We're thrilled to announce that Miranda Dietz is our new Health Care Program director! @mirandadz.bsky.social laborcenter.berkeley.edu/labor-center...

Lisa Kresge: “It really has in the last few years been at an inflection point, which reflects where we are in the moment of AI, as well as where unions are in recognizing the potential threat of AI.” @npquarterly.bsky.social nonprofitquarterly.org/can-the-figh...

TODAY: Do you know about the federal proposal to let employers roll your 401K into an annuity w/o transparency or safeguards? Learn more from UC Berkeley Labor Center's Nari Rhee, who testifies before a congressional subcommittee 1/7/26 @ 7:15 PT/10:15 ET. www.youtube.com/live/t2ukEhd...

Did you know that for workers nearing retirement, the median balance in their household retirement accounts is just 20K? Find out more as the UC Berkeley Labor Center's Nari Rhee testifies before a congressional subcommittee 1/7/26 @ 7:15 PT/10:15 ET. www.youtube.com/live/t2ukEhd...

NEW ANALYSIS: Federal regulatory agencies charged with enforcing wage and workplace safety conditions are taking drastically fewer actions against companies, and proposed rule changes by the administration will give workers even fewer protections. 🧵 goodjobsfirst.org/worker-prote...

Dietz and other UC researchers projected that if the enhanced subsidies vanish, unsubsidized Californians would still see premiums rise. They estimate unsubsidized enrollees will pay about $253 more on average next year due to that worsened risk mix. www.sacbee.com/news/equity-...

“All workers have the right to take collective action to improve their working conditions without retaliation from their employers,” said Katie Miles, a senior trainer at the UC Berkeley Labor Center with over 15 years of union organizing experience. “ www.thenation.com/article/soci...

Kent Wong's "audacious premise: the finest public university system should tackle the thorny social challenges of econ inequality & worker justice w/the same urgency & talent as other marquee goals, like treatments for cancer & climate change solutions." www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/open...

Washington DC has become the first locality to adopt a local child tax credit, a version of a federal credit that allows families to reduce their tax liabilities by a certain amount for each dependent child in their care. www.governing.com/finance/more...

Veterans are overrepresented in CA's unions, perhaps due to structured job and workforce development programs for them, e.g. in the public sector and the skilled trades. Our new blog post looks at veterans' prominent role in CA's labor unions. laborcenter.berkeley.edu/one-in-four-...

UC Berkeley Labor Center found that median hourly wage in East Bay reached more than $35.43 in 2023, nearly $3 higher than in 2019, adjusting for inflation. Despite the higher individual income, workers living at or near poverty rose to nearly 97,000. More in KQED News: https://bit.ly/3Xh6SMv

Danielle Mahones: The "We Can't Wait" campaign hopes that coordinated pressure by teachers' unions will encourage district leaders to push legislators to allocate more money for public education in the state’s budget. www.kqed.org/news/1206573...

The future of federal regulation of noncompete agreements is muddled. But individual states have been active in regulating them. Our friends at BJELL analyzed the surge in state-level activity, which shows no signs of abating and is often bipartisan. www.promarket.org/2025/12/01/s...

Now accepting applications for 2026 Solidarity Spring, a unique and inspiring introduction to labor and community organizing in the Bay Area for UCB undergraduate students. Learn more: laborcenter.berkeley.edu/solidarity-s...

ICYMI: Congratulations to Santa Fe for being the first U.S. city to include housing costs in calculations for minimum wage increases. www.kob.com/news/top-new...

@nextcity.org: "We Asked County Leaders What Medicaid’s Next Chapter Looks Like. They’re Bracing for It." Counties can either absorb the fallout of change to Medi-Cal due to OBBBA/HR1—or lead the way in building stronger, more resilient health systems. nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

As AI transforms jobs, labor is pushing for adoption that centers workers & communities, embraces common-sense guardrails, and improves workers’ quality of life on & off the job. More from UC Berkeley Labor Center: https://inequality.org/article/an-alternative-vision-for-the-future-of-tech-and-work/

Where the real policy #wonks at?! @mishal-khan.bsky.social of @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social has you covered: www.hardresetmedia.com/p/roundups-o...

The message on AI is consistent across American unions: the technology has transformative potential, but it needs guardrails and worker input on its development and deployment @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social inequality.org/article/an-a...

Emerging technologies are reshaping the workplace. While these technologies can be beneficial, workers and researchers are increasingly reporting negative impacts. Learn more from @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social's Mishal Khan and Annette Bernhardt in @techpolicy.press.web.brid.gy: bit.ly/47K3uP2

State lawmakers have tackled the risks of AI-driven job displacement in limited ways, with a division emerging between “carrot” versus “stick” approaches. In CA, Newsom's veto of the “No Robo Bosses Act” was "such a lost opportunity" says Annette Bernhardt. news.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberg-go...

Join us this Friday (11/14, 4:30pm) for a screening of the short film When We Fight—the story of the LA Teachers' Strike—followed by a panel discussion with leading educator activists in local teachers’ unions. Learn about their current campaigns! laborcenter.berkeley.edu/event/when-w...

In debates about how AI could impact workers in the years to come, we must pay attention to the wide range of concerns that worker organizations have about technology adoption, as well as the alternative vision they are putting forth. inequality.org/article/an-a...

