THE HOT STORY

Striking Boeing Defense workers turn down contract proposal

Striking workers at Boeing Defense have rejected the company's latest five-year contract proposal, prolonging their strike into its 13th week and causing delays in fighter jet deliveries. Union leadership said that Boeing had failed to address the essential needs of the approximately 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). IAM President Brian Bryant expressed his frustration over the company's approach, saying: "Boeing's corporate executives continue to insult the very people who build the world's most advanced military aircraft.” Boeing, meanwhile, plans to implement a contingency strategy to mitigate the impact of the strike, and said that the offer's terms were market-leading.

The Columbian

Los Angeles Times

U.S. News

WORKFORCE

Air traffic control absences persist

More than 8,000 flights were delayed across the U.S. on Sunday as air traffic controller absences continued to disrupt travel amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy explained: “Just yesterday . . . we had 22 staffing triggers. That's one of the highest that we have seen in the system since the shutdown began.” The situation has led to delays averaging an hour and 40 minutes for flights. The White House warns that flight disruptions will increase as controllers miss their first full paycheck on Tuesday.

U.S. News

TECHNOLOGY

Macy's turns to robots to speed deliveries

Macy's has opened its largest and most automated warehouse in the U.S., aiming to speed fulfilment and increase sales. The $640m, 2.5m-square-foot building in China Grove, N.C., uses robots to pick clothes, shoes, cosmetics, and home goods for online orders and restock stores. The company has been working under CEO Tony Spring to turn around a years-long sales slump by overhauling stores, closing unproductive locations, and streamlining its supply chain. The company has closed one distribution center and two third-party logistics facilities over the past two years and added automation to other warehouses to fulfil online orders faster and ensure products are in stock at stores. Macy's reported its first quarterly sales growth in three years in the latest quarter ended August 2.

The Wall Street Journal

JPMorgan offers staff AI chatbot to help write performance reviews

JPMorgan Chase has given employees the option to use its in-house AI system to help shortcut the often painstaking process of writing the multiple performance reviews typically required by large companies.

Financial Times

TAX

California considers billionaire tax to raise funds for health care

California voters may soon decide on a proposed one-time 5% tax on billionaires to counteract federal funding cuts to health care for low-income individuals. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is backing the initiative, which aims to generate $100bn in revenue for the state. “If we do not do this, millions of people are going to lose health care,” said Dave Regan, president of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West. The proposal requires over 870,000 signatures to qualify for the November 2026 ballot. Gov. Gavin Newsom has previously opposed tax hikes targeting the wealthy.

U.S. News & World Report

STRATEGY

U.S. chipmaker Nvidia scouts for AI talent in Israel

Nvidia plans to expand its research and development operations in Beersheba, Israel, by moving to a new site three times larger than its current facility. The chipmaker aims to hire hundreds of employees, including engineers and developers, to support this growth. Nvidia senior vice president Amit Krig said: "The new site will serve as a professional home for hundreds of additional developers." Beersheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich said the site's expansion will strengthen the city's position as a leading innovation center. Nvidia's R&D activities in Israel are already its largest outside the U.S.

The Times of Israel

ECONOMY

U.S. business activity picked up speed through October

U.S. business activity has expanded in October at the second-fastest pace this year, with the S&P Global flash composite index rising to 54.8, driven by the strongest growth in new orders since early 2023. Manufacturers saw the largest pickup in bookings since February last year, while services also gained momentum. However, employment growth was subdued, with factory hiring falling to a three-month low and service sector job growth barely improved. Input costs remained high, but firms eased selling prices, indicating growing competition and weak export demand. Factory inventories rose unusually amid flat backlogs and shrinking export business.

Bloomberg

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Bosch prepares furlough option as chip dispute hits auto suppliers

Auto parts supplier Bosch is preparing to furlough workers at its Salzgitter plant in Germany if a trade dispute between China and the Netherlands over Dutch semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia is not resolved soon. Beijing has banned exports of Nexperia's finished products after the Netherlands took control of the company amid U.S. concerns about risks to national security. "We are currently doing everything we can to serve our customers and avoid or minimize production restrictions," a Bosch spokesperson said, adding "We have not yet made any adjustments to working hours at our German locations, but are preparing to do so, particularly in Salzgitter."

Reuters

Workers' rights reforms threaten U.K. jobs market, think-tank warns

The Resolution Foundation has warned that Labour's proposed Employment Rights Bill could harm the U.K.'s jobs market, suggesting that the legislation, which includes a day-one right against unfair dismissal, may inhibit hiring and lead to a crisis in tribunal courts. Ruth Curtice, chief executive of the foundation, said: "Moving to day one rights for unfair dismissal is high risk and should be amended in the Bill before it's too late." While the foundation backs much of the legislation, including proposals to enhance sick pay and eliminate most zero-hours contracts, it warned that changes to unfair dismissal rules risked damaging the economy.

The Sunday Telegraph

OTHER

Kroger requests exact change amid penny halt

Following President Trump's directive to cease penny production, Kroger is urging customers to provide exact change for cash transactions. The move comes as the U.S. Mint halts the minting of pennies, potentially leading to a shift in cash handling practices across the retail sector. Retailers like Kroger are adapting to this change by encouraging digital payments or exact cash to streamline operations and reduce the need for small coin denominations.

Cincinnati Cincinnati Enquirer

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