Posts tagged solidarity
OUR WEAPON – GLOBAL SOLIDARITY. 2:37 am / 30 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
Last week, a court in Bahrain upheld the convictions of trade union leaders, sentencing Mahdi Abu Dheeb and Jalila al-Salman to five years and six months respectively.Mahdi and Jalila, president and vice president of the Bahraini Teachers’ Association were arrested in 2011 after supporting calls for reform in Bahrain. Whilst in detention they were subjected to torture and forced to sign “confessions”.In September 2011, a military court convicted them of attempting to overthrow the ruling system by force and inciting hatred of the regime. The report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry last year found that the authorities had grossly exaggerated, if not manufactured, many claims brought against thousands of ordinary people who had been caught up in the February 2011 protests. Mahdi and Jalila’s only “crime” was to have the temerity to promote respect for the values of solidarity, equality and democracy.The Education International has issued a call for a large online campaign demanding the release of both Mahdi and Jalila.
Please take a moment to send off your message here.And then please spread the word to your fellow trade union members.In additon, please take a moment to learn more about the case of Kenyan trade union leader Francis Atwoli who was recently fined about £3,000 because he refused to call off a strike (two years earlier!) defending jobs in the Kenyan tea industry from mechanisation. Trade unions outside Kenya are trying to help raise the money to cover this fine and his legal costs. Learn more here.Thanks -- and please forward on this email!
Eric Lee
ann arky's home.
CORPORATE FASCISM. 2:04 am / 30 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
THE BOTTLED WASP. 1:41 am / 29 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
UP-THE-ANTI. 9:41 am / 28 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
From Up-the-Anti:
- Is there an alternative to capitalism? What might it look like?
- How do we win popular support for new radical projects?
- What can we learn from the social struggles and new movements in Europe?
- And how do we overcome divisions within left and radical movements?
STRONGER TOGETHER. 5:05 am / 28 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
"Jam the gas meters or Stronger Together?Direct action on fuel poverty in Europe campaign ‘Samen Sterker’ or "Stronger Together" reports that thousands of people in Belgium and Netherlands have organised collectively against the power companies and won great deals.But here in the UK EDF Fuel prices for residential customers are to hike up by 10.8% from December 7, 2012 sending the average dual fuel bill to £1,251. Scottish Gas and Scottish Power will be more than this by up to £23. And we already know that means misery and death.Excess winter mortality statistics from the UK Office for National Statistics estimated there were 25,700 Excess Winter Deaths (WHO) in England and Wales in 2011, 3.4% higher in the North East. Scotland’s winter statistics at 2,450 are like the UK’s low temperature related deaths, not exclusively hypothermia but cerebrovascular disease and heart disease, pneumonia, stroke and respiratory diseases.Belgium and Netherlands have taken direct action on fuel bills by collective switching. Their groups of 10,000 people prepared to switch en-mass to a new supplier this means that these suppliers offer a decent price in order to get them as new clients. They have a trusted third party who's actually doing all the leg work, setting up the switch system so that it is minimal effort for us. Hundreds of thousands of consumers have benefited and on average saved some 200-250 euros a year.Earlier this year the UK consumer organisation Which? organised the firstcollective switch in the UK. Almost 40,000 people took part, with average savings of £223 a year.A pilot scheme is running in Cornwall, and South Lakeland District Council in Cumbria is finalising the first local authority project in the UK. Other local councils may follow suit soon.Let’s do it in Scotland."
SOLIDARITY WINS BATTLES. 11:31 am / 10 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
The world is our battlefield, solidarity is our weapon. It is a weapon that can't be beaten. People power will change the world.
A month ago, I wrote to tell you about Said Elhairech, leader of the dockers union in Morocco. Said was arrested in June on unfounded charges relating to "national security". You responded in your thousands -- to be precise, 5,657 of you sent off messages of protest as part of a world-wide campaign coordinated by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). And last week we learned that Said has been released and all serious charges against him have been dropped. (Full details here.)
And last week, I wrote to you about the case of IUF representative and human rights activist Yacine Zaid, in neighboring Algeria, who had been abducted by unidentified men. I asked you to support the IUF's global campaign to get Yacine released. Over 11,000 of you responded and the result was immediate: the Algerian authorities decided his crime was "insulting a police officer"; he was fined the equivalent of 100 Euros and let go. (Full details here.)
Yacine and Said, who are both outstanding leaders of independent trade unions in their countries, are now free men thanks to the efforts of thousands of trade unionists around the world.
This is therefore an opportunity to remind you of seven things you can do right now to keep up the momentum, and to help us build a global network of activists who can be mobilized at a moment's notice in cases like these.
If you have the time, please do all seven. But if you can do even one of these things, you'll be helping.
1. See which other campaigns are still live and show your support. Workers in Guatemala, Pakistan, Swaziland, Turkey and Zimbabwe need our help today. Click here to see the five current campaigns we're running.
2. The fastest way to learn about new campaigns like these is by following LabourStart on Twitter,
3. You can also show your support for the campaigns by liking LabourStart on Facebook.
4. Encourage your fellow trade union members to sign up to our mailing list.
5. Make a secure online donation to LabourStart to allow us to continue with our campaigning work. Does your union support LabourStart? Find out and encourage your union to donate as well.
6. Get your union to show a list of live LabourStart campaigns on its website. Full details are here,
Finally, spread the word to your fellow trade unionists -- pass on this message!
Thank you very much!
Eric Lee
SOLIDARITY MEANS SUCCESS. 1:03 pm / 09 October 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
THANKS to all the organizations and individuals who participated in the campaign in support of Yacine's release by sending over 11,000 messages in response to our appeals. Your immediate and unreserved response helped lead to the release of Yacine. We must now be vigilant to ensure that he remains free and secure and that the right to organize is respected all over the world!See Yacine sentenced but free
Ron Oswald
IUF General Secretary
ann arky's home.
Everyone will need to have a Solidarity Network 5:13 pm / 28 September 2012 by star*fox, at UTOPIA or: BUST
A mutual support network, open to workers both employed and unemployed, active and retired. We use collective direct action to fight employers and landlords who are pocketing our wages, refusing repairs, stealing deposits, or otherwise cheating or abusing one or more of us.
How to get in touch:
www.seasol.net/contact
info@seasol.net
(206) 350 – 8650
I am becoming more powerful
than any lawyer or any judge…
human.
STAFF TIPS GOING ASTRAY. 12:01 pm / 18 September 2012 by ann arky, at annarky's blog.
Guests at the Hilton Conrad Rangali Islands Resort in Maldives pay 1,000 dollars a night to stay in luxury villas located on two private islands, where they can choose from "seven world class restaurants including the world's first all-glass undersea restaurant serving contemporary cuisine". "For the ultimate dining experience" guests can order a private beach dinner with their own chef and waiter. But conditions are less than luxurious for the workers who serve them.
Last year, some 350 workers held a peaceful work stoppage to highlight their longstanding demand for a clear reckoning of the service charge which makes up a crucial l part of their pay. Management responded by terminating union supporters - and refuses to comply with a court order ordering the resort to reinstate them.Click here to send a message calling on Hilton management to reinstate these 22 workers who stood up for their rights and recognize their union!
Ron Oswald
General Secretary, IUF
International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF)
8, rampe du Pont-Rouge
1213 Petit Lancy, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 793 22 33
Fax: +41 22 793 22 38
web-site: www.iuf.org
ann arky's home.