UPDATES: Starbucks baristas win 700th union election as workers take on corporate bosses, and much more!
July 15, 2026 | TEAM COWORKER
In this edition of the Lunch Break Labor News, we have updates on the Trump administration's attacks on federal workers and unemployment benefits, Starbucks workers fighting for a fair contract, AI causing problems in the workplace, and unfair labor practice charges at Hearst-owned newspapers.
Day by day, the terrain is changing for workers in America. Reports on AI, Trump administration regulations, and bad treatment by big corporate bosses are shifting conditions under the feet of workers. Here are some of the most important updates right now:
Trump's Attacks on Federal Workers and Blue State Unemployment Funds
The Trump administration has, without data or evidence, threatened to withhold federal administrative funding for states after baseless right-wing attacks on unemployment funds in states with Democratic governors. It's yet another instance of the federal government politicizing and abusing its powers against the workers of this country.
In June, the White House stripped 8,000 federal workers of their civil service protections and made them at-will employees. The national president of the American Federation of Government Employees said, "This is a blatant attempt to corrupt the federal government by eliminating employees’ due process rights so they can be fired for political reasons."
Starbucks Workers Win 700th Union Election, and Keep Fighting
Starbucks Workers United (SBWU) won their 700th union election recently. Hundreds of unionized stores continue to press for the very first SBWU contract that includes a livable wage, better working conditions, adequate health and safety policies, and an end to unfair labor practices that violate worker's rights.
After striking for two months, unionized baristas got Starbucks executives back to the negotiating table. But Starbucks tried to backpedal. "They're trying to move backwards on issues we've already settled instead of settling the few that we have left," said a member of the SBWU bargaining team.
Starbucks decided to close five locations in Seattle, including four union stores, so SBWU kicked into action. Workers fought for and won 8 weeks of severance pay, extended health insurance support, and more for the impacted baristas.
As SBWU continues to negotiate for union workers in hundreds of stores, the union is still asking supporters to delete the Starbucks app and not buy Starbucks.
The Damage AI is Causing in All Kinds of Workplaces
Workers have heard time and again from the executives of America and AI company CEOs that artificial intelligence tech was going to take over the workforce. Advertisements from companies urging bosses to replace workers with chatbots and algorithms are populating our feeds and streets.
In many cases, corporate America is seeing sharp blowback from workers and young people to the idea of AI replacing human workers en masse. In other cases, businesses may see the actual financial costs of championing AI.
The CEO of Anthropic walked back his claims of a coming AI white-collar "bloodbath" to say that AI would instead help human workers optimize and expand the work they can do. Though, the real world is showing how horrible AI has been in different workplaces.
Headlines abound like "When AI makes you worse at your job" and "Bosses say AI boosts productivity – workers say they’re drowning in 'workslop.'" Besides AI workshop and AI "brain fry," studies show that AI is degrading worker skills. New research says that relying on AI tools at work is worsening the abilities of doctors and software engineers. It's bad for workers and a danger to society in high stakes situations that put health and safety on the line.
Workers File Charges Against Hearst for Union Busting
Media workers backed by the union NewsGuild-CWA have filed federal unfair labor practice charges at three local newspapers operated by Hearst. The National Labor Review Board will investigate union busting charges at the Hearst-owned Albany Times Union in New York and Austin American-Statesman and Dallas Morning News in Texas.
Workers say Hearst is trying to "destroy unions" with widespread, illegal anti-union tactics such as illegally hiding information from unions, refusing to bargain in good faith, and retaliating against employees for exercising their legal right to organize.
Workers across the country, across industries, are not backing down from the battle for rights and respect.
Our Take
The struggle for fair workplaces, a living wage, safe and healthy working conditions, and real protections from exploitative bosses is a long road of victories and challenges. It outlasts presidential administrations and technological disruptions. It weathers intransigent executives who won't give workers a fair shake.
Starbucks workers are proof of the years it can take to keep on fighting for a first union contract. Workers at Hearst newspapers show the lengths that bosses will go to try to stop union organizing. These are examples of labor organizing all across the country, and show the power of workers when standing together.
Trying to Win Change in Your Own Workplace?
If you’re seeking change in your workplace, company, or field, you can start your own petition at Coworker to build momentum and win. Your petition can take on any labor issue — from safer working conditions and better pay, to stopping hour cuts and layoffs, and even putting an end to unfair or abusive policies for workers.
With workers uniting across the country to organize, it’s a great moment to launch your own petition. It’s easy to start one, and it’s even easier to share it and start building support. You can get started on your Coworker petition here.