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Paris’s world-famous Louvre Museum has stayed closed to tourists on certain days as staff continue labor strikes over pay, staffing and working conditions, issues that have lingered alongside operational disruptions from a high-profile jewelry heist. Workers say the protest over employment terms persists despite the museum’s attempts to manage reopening and security improvements.

Hundreds of Minnesota businesses, schools and community groups participated in an economic blackout day to protest aggressive federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations that have sparked widespread demonstrations. The action, encouraged by labor unions, faith leaders and activists, urged residents to stay home from work, school and shopping to show solidarity with immigrant communities and demand an end to federal immigration enforcement tactics in the state.

Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits increased modestly last week, with about 200,000 new jobless claims, up from 199,000 the previous week, according to the Labor Department. The four-week average of claims fell slightly, suggesting layoffs remain low and the broader labor market still shows resilience despite economic uncertainty.

In the United Kingdom, former TikTok content moderators have launched legal action after hundreds were dismissed shortly before a planned vote to establish a union. The workers argue the timing and scale of the layoffs amount to unfair dismissal and unlawful interference with trade union activity, while pointing to the mental health risks associated with moderating violent and disturbing content. TikTok denies the allegations, stating the job cuts were part of a global restructuring driven by increased reliance on automated content moderation tools. The case raises broader questions about worker protections, union rights, and the impact of AI-driven restructuring in the UK tech sector.

Growing international enforcement efforts have coincided with the release or escape of large numbers of people from online scam compounds in Cambodia, many of whom are believed to have been trafficked into forced labor. Human rights organizations report that those freed often receive little immediate support, leaving them vulnerable to being recruited or coerced into similar operations elsewhere. The actions follow recent sanctions and arrests targeting figures accused of running transnational scam networks, marking an unusual moment of disruption for the industry. Analysts warn, however, that without continued external pressure and stronger protections for workers, the underlying labor exploitation is likely to persist.

As Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, local labor unions are coordinating contract expirations to strengthen their bargaining position in the years leading up to the Games. Drawing lessons from previous Olympics, where workers secured wage increases and improved benefits through strikes and negotiations, unions argue that major international events increase workers’ leverage because operations depend heavily on their labor. Economists note that while the broader economic benefits of the Olympics are often temporary, the event can still serve as a strategic moment for workers to press for long-term gains. At the same time, business groups warn that higher labor costs tied to Olympic-related policies could strain the region’s already fragile tourism and hospitality sectors.

In the United Kingdom, the GMB trade union is facing accusations of bullying from Maryam Eslamdoust, the general secretary of the smaller TSSA transport union, amid ongoing industrial disputes between the two organizations. Eslamdoust alleges that GMB officials attempted to undermine her leadership in ways that negatively affected her health and suggests the treatment may reflect gender bias. GMB denies the claims, arguing it has intervened to protect TSSA staff after internal surveys reportedly showed high levels of stress and poor workplace morale. The dispute highlights broader concerns within the UK labor movement about internal union governance, power imbalances between unions, and workplace culture within worker-representative institutions themselves.

President Trump signed an executive order establishing a second emergency board to help resolve a long-running labor dispute on the Long Island Rail Road, where contract talks have been stalled for years and unions had threatened a strike. Rail labor disputes involve critical infrastructure and large numbers of commuter workers. Federal intervention aims to avert service disruptions and shows how labor disagreements can escalate to national policy levels when collective bargaining stalls.

Workers at a major BP oil refinery in Whiting, Indiana, represented by the United Steelworkers union, have started negotiations over a new labor contract. The company has proposed changes that could involve job cuts, which has raised serious concerns among the roughly 800 employees at the facility. The talks come amid broader industry pressures and highlight tensions over job security and working conditions in energy sector labor agreements.

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.