Labor Notes

Our latest issue, seen here at , features stories on open bargaining, organizing at American Axle, a strike wave among California educators, and more. Get our monthly magazine for $30/year and share your own organizing stories!
https://labornotes.org/store/labor-notes-subscription

Scenes from so far!

- Artist and labor organizer Tabitha Arnold showcased some tapestries from her Gospel of the Working Class series, seen here during the Friday evening procession, and taught a punch needle embroidery workshop.

- Dozens of union stewards from a variety of industries gathered to talk about strategies for handling bad management.

- The first-ever live episode of The Labor Notes Podcast saw co-hosts Danielle Smith and Natascha Elena Uhlmann joined by two casino dealers who helped lead a remarkable recognition strike at the Horseshoe Indianapolis Casino last fall.

- Members of the Seattle and DC Labor Choruses reminded us that singing has always been a key ingredient to sustain workers' struggles and taught some attendees the basics of song-leading.

- The Labor Heritage Foundation hosted a labor-themed pub quiz for attendees to test their knowledge.

On our latest podcast episode, we're joined by Ellen David Friedman and Durham Association of Educators member Carlos Pérez to discuss channeling members’ frustrations into action and building an empowering escalation campaign.

Tune in here! https://labornotespodcast.podbean.com/e/keep-going-a-guide-to-organizing-when-it-s-hard-w-ellen-david-friedman-and-carlos-perez/

Get a copy of Ellen David Friedman's new book, "Keep Going: A Guide To Organizing When It’s Hard,” an essential starter kit for workplace organizers trying to make sense of the chaos and build collective power: https://labornotes.org/store/keepgoing

And if you're at the Labor Notes Conference today, bring your burning organizing questions to the first-ever live episode of our podcast! You can find us at 3pm in LAX.

If you can't make the Labor Notes Conference this weekend, you don't have to miss out!!

Watch some of our livestreamed events from the Labor Notes 2026 Conference on our YouTube channel and page.

Check out the YouTube links for each session:

Friday, June 12

Main Session
7 p.m. Central / 8 p.m. Eastern
Watch here: https://youtube.com/live/yFKWTBtHSy8?feature=share

Saturday, June 13

Featured Session: The Soul in the Machine: Resisting A.I. Pressure on the Character and Quality of Our Jobs
2.15 p.m. Central / 3.15 p.m. Eastern
Watch here: https://youtube.com/live/6OHgiLvuj6c?feature=share

Featured Session: Opening Up Bargaining
4.30 p.m. Central / 5.30 p.m. Eastern
Watch here: https://youtube.com/live/dAxjbfJsxwc?feature=share

Sunday, June 14
Main Session
1 p.m. Central / 2 p.m. ET
Watch here: https://youtube.com/live/BGWGpvwGkXc?feature=share

For years pay at American Axle topped out at $22 an hour. Now $22 becomes a new hire’s starting pay, and all workers will make $30 an hour by 2030 under the tentative agreement workers secured after 10 days on strike.

Workers also won more paid days off and beat back health care concessions. “At first, I didn’t want my daughter working here,“ said Mark Hicks, 67, “but now I’m going to tell her to take a look at it.”

Read the full story here: https://labornotes.org/2026/06/american-axle-strikers-set-win-30-30

As educators across California were gearing up to fight, district administrations across the state united around their own common message—that the money simply wasn’t there. But when educators walked off the job, the districts found the funds.

Read the full story here: https://labornotes.org/2026/06/they-didnt-wait-california-teachers-strike-and-win

When transit systems make cuts, service quality declines and the public responds by using it less. Transit workers and unions have gone on the offensive by waging state and local campaigns for increased funding.

Read the full story here: https://labornotes.org/2026/06/can-transit-workers-escape-death-spiral

The leader of Mexico's Honda workers’ union won reinstatement after a 15 year legal battle. “Sometimes justice is slow," said José Luis Solorio Alcalá, “But when you have truth on your side, it’s worth it to keep fighting. It’s the right thing to do.”

Read the full story here: https://labornotes.org/2026/06/honda-mexico-worker-wins-reinstatement-after-15-year-fight