Researchers see “an emerging societal consensus across labor, professional associations, and consumers that key functions such as education, health care, and government are vital for the public good and must be performed by a human.“ AI automation is not inevitable.

I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day. certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.

AI in the workplace isn’t just automation. Workers report discrimination, intensified workloads, and even automated firing. New state policies aim to center workers, write Mishal Khan and Annette Bernhardt from our Technology and Work Program. www.techpolicy.press/evaluating-t...

The UC Berkeley Labor Center/ Institute for Research on Labor and Employment seeks a Grants and Contracts Administrator to be based in Berkeley, CA. Details can be found at: unionjobs.com/listing.php?... #1u #UnionStrong @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social

The UC Berkeley Labor Center is hiring a grants and contracts administrator. Learn more and apply! The first review date is 10/31/2025. laborcenter.berkeley.edu/job-opening-...

“At the heart of everything Kent did was his unwavering commitment to protecting and uplifting immigrant workers.” www.latimes.com/business/sto...

We will miss our steadfast partner and friend. Our hearts go out to his family, our colleagues at the UCLA Labor Center, and all who were touched by him. We salute a life well lived. Rest in power, Kent Wong. laborcenter.berkeley.edu/the-uc-berke...

The UC Berkeley Labor Center mourns Kent Wong, our longtime colleague and friend. A passionate champion for workers—especially immigrants—and students, Kent dedicated his life to justice. Our hearts are with our colleagues at the UCLA Labor Center.

UFW mourns the passing of our brother Kent Wong. Please watch Kent speak in beautiful short video connecting his time with UFW to his view of the importance of solidary across labor and race and cultural backgrounds.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODkU...

We’re at the annual Health Care conference hosted by @capitolweekly.bsky.social. Our @thewallner.bsky.social joined @jodihicks.bsky.social of @ppactionca.bsky.social, @mirandadz.bsky.social of @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social, & more to discuss the devastating impact of H.R. 1 on our health care access.

Report looking at wages & economic challenges for workers & families in Alameda & Contra Costa Counties during the recovery from the COVID-19 recession. Workers had real wage growth, but many still struggled to make ends meet in 2021-2023. laborcenter.berkeley.edu/state-of-wor...

Our Low-Wage Work Program is hiring a Research & Policy Associate. Learn more: laborcenter.berkeley.edu/job-opening-...

We just released a major overhaul of our online policy guide to major laws, bills, and concepts in the regulation of workplace technologies–including developments from the 2025 legislative session. laborcenter.berkeley.edu/tech-and-wor...

Exciting new developments in our Green Economy Program! We welcome two new senior researchers, Betony Jones and Josh Sonnenfeld. Plus, updates on our refinery transition work in Contra Costa and projects aimed at growing a high-road green economy in CA. laborcenter.berkeley.edu/the-labor-ce...

Unions are articulating a vision for how AI & other digital technologies should be developed and used in the workplace. We analyzed 17 of these documents by 15 organizations and identified key values being put forward. laborcenter.berkeley.edu/a-first-look...

We looked at the wages and turnover of NYC security guards. Our study found they earn a median income of $40,311—less than 40% of the city’s Area Median Income, even though the vast majority work full time and full year. www.amny.com/lifestyle/ci...

Register by Sep 16 for our 6-week online course Skills to Win. Designed to build high-participation organizations & prepare groups to win on any campaign, whether in a workplace, apartment building, neighborhood, neighborhood, school, or city. Learn more: laborcenter.berkeley.edu/workshop/ski...

TONIGHT! Sept 10, 6pm, Alameda CLC: Chicago Teachers Union Pres Stacy Davis Gates on how decades of bold organizing have led to the possibility for transformational change, powered by alignment between labor unions, community organizers & governing power. laborcenter.berkeley.edu/event/stacy-...

Wed, Sept 10, 6pm at Alameda CLC: Chicago Teachers Union Pres Stacy Davis Gates on how decades of bold organizing have led to the possibility for transformational change, powered by alignment between labor unions, community organizers & governing power. laborcenter.berkeley.edu/event/stacy-...

Come hear Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates in Oakland next week! www.facebook.com/events/20188...

Belated Labor Day article from LA Times: "Unions face mounting pressure to protect their members from the Trump administration’s immigration raids, cuts in Medicaid services and a weakened National Labor Relations Board." www.latimes.com/business/sto...

@elopezlira.bsky.social: Despite the headwinds—housing, health care affordability, technology, AI—California unions show resiliency in continuing to seek and find innovative ways to help workers. capitalandmain.com/unions-are-s...

The UC Berkeley Labor Center seeks applications for a Policy Researcher in the Low-Wage Work Team. First review date is September 11. laborcenter.berkeley.edu/job-opening-...

Register by Sep 3 for our 6-week online course Skills to Win. Designed to build high-participation organizations and prepare groups to win on any campaign, whether in a workplace, apartment building, neighborhood, neighborhood, school, or city. Learn more: laborcenter.berkeley.edu/workshop/ski...

“The future is not inevitable. There are a lot of choices that people can make along the road.” So good to see @mishal-khan.bsky.social of @ucblaborcenter.bsky.social get a spotlight from @sfexaminer.bsky.social! Check out this great interview: www.sfexaminer.com/news/technol...

This piece by @markkreidler.bsky.social in @capitalandmain.bsky.social does a great job of putting our State of the Unions report in context. A must read as we enter Labor Day weekend. capitalandmain.com/unions-are-s...