faces 32-Year First as Unions Strike Over Wages
After last-minute talks failed to secure wage increases, a coalition of five unions including BLET walked out at Long Island Rail Road, affecting about 3,500 workers (500 engineers) and marking the first LIRR strike in 32 years; the move comes despite two Presidential Emergency Boards siding with labor offers, and amid more than three years without raises, with the MTA blaming mismanagement while unions say they deserve fair pay.