Labor Day is often treated like just another long weekend, but its roots run deep. It was created to honor the fight for fair wages, safe conditions, and dignity at work. This year, that legacy is more urgent than ever.
Across the country, we’re watching a coordinated dismantling of worker protections, from collective bargaining rights and safety regulations to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that support the most marginalized among us. In short, labor rights are under attack, and it’s happening fast.
Your coworkers, your neighbors, maybe even you, are feeling the effects.
That’s why we created this snapshot of what’s happening with labor in 2025.
What’s Being Rolled Back
- Collective bargaining rights for over a million federal workers are gone via executive order.
- The NLRB, our country’s main labor enforcement body, was deemed structurally unconstitutional in three states.
- 60+ worker protections repealed, impacting overtime, wage standards, and organizing rights.
- DEI programs across agencies and federal contractors are being eliminated or under legal threat.
- Pregnancy protections weakened under judicial rulings that gutted key aspects of the PWFA.
- AI is replacing human decision-making without transparency or accountability.
What’s Being Done (Yes, There’s Hope!)
Despite these rollbacks, people are fighting back:
- Federal courts have issued injunctions blocking parts of the DEI-ban executive orders.
- The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is seeing new life in some states after initial legal blocks.
- Unions are organizing around AI regulation to protect human oversight at work.
- Worker centers and legal coalitions are pushing back against the erosion of protections in industries like temp work, public health, and education.
What You Can Do Right Now
You don’t need to be in a union or a policy expert to take action. Start here:
Advocate
- Call or write your reps in support of the PRO (Protecting the Right to Organize) Act, which would restore union rights and labor protections.
- Urge your local officials to strengthen state-level OSHA equivalents and workplace safety laws.
Support
- Donate to or amplify organizations like National Employment Law Project, Working America, and Jobs with Justice.
Share + Educate
- Post the Labor in 2025 graphic on your socials or in your workplace Slack. Invite conversation!
- Lead or join discussions on workplace rights in your community, workplace, or ERG (if yours hasn’t been dismantled yet).
Stay Vigilant
- Monitor how your workplace talks about DEI, AI, safety, and accommodations.
- If something doesn’t feel right, document it, speak up, and loop in support.
In Solidarity
This Labor Day, let’s honor the workers who fought, and are still fighting, for fairness and safety by stepping up and speaking out. Whether you’re an employee, employer, leader, or ally, this moment is yours to meet.
Need help figuring out your next step? Want to share what’s happening in your workplace? We’d love to hear from you!