UC Berkeley Labor Center

05/30/2026

Enrique Lopezlira on Charlotte airport worker wages: “Low wages drive high turnover and turnover is a safety problem. A less experienced workforce is less familiar with security and safety procedures.”

Workers have called for better working conditions and wages over the past several months.

05/28/2026

“Over the decades, Medi-Cal has really undergone a significant transformation. It’s shifted from a program that primarily served the disabled and indigent and elderly folks to one that largely supports folks that work in low-wage industries,” Tia Orr, the executive director of SEIU California, said.
https://www.latimes.com/politics/newsletter/2026-05-28/chabria-column-california-medi-cal-budget-health-insurance

Our brief found 34% of low-wage workers received their health insurance through employers, compared with 69% of higher wage workers. https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/inequities-in-job-based-health-coverage-for-california-low-wage-workers/

Between federal and state cuts to healthcare programs, millions of Californians may lose coverage. But it doesn't have to happen.

05/26/2026

New brief: As a result of federal and state policy decisions made in 2025, we project that 4.6 million Californians under age 65 will be uninsured by 2030—an increase of 2.2 million—and the uninsured rate will nearly double to 14.7%.

As a result of federal and state policy decisions made in 2025, we project that 4.6 million Californians under age 65 will be uninsured by 2030—an increase of 2.2 million—and the uninsured rate will nearly double to 14.7%.

05/20/2026

Our new brief examines the disproportionately low rates of job-based health coverage for low-wage California workers, the costs to the state and nation, and possible policy options, drawing on lessons from other states.

This brief examines the disproportionately low rates of job-based health coverage for low-wage California workers, the costs to the state and nation, and possible policy options, drawing on lessons from other states.

05/07/2026

Economics researcher ⁠Kassandra Hernández⁠ from the ⁠UC Berkeley Labor Center⁠ explains how ⁠low wages and poor training put security guards – and the public – at risk⁠. Stand For Security SEIU United Service Workers West SEIU California

Podcast Episode · The Last Show with David Cooper · May 7 · 10m

05/07/2026

“Instead of waiting for workers who are already vulnerable to report wage theft, we’re taking a more proactive co-enforcement approach by partnering with trusted worker centers and community organizations to help with reporting.” —LA County Supervisor

05/07/2026

Betony Jones provides important, well-documented, and comprehensive information on how the Biden administration’s clean energy strategy used labor standards to ensure that workers and communities share the benefits of industrial policy.

We’ve seen some important post-mortems of the Biden administration’s Investing in America agenda, a massive industrial policy effort aimed at leveraging public and private-sector investments to expand the nation’s manufacturing sector, shore up national security, and create good jobs (often u...

05/01/2026

Happy May Day! Senior Researcher Lisa Kresge talks about workers' rights and AI on the job on KQED News:

Among the issues that today’s May Day rallies here in the Bay Area aim to tackle are workers rights and A.I. One study has shown that roughly half of Americans worry that A.I. will replace their jobs. Some California unions have been fighting back in an effort to create guardrails. But for some la...

05/01/2026

Jessie Hammerling: The Biden policies took the urgent need to address our energy challenges & turned it into an opportunity for the country’s economy as a whole, and in a way that also supports good job quality and worker outcomes and addresses inequities.

Despite the Trump administration’s rollback of incentives for the green energy transition, job training programs are growing at community colleges—with strong demand from states and employers.

05/01/2026

With the shuttering of the refinery, Benicia became the latest test case for California’s promise of a “just transition” from fossil fuels to renewable energy. But in a politically charged environment where gasoline prices are spiraling higher, California’s shifting interests threaten to delay any rebirth of the city.

State leaders negotiated an agreement with Valero this year to use its idled Benicia facility to store and transport imported fuel, which brings little economic activity while freezing redevelopment plans.