International unions

Trade union struggles outside the UK

Argentina: Defend Zanon workers against eviction

Argentina’s movement of occupied factories is an inspiration in the fight against neoliberalism, and an important symbol that another world is possible, necessary and emerging. One of the jewels of this movement is the worker-controlled ceramic tile factory of Zanon in Neuquen. Under worker control since 2002, the factory has increased employment 50% in the last year from 300 to 450 workers. The Zanon workers have managed this democratically, with decisions made in open assemblies. The Zanon workers have also built deep popular support in the province of Neuquen, and have shown their...

US Labor Against The War meets

United States labor’s antiwar forces took a giant step forward when U.S. Labor Against the War’s National Leadership Assembly concluded successfully on Saturday, December 4 in Chicago, IL. A total of 136 people participated, exceeding the number expected. A preliminary review of credentials indicates that 87 delegates from 57 labor organizations, joined by 39 observers from 29 organizations and more than 10 guests hammered out a plan of work for USLAW for 2005. Several organizations affiliated at the Assembly. The breakdown of affiliates by type of organization follows at the close of this...

Activists surround central bank

More than 8,000 Brazilian landless activists surrounded the central bank on Thursday 25 November and threatened a big fight over land next year unless they get more public money to speed up land reform. Joao Pedro Stedile, a leader of the Landless Workers Movement (MST), said peasants could stage more land occupations if President Lula da Silva did not earmark more funds to expropriate and redistribute unused farmland, as the Brazilian constitution demands. Lula pledged to settle 400,000 families — or around 1.6 million people -- during his four-year term. After two years he has only created...

Hotel workers lockout ends

The lockout of hotel workers in the US city of San Francisco has come to an end, after unions and management announced a 60-day “cooling off” period. While the union, UNITE HERE Local 2, agreed not to strike for 60 days, it announced it would continue the rest of its effective pressure campaign. After five weeks, the employers finally let the workers return to their jobs, with no agreement on their essential demand that workers give up negotiations on their 2006 contract. And the employers have failed in their attempt to break the union organising drive. For more information, click here

Fourteen killed in Philippines strike

Fourteen people, including two children, were killed in the Philippines on November 16 when the army dispersed a strike at the Hacienda Luisita Sugar Mill. At least 35 people were reported to have sustained gunshot wounds, 133 were arrested and hundreds were wounded. One of the victims was allegedly strangled after being shot and his dead body hanged by the factory gate. The two children, aged two and five years old who died from suffocation from teargas lobbed by the police and armed forces. The trade unions in the Philippines are calling for a strong international protest, demanding a full...

COSATU delegation visits Zimbabwe

During the last week of October, a delegation from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) arrived in Zimbabwe for a brief “fact-finding mission”. The COSATU visit was opposed by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. During its first meeting with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), COSATU delegates were detained by police. Within hours, they were dumped at the Zimbabwe-South African border. A war of words broke out between COSATU and its alliance partner, the ruling African National Congress (ANC), over the incident. COSATU was accused of showing “contempt for a head of...

Free Craig Johnston!

Earlier this year former Victorian State Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Craig Johnston pleaded guilty to charges of assault (verbal abuse), criminal damage and two counts of affray in a previous court case. Craig Johnston has had his suspended sentence overturned in the appeal court. He was given a 2 year and 9 months jail sentence with the 9 months to be served immediately and the 2 years jail sentence to be suspended for 2.5 years. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Craig has had an alliance of powerful enemies preparing the ground for such an outcome. The Office of...

Nigerian general strike

Unions in Nigeria organised a general strike on 16 November after the government failed to cut petrol prices. Workers were protesting at a 23% rise in petrol, diesel and kerosene prices in September. Unions said a government concession to cut kerosene prices was insufficient. A Nigerian court ruled against the strike but unions ignored the ruling. A four-day nationwide strike in October shut down banks, businesses, shops and public services. Unions targeted crude oil production and exports as part of the stoppage. Nigeria is the world’s seventh-largest oil producer and the strike disrupted the...

Korean civil servants' general strike

Korean civil servants’ in the Government Employees’ Union (KGEU) organised a general strike on 15 November as part of its fight against anti-union laws. The strike went ahead despite a police crackdown the week before. The KGEU, which has 140,000 members out of 300,000 low-ranking civil service workers, is demanding the right to strike, which is prohibited for public servants in South Korea. Police rounded up more than 200 leaders of the union and stormed union offices before the strike. The courts issued arrest warrants against 33 leaders of the KGEU and threatened strikers with arrest and...

Chinese textile workers arrested

More than twenty worker activists at the former Tianwang Textile Factory in Xianyang city, Shaanxi Province, have been arrested by police after a seven week factory-wide strike by around 6,800 workers. Neither the detainees’ names nor the charges on which they are being held are known. According to the China Labour Bulletin, Xianyang courts also issued a “wanted notice” for three other workers from the same factory. The police are aiding the local authorities’ who want to stop workers from electing a factory-level trade union and registering it with the official trade union organisation, the...

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.