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Announcing plans to cut 16,000 jobs globally, Amazon follows a similar reduction of 14,000 roles just three months earlier. The company said the cuts are part of an effort to streamline management and reduce internal complexity, while continuing to hire in strategic areas. Most positions affected are expected to be in the United States, with a smaller number of corporate roles impacted in the UK.

Susan Grundmann, the former chair of the Federal Labor Relations Authority, has withdrawn her lawsuit challenging President Trump’s decision to remove her from office, following a federal appeals court ruling that upheld similar firings of officials from other labor agencies. The decision reflects a broader judicial shift favoring greater presidential control over independent federal agencies. The case raised significant questions about the independence of labor boards that oversee disputes between federal agencies and public-sector unions.

Thousands of nurses and health care workers represented by UNAC/UHCP began an open-ended strike at Kaiser Permanente facilities across California and Hawaii, citing stalled negotiations and alleged unfair labor practices by management. The walkout affects dozens of hospitals and clinics and follows months of bargaining disputes, including claims that Kaiser abandoned talks late last year. Kaiser says negotiations are ongoing and that not all affiliated unions are participating in the strike.

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.