Home ›

News

Round 2 of the TEKEL struggle: workers against the unions

The TEKEL struggle has restarted - this time in Istanbul.

The TEKEL struggle which gave birth to the "Ankara Soviet", a collection of tents which workers gathered and lived around for 80 days in the center of Ankara, Kızılay, was one of the most important struggles in Turkey for several years. The new law - famously known as 4C - which turned the workers into contractors, was the cause.

Brutal repression in the Acropolis as riot police attack workers

Riot police beat and tear-gas workers within the Acropolis, one journalist injured.

The moment was acutely symbolic for a country that brags about itself as the cradle of democracy and indicative of the Greek government's loss of measure in face of the popular discontent over its austerity measures.

The mood in the Royal Mail sorting office - Roy Mayall

Vince Cable has spoken: Royal Mail is to be privatised. Postal worker Roy Mayall and his colleagues wonder whether things can get any worse, and describe the demoralisation caused by the last union sell-out.

I heard about the proposed privatisation of the Royal Mail on Saturday. One of my work mates sent me a text. It was my long weekend, so yesterday was the first chance I'd had to gauge the response in the office. It wasn't very good.

Mankato Student strike

This Thursday students of Minnesota State University, Mankato walked out of class to protest the $8 million being slashed from their budget.

Last year 79.5 positions were cut at the university and an additional 30 to 82.5 will be cut this year. Their actions were part of a national day of action in defense of public education. The picket consisted of over 30 students and many bystanders, and an unknown number of other students did not show up to their classes.

Greek police officer convicted of Alexandros murder

Epaminondas Korkoneas, right

The police officer charged with the murder of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, which sparked heavy rioting across the country, has been found guilty.

Al Jazeera reported that in a 4-3 verdict on Monday, a Greek jury found Epaminondas Korkoneas, 38, guilty of intentionally shooting 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos on December 06, 2008. The panel also found Vassilios Saraliotis, Korkoneas' patrol partner, guilty of complicity in the crime.

New Zealand: Direct Action vs Burger Fuel

New Zealand: Direct Action vs Burger Fuel

After protests in Auckland and Wellington, and further planned protests outside Burger Fuel fast food stores across the North Island and in Sydney, Burger Fuel has recently backed down and agreed not to use the 90 day hire and fire legislation in its franchises.

The protests were against the sacking of Joanne Bartlett from her job in an Auckland Burger Fuel store on the 89th day of her 90 day trial period. She was fired just after asking for more than one 10 minute break during her eight hour shift. No reason was given for her dismissal.

New Zealand: Secondary School Teacher's Strike

New Zealand: Secondary School Teacher's Strike

On September 15th over 1,000 teachers and supporters from Wellington, Hutt Valley and Kapiti Coast marched from Wellington High School to Parliament as part of a national one day strike action. The strike was called in support of teachers’ claims for a 4% wage increase an improvement in working conditions and opposition to such measures as the 90 Day Act.

The marchers were in good spirits, with a sense of purpose for their action. There was some chanting and attempts to interact with lunchtime passersby in the CBD, who were either subdued or supportive in attitude. One amusing example came when some teenagers on the pavement called out “Good one, but make sure its a Friday next time!”.

New Zealand: A Mini Strike Wave?

If you believe the media, there seems to be heaps of unruly workers going out on strike at the moment. And yes, it appears so – the recent teachers’ strike of up to 16,000 surpasses the total number of workers going out nationwide in 2008 and 2009 put together! (8,950 in 2009 and 4993 in 2008).

As well, about a thousand radiographers and hundreds of medical lab and Ministry of Education workers have been on strike, and hundreds of Housing NZ and ACC workers continue with low key industrial action, such as work-to-rules. And there is more ahead – over 4000 junior doctors appear to be set to strike, and if you count the big nationwide stopworks against the new employment laws on Oct.

Topy Top mass sacking sparks Zara protests call

The mass sacking of 35 trade union organisers at Topy Top, Peru's most profitable textiles exporter, has prompted a callout for worldwide protests against near slave-labour conditions at the firm's factories.

Campaigning publication Periodico Humanidad has published a callout through the International Workers Association for actions to be taken at the outlets of transnational fashion chain Zara, one of

Organizing for America and the “Enthusiasm Gap”

WASHINGTON — Democrats desperately need other Democrats – to vote. – Liz Sidoti, of the Huffington Post

The 2010 Senate elections are barely a month away, and Democrats across the country are getting worried.

In a new poll released last month by Public Policy Polling, Quantifying the Enthusiasm Gap, pollsters have found that in 10 key Senate and gubernatorial races across the country, Republicans are leading by wider margins.

Although the country is more or less split in half between Republican and Democratic party supporters when all eligible voters are asked (about 43% for both, according to the latest NBC/WSJ poll), when likely voters are polled, the Republicans take a substantial lead by roughly 9 points.

Syndicate content