Labor
Unions, strikes, hiring, layoffs, and workforce policy.
Seafarers attacked in the Strait of Hormuz sue shipping company in Thailand
Three former Thai seafarers have sued Precious Shipping in Bangkok over a March Strait of Hormuz attack on the Mayuree Naree, alleging unsafe orders, early dismissal and inadequate compensation.
Volkswagen seeks to halve model lineup and shrink capacity to cut costs
Volkswagen is reported to be planning a sweeping restructuring that would cut its model lineup by up to half and reduce global production capacity to 9 million vehicles a year.
VW faces protests in Germany over proposed job cuts and factory closures
Volkswagen is facing protests across Germany over a reported restructuring plan that could cut up to 100,000 jobs and close several German factories. The proposal is still under supervisory-board review, and union opposition is mounting.
Workers call for heat protections as Europe faces hotter summers
European trade unions are pressing the EU for enforceable workplace heat protections, including thermal limits, risk assessments, breaks, water, shade and adjusted hours, as hotter summers turn heat stress into a labor-rights fight.
Queensland Rail sets return dates for regional services after months of disruption
Queensland Rail says its Spirit of Queensland and Spirit of the Outback services will be fully restored by July 13, with one Westlander service returning July 14 and the second still replaced by coach while maintenance backlog work continues.
Jerseyville City Council delays vote on municipal workers contract
Jerseyville City Council did not vote Tuesday on a proposed four-year contract covering 13 municipal workers represented by AFSCME Local 1479. A union representative said both sides still needed to review the final redline version before the council takes it up again July 21.
Dock workers demand 28-hour week as AI threatens jobs
Australian dock workers are pushing for a 28-hour week with no pay cut as DP World advances AI-enabled automation at its ports. The dispute centres on whether productivity gains should be shared through shorter hours or used to reduce labour costs.
BHP port workers plan strike action at Port Hedland
Unions representing BHP port workers at Port Hedland say they will stage an eight-hour strike on July 16, targeting iron ore loading at the world’s largest bulk export port. The dispute follows earlier strike votes, a short-lived pause after BHP tabled a draft enterprise agreement and weeks of bargaining over pay and conditions. BHP says it has contingency plans and wants to keep negotiating.
Caterpillar invests $5M to expand Texas manufacturing workforce pipeline
Caterpillar said it will invest $5 million in Texas workforce development, focusing on education and training partnerships that can build a stronger advanced manufacturing talent pipeline.
Strike at Ashland Specialty Chemicals plant in Texas City enters second week
About 70 union workers at Ashland Specialty Chemicals’ Texas City plant remained on strike into a second week over safety-related contract language, sick-leave terms and alleged unfair labor practices.
Rockstar workers seek union recognition ahead of GTA VI launch
Rockstar Games workers have asked for voluntary recognition of the IWGB Game Workers Union, escalating a labor dispute that followed the firing of more than 30 employees in October 2025. Take-Two says it will meet with the union, while an employment tribunal over the dismissals is scheduled for September 2026.
Grand Theft Auto workers seek union recognition after mass firings
Rockstar Games workers in the UK are seeking official union recognition through the IWGB after the dismissal of 31 union members last October. The company says the firings were for leaking confidential information; workers say they were retaliation for organizing and are pressing ahead with a tribunal case.
British American Tobacco slashes 9,000 jobs
British American Tobacco said it will cut or outsource 9,000 jobs, including 5,500 direct removals and 3,500 outsourced roles, as part of a restructuring aimed at saving £600 million a year by 2028.
Volkswagen deepens cost-cutting overhaul, may double job cuts to 100,000
Volkswagen is reported to be considering a deeper restructuring that could double planned job cuts to 100,000, with possible plant changes and labor opposition building ahead of a July 9 supervisory board meeting.
Jean-Pierre Farandou rejects fixed heat cutoff for French work stoppages
France’s labor minister Jean-Pierre Farandou rejected a fixed 30°C threshold for stopping work during the country’s late-June heatwave, saying heat protections should vary by sector and alert level. His remarks came as schools, hospitals and some construction sites faced growing disruption and unions renewed pressure for clearer rules.
Volkswagen plans up to 100,000 job cuts and possible plant closures
Volkswagen is considering a restructuring that could cut up to 100,000 jobs worldwide and reduce or stop production at four German plants, according to multiple reports. The company has not confirmed the figures and says its transformation plan is still under discussion.
Unions urge teachers to strike as French school exams go ahead in up to 40C heat
French teaching unions have called for strike action over exam conditions during a severe heatwave, while the education minister says the brevet exams will proceed with cooling measures.
Tomago smelter funding fight intensifies before NSW Labor conference
The Australian Workers' Union is pushing NSW and federal Labor to finalise Tomago smelter funding before the party's state conference, as the governments argue over cost, timing and energy terms beyond 2028.
HRTC drivers and conductors call off planned indefinite strike
The HRTC drivers and conductors union called off a planned indefinite strike after talks with the Himachal Pradesh government at the Shimla Secretariat on June 24, 2026, just hours before the stoppage was due to begin.
French workers face harsh conditions as heatwave exposes gap between law and workplace reality
A record heatwave is leaving French workers in retail, hospitals, sanitation, schools and other services struggling with poor ventilation, weak cooling and rigid dress codes despite a 2025 heat-protection decree.
Europe heatwave prompts rare UK red warning, France power outages and Italy alerts
A late-June heatwave is driving rare red heat warnings in the UK, record temperatures and outages in France, and red alerts in Italy as the hot spell spreads east.
RTO clerical strike called off after demands for promotions accepted
Maharashtra’s RTO clerical staff have ended their statewide strike after talks with the transport department led to acceptance of their promotion-related demands, reversing an earlier escalation and paving the way for services to resume.
BHP Port Hedland strike averted after pay talks with unions
BHP has temporarily averted a strike threat at its Port Hedland iron ore port after tabling a draft enterprise agreement in Perth. Four unions say the offer still falls short, leaving the dispute over pay and conditions unresolved.
BEST strike in Mumbai ends, but only 67% buses are back on road
Mumbai’s BEST bus strike has ended after talks with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, but service has not yet normalized and only 67% of buses are back on the road.