Despite a decline in its overall influence, organized labor is seeing a renewed interest from diverse political sectors in 2026. This development includes surprising support from both the Left and the Right.
Labor politics this year presents significant challenges. Across the nation, major private-sector union contracts are set to expire by the end of summer. These include agreements involving 20,000 Verizon workers located in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, as well as contracts for 25,000 steel-mill workers in the Midwest sector.
Earlier in the year, negotiations were intense as Stop & Shop narrowly averted a potential strike. Agreement was reached with 28,000 food workers based in New England, reflecting the ongoing tensions and stakes in labor negotiations across various industries.