The hottest Labor relations Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

Shrinking to Win: How Firing your Largest Customer and Closing 200 Buildings Became a Rational Strategy

Gad’s Newsletter • 26 implied HN points • 23 Mar 26
💼 Business Labor relations
  1. UPS deliberately shrank its post‑pandemic network and cut low‑margin Amazon volume because the expanded capacity no longer matched demand and was destroying profits. The company is trading top‑line volume for a leaner operation to restore margins by closing buildings and cutting roles.
  2. Contraction is being paired with a big automation and technology bet — about $9 billion in robotics, RFID, and facility upgrades — to replace manual labor and rebuild a smaller, denser network around higher‑margin healthcare, SMB, and premium shipments. The goal is to raise revenue per piece and reduce labor intensity.
  3. Execution and timing are the key risks: union pushback, automation delays, and a leaner FedEx competing on price could undermine savings or leave the network underutilized. Getting closures, route consolidation, and automation sequenced correctly is essential to avoid degraded service or margin pressure.

Top Links 987 The slow burn of uncertainty. The war of position at Starbucks. News-flow in 1848 & the (nasty) history of "Hammerskins".

Chartbook • 472 implied HN points • 19 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor relations
  1. Economic uncertainty can be dramatic without immediately hurting the economy; its negative effects often unfold slowly and are easy for forecasters and investors to misread.
  2. Long-running internal battles at big companies — a "war of position" — can reshape workplace policy, labor relations, and public perception over time.
  3. Looking at historical news flow and the violent history of groups like the Hammerskins shows how media and extremist movements interact, and that past context helps explain today’s political and social tensions.

The Nationalization of Boeing Begins

BIG by Matt Stoller • 43431 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
💼 Business Labor relations
  1. There is growing discontent and criticism towards Boeing's management from various stakeholders like Wall Street, labor unions, customers, and regulators.
  2. Major Boeing customers like Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are publicly holding Boeing accountable for quality issues and demanding reimbursement, indicating a significant shift in the industry's code of silence about problems.
  3. The government, particularly the FAA, has taken actions against Boeing and is showing signs of increasing regulation, potentially leading towards a moment where Boeing's management structure may face significant changes.

The ACLU Is Trying to Destroy the Biden NLRB

Freddie deBoer • 7178 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor relations
  1. The ACLU is trying to expand mandatory arbitration, potentially limiting workers' rights and making union organizing harder.
  2. The ACLU is challenging the appointment of the current General Counsel of the NLRB, which could impact the legitimacy of decisions made by the Biden Board.
  3. The underlying dispute revolves around the termination of an ACLU staffer for protected complaints about workplace conditions, revealing a complex situation where legal theories are used to justify actions.

The NBA Needs Reforms, Not Gimmicks

House of Strauss • 30 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🎾 Sports Labor relations
  1. The league keeps rolling out gimmicks—like the Play-In, NBA Cup, and All-Star tweaks—instead of fixing underlying problems.
  2. The Play-In has diluted the prestige of the playoffs and hasn’t stopped tanking, because expanding the playoff field reduces incentives to avoid mediocrity.
  3. Meaningful fixes—shortening the season, equalizing lottery odds for non-playoff teams, scrapping the Play-In, and holding players accountable in All-Star selections—would take real sacrifice but would address root causes. The league prefers easy money and half-measures, which is why it keeps choosing gimmicks over hard reforms.
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DeepSeek's Secret to Success

ChinaTalk • 1615 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Labor relations
  1. DeepSeek's success is due to its flat management style, which allows employees more freedom and collaboration compared to the typical rigid structure of Chinese tech firms. This supportive culture fosters creativity and innovation.
  2. Unlike many tech companies in China, DeepSeek was not funded by the government or large corporations. It was self-funded by a former hedge fund manager, allowing it to operate independently and avoid typical pressures.
  3. DeepSeek's hiring approach focuses on young talent, valuing passion and fresh ideas over years of experience. This strategy has helped the company innovate rapidly and challenge larger competitors.

Execs on Eggshells: 'This Puts Us in a Weird Place'

The Ankler • 864 implied HN points • 31 May 23
💼 Business Labor relations
  1. Executives are feeling awkward and unsure of how to engage with writers due to the WGA strike
  2. The strike is impacting the personal and professional relationships in the entertainment industry
  3. Communication about the strike is sensitive, with executives being cautious about what they say and not putting anything in writing

Politics and Capitalist Stagnation

Unpopular Front • 73 implied HN points • 04 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor relations
  1. The economy has been stagnant for about 50 years, with profits declining because of competition from newer capitalist countries like China. This situation has left too much supply and not enough demand, which is bad for businesses.
  2. As a result of this stagnant economy, many capitalists are focusing more on politics to make money, rather than investing in actual production. This shift is called 'political capitalism' where they seek profits from political connections instead of traditional means.
  3. Workers are divided into different groups, mainly between those with professional credentials and those without. This split affects how they relate to political parties and policies, making social and economic agreements harder to achieve.

Democrats Are Still Getting Rolled by Their Interest Groups

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 1462 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor relations
  1. Interest groups have a strong influence on the Democratic party, often guiding their decisions and actions.
  2. Political strategies focusing on character and rhetoric might overlook the importance of representing wider coalitions.
  3. Recent labor strikes, like the one involving longshoremen, highlight the challenges Democrats face when balancing interest group demands with broader voter concerns.

