SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge in San Francisco has temporarily barred the Trump administration from firing federal employees during the ongoing government shutdown, delivering a legal setback to the White House’s plan to reduce the federal workforce amid a tense budget standoff in Washington. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston issued the emergency order on Wednesday, October 15, following lawsuits filed by labor unions representing thousands of federal employees. The judge’s

Thousands of health care professionals across California and Hawaii have walked off the job in what is being called the largest strike in the history of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP). Beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday, more than 31,000 registered nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, rehabilitation therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other advanced care providers are participating in the five-day strike against Kaiser Perm

New research from Harvard economists is reshaping the long-held belief that a college degree guarantees long-term financial success. Once viewed as a secure investment in the future, many traditional majors are now delivering diminishing returns, as automation and evolving job markets rapidly redefine the worth of academic credentials. According to Harvard labor economist David J. Deming and researcher Kadeem Noray, the value of applied degrees such as business, computer science, an

Google has once again become the focus of global attention after more than 200 contractors working on its artificial intelligence projects were laid off in recent weeks. The workers, employed through outsourcing company GlobalLogic, were responsible for tasks such as rating responses from Google’s Gemini chatbot, reviewing AI-generated summaries, and ensuring that the systems produced accurate and natural-sounding answers. Despite their specialized roles

Labor Day 2025 is just around the corner, and while it’s a time to relax and enjoy the last days of summer, it’s also essential to plan ahead for the holiday’s impact on business hours and services. Unlike some federal holidays, Labor Day sees most stores remaining open, but with altered hours, and various services will be closed or operating on a limited schedule. Here's a comprehensive overview of what’s open and closed this year on

Williams Bay in Wisconsin faced a major public health concern ahead of Labor Day weekend as elevated nitrite levels in the village water supply forced restaurants and businesses to quickly adapt to ensure customer safety. The contamination, traced to nitrification of ammonia within the water system, raised alarms for both residents and visitors preparing to enjoy one of the final summer holiday weekends. As a result, multiple restaurants in Williams Bay made im

The final stretch of summer is here, and the Jersey Shore is preparing for what is expected to be a packed Labor Day Weekend as thousands of visitors head to the coast to enjoy one last celebration before fall arrives. Forecasts are predicting clear skies and warm temperatures, which is exactly the kind of weather that draws large crowds to the shoreline. While this is welcome news for local businesses that rely heavily on tourism revenue, there are rising conc

The National Symphony Orchestra will celebrate Labor Day with its annual free concert on the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. The event takes place on Sunday evening at 8 p.m., with gates opening to the public at 3 p.m. This long-standing tradition is one of the city’s most anticipated cultural gatherings, offering residents and visitors the chance to enjoy world-class music in a historic outdoor setting. The concert is free of ch

Chicago is preparing for an unusual and chilly end to the summer season as the unofficial last weekend of summer arrives. While Labor Day is typically associated with warm afternoons, backyard gatherings, and the final trips to Lake Michigan before fall begins, this year’s forecast has taken on a decidedly cooler tone. Meteorologists predict that Chicago could experience its coldest August day in nearly a decade, with temperatures struggling to climb out o

A few isolated showers and storms are expected today in Austin, with slightly better rain chances on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, the best opportunity for rain is likely to arrive this weekend, especially as a cold front makes its way into the region. Today’s weather will be mainly sunny and dry for most of Central Texas, but a few showers may develop, particularly south and east of Austin. Afternoon tempera

Hospice care workers in the East Bay staged a one-day strike on Tuesday, stepping away from their duties to protest rising caseloads, ongoing contract delays, and recent organizational changes. The strike unfolded in Pleasant Hill, where employees gathered outside a facility to voice growing concerns about conditions that they say are negatively affecting both staff and patients. Those on the picket line pointed to several issues fueling the labor action. Chief among them is the c

Labor Day Weekend in 2025 falls from Saturday, August 30, through Monday, September 1, marking the unofficial end of summer in the United States. The holiday is celebrated annually on the first Monday in September, offering a three-day weekend that provides a break before the regular routines of work and school resume. This weekend is not only a time for relaxation but also an opportunity to reflect on the importance of American workers and their contributions to

A recent survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reveals that filling job openings remains a significant challenge for small business owners across the United States. According to the June survey, 36% of small businesses still have unfilled job positions, a 2% increase from May. Additionally, 86% of small business owners report receiving few or no qualified applicants for the roles they need to fill.

The community of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, is reeling after the announcement that Ascension Alexian Brothers Hospital will be eliminating its labor and delivery services. The decision, revealed earlier this week, has stirred deep concern and criticism, particularly from former staff members and advocates for equitable maternal health care. According to hospital officials, the services will be consolidated and transferred to a new, centralized labor and delivery center approximately 10 mile

Nearly 100,000 California state workers will have their return-to-office mandate delayed by another year, thanks to a new agreement between the state and SEIU Local 1000, California’s largest public employee union. The revised deal, announced Sunday, pauses Governor Gavin Newsom’s previously mandated office return schedule for union-represented workers, shifting the timeline from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2026. The decision marks a significant development for thousands of public em

The City of Milpitas in California is increasing its minimum wage again starting in early July, continuing its effort to align worker compensation with the rising cost of living in the Bay Area. This change is part of the city’s local ordinance that mandates an annual wage adjustment based on the Bay Area Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by the U.S. Department of Labor. Under the current revision, all eligible workers within city limits must be paid a new hourly wage rate, which is

The San Jose District 3 special election is reaching its decisive moment, with voters heading to the polls Tuesday. The final financial disclosures ahead of the vote reveal a competitive and high-stakes race between Planning Commission Chair Anthony Tordillos and community leader Gabby Chavez-Lopez. Both candidates have used the final weeks of the campaign to consolidate support and push messaging, but it is Tordillos who holds the lead in fundraising. According to official filing

President Donald Trump has announced a significant shift in immigration enforcement policy, confirming that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will cease raids targeting undocumented farmworkers. This decision comes as industries such as agriculture and hospitality raise concerns over losing long-time, irreplaceable workers to aggressive enforcement measures. In a public statement, President Trump acknowledged that while the objective of immigration enforcement remains to r

A Filipino woman who arrived in San Jose alone in 2016 found herself trapped in a cycle of exploitation after accepting a job as a live-in caregiver at a residential care facility for elderly people. She had expected the opportunity to bring financial support to her family in the Philippines, but instead was subjected to relentless labor without overtime pay, limited freedom, and unwanted advances from her employer. The woman, who was in her 60s at the time and requested anonymity to protect

NJ Transit, the backbone of New Jersey's public transportation system, carried over a quarter-billion passengers in 2023. While the network plays a vital role in daily commutes, the past year has been marked by service disruptions, including last summer’s major delays, which prompted officials to implement a temporary fare holiday to compensate frustrated riders. Now, under the leadership of new CEO Kris Kolluri, NJ Transit is rolling out strategic improvements to enhance reliabilit