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As the Jan. 9 deadline for a new collective bargaining agreement approaches, the WNBA Players Association says negotiations have stalled despite months of talks. Players are pushing for major salary and benefit increases and a larger share of league revenues, citing record growth in media deals and popularity. Union leaders warn that a failure to reach an agreement could lead to a work stoppage, which both sides say would jeopardize the league’s momentum.

The Teamsters union, representing nearly 20,000 freight rail workers, publicly opposed the planned $85 billion merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, saying the companies haven’t secured firm commitments to preserve jobs and worker protections. Although shareholders overwhelmingly approved the deal, the union says it will continue to fight unless rail executives address members’ concerns about job security and workplace conditions.

The UK’s Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) has stepped in to try to mediate talks between the British Medical Association and the government as resident doctors’ strike enters its 14th day, with pay and job conditions at the heart of the dispute. NHS leaders and patient groups have urged both sides to accept independent discussion to resolve the prolonged work stoppage and ease pressures on the health service.

Thousands of resident doctors in England voted to reject the government’s latest employment offer and are set to begin a five-day strike amid rising flu cases that are straining the National Health Service. Represented by the British Medical Association, striking doctors are pushing for larger pay increases, arguing that proposed wage gains still fall short of reversing years of wage erosion, while health officials warn the strike could affect patient care.

Workers across Portugal carried out a major general strike called by the country’s two largest union federations to protest new labor reforms, severely disrupting public transport, schools, garbage collection, and other services. The action—one of the biggest in more than a decade—saw widespread participation in cities like Lisbon, highlighting deep opposition among labor groups to government policies they say weaken worker protections.

Staff at the Louvre in Paris walked off the job in a strike supported by several major unions, forcing the museum to close to visitors amid complaints about understaffing, deteriorating work conditions, and opposition to planned ticket-price increases. About 400 workers joined the action, blocking entries and displaying banners while negotiations with the Culture Ministry remain stalled. The government has appointed a special adviser to recommend reforms by early 2026 in hopes of resolving the dispute.

Employees at the Moët & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot champagne houses, represented by the CGT union, are planning further strikes and protests to press for year-end bonus payments after previous actions. The union has called for walkouts and demonstrations to press management on compensation issues across the brands.

Teachers in the West Contra Costa Unified School District in California ended a four-day walkout after reaching a tentative agreement that includes an 8% salary increase and fully employer-paid family health benefits by mid-2027. The deal also provides additional support for international teachers, and classes are expected to resume normal operations pending final approvals.

Workers at Brazil’s state-run oil company Petrobras said they will strike starting Monday after rejecting the company’s latest contract offer, which they deem insufficient. The dispute centers on retirement funding and compensation changes, though the company says contingency plans should keep operations running.

Utah’s Republican leadership announced they will repeal HB267 — a law restricting collective bargaining rights for public employees — after a massive union-backed referendum campaign gathered over 250,000 signatures to overturn it. The repeal is aimed at avoiding a likely defeat at the ballot box in 2026, while lawmakers also plan to delay candidate filing deadlines and advance a constitutional amendment that would give the legislature new power to override voter-approved initiatives. Labor groups say the reversal protects the rights of teachers, first responders, and other public workers, calling it a major win for Utah’s unions.