Previewing Major Labor Fights and Union Power in 2026

Key Contract Fights on the Horizon

• 📞 Verizon workers, including communication and electrical workers, face an upcoming contract expiration, with a strike being a distinct possibility after previous contract cycles where union officers "rolled over." The core issues revolve around healthcare for retiring workers nearing Medicare age.
• 🚚 Teamsters have two major contracts expiring: 3,500 workers at DHL by March 31st and 17,000 school bus drivers nationwide on the same date, representing an opportunity for national-level gains.
• 🏥 Healthcare sector workers are preparing for significant contract battles, with the New York State Nurses Association potentially striking across 12 NYC hospitals. Issues include safe staffing ratios and addressing hospital funding crises exacerbated by Medicaid cuts and rising insurance costs.
• 🏭 United Steelworkers are set to negotiate a national oil refinery pattern agreement, aiming to set a precedent for other companies in the oil, aluminum, rubber, and steel industries, leveraging company profitability data.

Emerging Trends and Union Strategies

• ✉️ National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) faces a new contract negotiation amidst a challenging postal service environment, dealing with hostile management and potential reorganization and automation pushed by the administration.
• 🛒 United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), particularly Local 99, has numerous large grocery contracts expiring, with a growing movement pushing for a more aggressive, fighting approach to negotiations and strikes.
• 🎓 University workers, including adjunct professors, TAs, grad students, and researchers, are facing contract negotiations with issues spanning underpayment, academic freedom, and the impact of federal funding crackdowns.
• ✍️ The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is looking to further solidify protections against AI, building on previous contract language that limited the use of AI-generated material.

The State of the Labor Movement

• ✊ The UAW is gearing up for contract negotiations for auto parts workers, aiming to raise wages for those who have seen significant concessions in the past, and focusing on new organizing efforts.
• ⚖️ Despite challenges like a weakened National Labor Relations Board and federal interference, there's a growing coordination across the labor movement, exemplified by initiatives like "Mayday Strong" and the Labor Notes conference, emphasizing the importance of flexing strike muscles and leveraging direct worker power.
• 💡 The upcoming contract fights across various sectors are viewed as crucial opportunities for working-class power to assert itself, independent of political representatives, by organizing and utilizing direct leverage with employers.