Labor relations at faith‑based and public colleges are roiling: St. John’s University announced it will stop recognizing two longstanding faculty unions, citing institutional flexibility tied to its Catholic mission. University leaders said the decision was intended to preserve mission alignment; union leaders called the move unlawful and signaled plans to challenge it. In California, the Long Beach Community College District reached a settlement with adjunct faculty after a labor dispute, resolving claims that had drawn national attention. The settlement comes amid a wave of adjunct organizing and contract negotiations at community colleges where contingent labor is a core instructional resource. Trustees and administrators say they need flexibility to adapt staffing and budgets in a volatile enrollment environment; faculty leaders argue that collective bargaining protects academic standards and working conditions. Expect more legal and bargaining activity as institutions balance fiscal constraints with workforce stability.