Sunday, September 13, 2026
Travel/Wildfires & tourism— By Isobel Charle, producer, Oregon News Service, bureau of Public News Service. This year has been Oregon’s largest wildfire year on record, and for the state’s small, tourism-dependent communities, wildfires bring economic and emotional consequences long before any flames reach their doorstep. Many towns have been under evacuation warnings for weeks this summer, emptying them […]
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Holidays/Labor Day— (SPM Wire) Labor Day doesn’t just mark the end of summer; it also celebrates workers in the United States. First commemorated in 1882 with a parade in New York City, the now-federal holiday honors the role of labor in the nation’s growth and success. Here are three ways to celebrate beyond the retail sales and barbecues: Make your […]
Saturday, June 27, 2026
DGA/New Contract Ratified— The last of the big three Hollywood entertainment unions has signed off on a new contract. The Directors Guild of America announced yesterday that its membership had overwhelmingly ratified a new agreement. Earlier this month, DGA President Christopher Nolan said this about the 4-year pact: “We entered this negotiation with three main priorities: secure our Health […]
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
CA/Save Post Offices Campaign— By Suzanne Potter, producer, a bureau of Public News Service. Postal worker union leaders are urging communities to help save 25 California post office locations that have suspended operations and could close permanently. One of several threatened SoCal locations is at 2510 Monterey Street in Torrance. More than 414 locations nationwide are currently on […]
Saturday, June 13, 2026
DGA/Tentative Deal— Another important Hollywood agreement is being put to a membership vote. Yesterday, the National Board of the Directors Guild of America voted unanimously to send a tentative deal to the rank-and-file for a vote. The DGA reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on June 9. Like the new pacts of the Writers […]
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
USA/Job Market— By Isobel Charle, producer, Washington News Service, a bureau of Public News Service. As thousands of college seniors graduate this spring, they are entering one of the most competitive job markets in years. New data shows the share of Americans who are new to the workforce and unemployed hit a 37-year high last year. While the fluctuating job […]
Saturday, June 6, 2026
Hollywood/Labor— A new SAG-AFTRA contract is a done deal. The rank and file of the major union for actors in the entertainment biz gave a huge thumbs up to a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The multi-year contract received 91.42% of the vote; however, only 19.25% of eligible members returned their ballots. The vote […]
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Business/SAG-AFTRA Tentative Agreement— Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP hit the fast track and have resulted in a deal. In a joint statement posted on their websites, they announced a tentative agreement yesterday. Those contract talks began with a soft launch back in February and apparently got down to serious business last month. No details just yet. However, […]
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Business/WGA Contract— The Writers Guild of America’s unprecedented new contract takes effect today. Unlike previous agreements with the studios, instead of three years, this contract runs four years, from May 2, 2026, through May 1, 2030. A tentative agreement was reached early last month. Then, once all the votes were counted on April 24, it was announced the rank-and-file of […]
Friday, May 1, 2026
USA/May Day— By Suzanne Potter, producer, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service. Today is May Day – also known as International Workers’ Day – and this year, gatherings in California and across the United States will call for immigration reform and policies that improve affordability and defend democracy. Union organizers are calling out cuts under the Department […]
Monday, April 6, 2026
Hollywood/New WGA Deal— A big surprise over the weekend. One that many in Hollywood are cheering. The Writers Guild of America reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the Hollywood Studios and streamers. Negotiations began only a few weeks ago. Details are still sketchy, but the agreement reportedly covers four years, rather than the usual three. It’s not […]
Friday, March 6, 2026
Labor/Low-Wages— Eric Galatas, producer, Colorado News Connection, bureau of Public News Service. The debate over the nation’s persistent affordability crisis has mostly focused on the rising costs of such essentials as housing, groceries, and health care. But a new report digs into the other side of that equation: low worker wages. While companies such as Amazon, FedEx, Target, […]