UC Berkeley Labor Center

Job Opening: Research & Policy Associate, Low-Wage Work Program (Assistant/ Associate/ Full Specialist) The UC Berkeley Labor Center seeks applications for a Research & Policy Associate in the Low-Wage Work Team.

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

The Current Landscape of Tech and Work Policy in the U.S.: A Guide to Key Laws, Bills, and Concepts Updated September 2025. An overview of current U.S. public policy that regulates employers’ use of digital workplace technologies.

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...

The Labor Center's Green Economy Program is growing! We welcome two new senior researchers, Betony Jones and Josh Sonnenfeld.

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...

A First Look at Labor’s AI Values: An analysis of recent statements about technology by unions and other worker organizations A first look at labor’s vision of what the future of AI and digital technologies should look like.

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...

Demographic and Job Characteristics of NYC’s Security Guard Workforce This factsheet highlights the characteristics of the private sector security guard workforce in NYC, home to a large part of the nation’s security guard workforce. With its scale and visibility, NYC h...

With its scale and visibility, NYC has the potential to set a national standard for improving labor conditions in the security services industry. Read the study: laborcenter.berkeley.edu/demographic-...

NYC security guards making a fraction of a livable wage, study finds | amNewYork A new study of New York City security guards paints a picture of workers wearing shiny uniforms who are facing financial insecurity due to low wages.

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...

Skills to Win Join us once a week for two hours on Zoom for the Skills to Win workshop, which focuses on how to build high participation organizations. October 9-November 13, 2025.

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...

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates speaking on unapologetically bold worker and community organizing Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates will offer her reflections on how decades of unapologetically bold worker and community organizing in Chicago have led to a unique moment of possibil...

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-...

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates speaking on unapologetically bold worker and community organizing Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates will offer her reflections on how decades of unapologetically bold worker and community organizing in Chicago have led to a unique moment of possibil...

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...

'Moment of crisis': Unions in somber mood this Labor Day California's 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.

“Important rules and regulations that were put in place during the Biden administration that were helpful to workers—those are systematically being rolled back,” said Enrique Lopezlira, director of the Low-Wage Work Program at the UC Berkeley Labor Center. www.latimes.com/business/sto...

'Moment of crisis': Unions in somber mood this Labor Day California's 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.

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...

Unions Are Shrinking Nationwide — But Not in California Organizing here is holding strong, showing what’s possible even as Trump 2.0 makes the fight harder.

@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...

Job Opening: Policy Researcher, Low-Wage Work Team (Assistant/ Associate Specialist) The UC Berkeley Labor Center seeks applications for a Policy Researcher in the Low-Wage Work Team

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-...

Skills to Win Join us once a week for two hours on Zoom for the Skills to Win workshop, which focuses on how to build high participation organizations. October 9-November 13, 2025.

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...

Labor, leaders seek AI ‘rules of the road’ Researcher tracking laws says moment “a new frontier.”

“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...

Unions Are Shrinking Nationwide — But Not in California Organizing here is holding strong, showing what’s possible even as Trump 2.0 makes the fight harder.

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...

Best states to work 2025: DC, California top the list, while North Carolina, Mississippi lag far behind Oxfam’s 2025 index highlights federal and state-level backsliding on labor policy against the backdrop of an increasingly regressive second Trump administration

www.oxfamamerica.org/press/best-s...

Graphic for the Labor Center Open House, featuring a photo of students supporting an IWW strike at Urban Ore. The overall effect is engaging and action-oriented. The graphic includes details about the event, which can be found in the post.

TODAY! Join us for the annual UC Berkeley Labor Center Open House! Eat snacks, hear from Labor Center researchers and partners about their work, and build community. August 28 from 4:00 - 6:00 PM at 2521 Channing Way. RSVP at tinyurl.com/F25OH-RSVP

“They Just Fired Everyone.” Staff at Midtown Hotel Bar Lose Jobs Days After Union Filing Workers said they were terminated after they sought to organize for better benefits and working conditions.

NEW: Days after Rose Lane employees filed a union petition, the entire staff lost their jobs. @hikarimaehida.bsky.social and I reported this important story for Labor New York. Many thanks to our profs+editors, @bgrueskin.bsky.social and @juanmabenitez.bsky.social medium.com/labor-new-yo...

Punching In: Courts Find Little Transparency on Federal Firings Courts can’t quite get a straight answer on who exactly has been fired from the federal workforce under the Trump administration. Plus, California is inching towards more AI protections for workers in...

California SB 7 is part of unions' push to establish worker protections related to businesses’ use of artificial intelligence and similar tools, said Annette Bernhardt, director of the technology and work program at the University of California, Berkeley Labor Center.

ICYMI:

Trump’s Policies Are Adding Up to a Hostile Work Environment A flurry of actions, from mass layoffs and ICE raids to union-busting and tariffs, are straining U.S. workers and fueling uncertainty.

"UC Berkeley Labor Center economist Enrique Lopezlira said the benefits of those narrowly targeted tax breaks will likely be outweighed by the costs of Trump’s other economic policies."

capitalandmain.com/trumps-polic....

Key findings: Union density in CA is holding steady despite a nationwide decline. CA's rate is 16% and the US rate is 11%

New report w/ @uclairle.bsky.social gives a snapshot of the CA labor movement. Key findings:
➡️CA union density is holding steady despite nationwide decline
✊Workers & unions held over 200 strikes or protests in CA in 2024
Read the full report at bit.ly/SOTU-2024

State of the Unions: California Labor in 2024 cover

Learn more about California labor’s gains and challenges in 2024 at bit.ly/SOTU-2024

Figure 2.4 - RC Petitions Filed by Parent Union, California, 2024 (331 total) This chart shows the percentages of all RC petitions filed in California in 2024, sorted by international union.

New private-sector organizing in California is concentrated

Three unions filed more than half of all new union (RC) petitions in CA in 2024

A group of 30 or so fast-food workers and allies wearing purple t-shirts gather outside a state building in Oakland, CA. They hold bright flags with the Fast Food Council logo, depicting a worker raising a flag. They hold signs that read "Fast Food Council: Fair wages; Fair working hours; Fair working conditions"

Workers and unions held over 200 strikes or protests in CA in 2024

✊The labor movement is active in California, bolstered by state policies and targeted campaigns

Figure 1.1 - Union Density, California and U.S., 1983-2024 Lines show the share of workers who are represented by a union (coverage) or who are members of unions in California and the U.S. For example, in 2024, 16.3% of California workers were represented by a union and 14.5% of California workers were members of unions.

California union density is holding steady despite nationwide decline

➡️ Over the past twenty years, union density has remained stable at around 16% while falling to 11% in the US as a whole

I *just* shared their book from @labornotes.bsky.social with someone - Chicago teachers get the GOODS for their locals

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates speaking on unapologetically bold worker and community organizing Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates will offer her reflections on how decades of unapologetically bold worker and community organizing in Chicago have led to a unique moment of possibil...

Come hear Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Gates talk about fearless organizing. This should be insightful and inspiring! laborcenter.berkeley.edu/event/stacy-...