Illustrative auto parts workers beside a store parking lot, paired with ballot and bargaining imagery representing the White Plains AutoZone union vote Work & Labor

White Plains Workers Win: AutoZone’s First Union Vote

Workers at an AutoZone store in White Plains voted 6–4 to join UAW Local 259, marking the chain’s first store union election win. Certification remains pending, while an organizer’s dismissal involves disputed supervisor status and no NLRB finding of unlawful conduct.

by Som Bentur
Generic cafe worker reviewing bills and supplies beside a specialty coffee counter, representing Haus Coffee labor issues and wage pressure Work & Labor

When Cafe Workers Fund the Business: The Coffee Labor Crisis

Haus Coffee’s owner admitted repeated late salary payments, delayed vendor payments and failures that left employees paying for cafe supplies themselves. The case highlights broader labor, scheduling and wage-theft pressures across specialty coffee.

by Som Bentur
Farmworker harvesting crops in extreme summer heat with water, farm technology and heat-safety evidence in the background Work & Labor

When the Harvest Overheats the Body: Farmworkers Under Heat

Extreme heat, strenuous field labor and piece-rate incentives can place farmworkers at serious risk of heat illness and acute kidney injury. New York’s agricultural economy is also confronting debates over rest breaks, overtime rules and proposed heat protections.

by Som Bentur
Unionized Starbucks workers and a closing coffeehouse symbolize the Oregon Starbucks closure dispute over bargaining, restructuring and worker rights Work & Labor

When a Union Store Closes: Labor or Liquidation?

The closure of Starbucks’ unionized Willamette Street store in Eugene intensifies scrutiny of bargaining delays, restructuring and retaliation allegations. Workers face displacement after years without a finalized labor agreement.

by Som Bentur