As executive compensation at big automakers soars, so does health care costs for the companies, workers

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 759 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
💼 Business Labor relations
  1. CEO pay at big automakers is very high, while worker pay has stayed low, causing frustration among workers. This gap in pay creates issues in labor negotiations and workers' struggles for fair wages.
  2. Healthcare costs for companies like GM are increasing significantly, which takes away funds that could be used for paying workers better. This trend is leading to workers facing higher deductibles and premiums.
  3. Despite the high pay for CEOs, the stock performance of companies is often underwhelming, raising questions about whether these leaders are meeting their performance goals.

Union Lawyers Call Jewish Colleagues ‘Deranged’ and ‘Fascist’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2290 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor relations
  1. Jewish lawyers in a labor union faced hostility and abuse for supporting Israel, leading to a congressional investigation for antisemitism.
  2. Messages from the union's group chat included accusations against Israel of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid.
  3. The union resolution in support of a cease-fire in Gaza faced criticism for detracting from the main purpose of the union, which is to fight for workers' rights.

PMC vs NAM?

Origins of Our Time • 353 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor relations
  1. Class theory explores puzzles like defining working class, even if someone is a CEO.
  2. The American Prospect's interview discussion encompasses class tensions and unions.
  3. The interview delves into contractor complaints about clients, from annoying questions to perceived entitlement.

Top Links 652 China's manufacturing dominance. The rouble running riot. How PM2.5 kills & the politics of the Rebecca riots.

Chartbook • 400 implied HN points • 17 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor relations
  1. China has a huge impact on global manufacturing, producing about one-third of the world's goods. This shows how essential China is in many important production areas.
  2. The rouble is experiencing significant fluctuations, which could affect the economy and trade. These changes can create challenges for Russia and its partners.
  3. PM2.5 pollution is harmful to health and has led to serious political issues in some areas. Understanding its effects can help address public health and environmental concerns.

Corporate Democracy in Norway

Erik Examines • 179 implied HN points • 26 Jun 25
💼 Business Labor relations
  1. In Norway, workers have a voice in how companies are run, with one-third of company boards elected by employees. This is different from countries like the US where employees have little say.
  2. Norway has mixed economic practices, blending capitalism with socialist ideals, allowing both workers and shareholders to have power. It's a unique approach that balances interests in the workplace.
  3. Discussions about employee rights in Norway often focus on whether they should be protected by laws or through collective agreements made by unions. This shows how employees advocate for their rights differently than in other countries.

The job market is a market

Wednesday Wisdom • 123 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
💼 Business Labor relations
  1. The job market is just like any other market. Companies offer certain salaries and benefits to attract workers, but this can change based on demand and supply.
  2. When times are good, companies provide great perks to keep talent, but when the market shifts, they can cut back on salaries and benefits.
  3. It's important for job seekers to understand their worth in the market but also to be flexible when conditions change. Being aware that the job landscape can vary will help in making better career choices.

Human work, GenAI and Mechanical Turks

imperfect offerings • 79 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Labor relations
  1. Technology like GenAI can be viewed as a platform for coordinating labor, shaping relationships between users, owners, and revenue sources.
  2. The development of GenAI involves complex layers of human labor, from providing training data to post-training alignment through human feedback.
  3. The economic structure surrounding GenAI results in the extraction of value for platform corporations, while the vast majority of human labor involved in its development remains unpaid or underpaid.

Updated! The Plot To Privatize Canada Post's Parcel/Package Business.

C.O.P. Central Organizing Principle. • 36 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor relations
  1. There is a belief that Canada Post is being privatized bit by bit, especially in the parcel/package delivery sector. This could lead to private companies taking over what was once a public service.
  2. The union workers at Canada Post are facing difficulties because of a long strike, which some people blame for delays during the busy holiday season.
  3. Concerns are raised about how privatization could hurt remote communities, especially First Nations that depend on Canada Post for delivery of medical supplies and other essential items.

How Vail Resorts Unique Business Model Led To A Strike In Park City (and why they don't care)

Huddle Up • 25 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
💼 Business Labor relations
  1. Vail Resorts' strategy of buying multiple ski resorts has led to a strike at Park City due to rising costs for employees. Over 200 workers are protesting for better wages and benefits.
  2. The strike is affecting the resort's capacity, with many trails closed and lifts not operating. This has led to long lines and unhappy guests during a peak time for skiing.
  3. Despite earning substantial profits, Vail Resorts seems uninterested in meeting the employees' demands. This highlights how corporate priorities can harm both worker conditions and customer experiences.

Union Karenina

Malt Liquidity • 6 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
💼 Business Labor relations
  1. Coordinated efforts become stronger as the numbers grow, but the value of the individual diminishes.
  2. Union bargaining gains power with a critical mass of numbers, enabling negotiation for better terms.
  3. Tesla's success in the market is partly due to its non-unionized workforce, providing cost advantages compared to unionized competitors.

1200 Hours (working draft)

Logos and Liberty • 0 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor relations
  1. Consider reducing work hours per year to 1200 from the standard 2000 to balance the needs of families and improve work-life balance for employees.
  2. Implementing a 1200-hour work year would lead to increased bargaining power for workers, better worker productivity, and a potential shift in how the fruits of productivity gains are shared.
  3. Employers could adapt to a 1200-hour work year by paying more, offering flexibility, hiring more workers, adjusting operations, and supporting policies to facilitate the transition.