Australia Asia Worker Links

In the latest of a series of accidents at the coal mines in the Duki region of Balochistan in central Pakistan, three miners were poisoned to death earlier this month. Unfortunately these have not been the only deaths in the coal mines in this region and are an indicator of the dangerous working conditions that exist. For workers in Pakistan, death at the workplace is tragically too common (see here and here), while workers trying to improve wages and conditions routinely face repression (see here and here).

Life under Israeli occupation is extremely hard for Palestinian workers and their families. While ending the Occupation is of utmost importance, workers also struggle to improve their lives through better wages and conditions. This week saw a major demonstration by Palestinian teachers in Ramallah against the Palestinian Authority in their fight for better wages and conditions. Tens of thousands of teachers participated in spite of the encirclement of Ramallah by Palestinian security forces to check ID cards of Palestinians on all public transport in order to stop teachers reaching the demonstration.

As previously reported, class struggle in South Korea intensified late last year with massive protests by workers and increasing repression by the government. In the middle of this month, the Korean Teachers Union was deregistered as part of the government ongoing offensive against unions. An unusual ‘ghost’ protest was held in Seoul to protest the government’s attack on the right to demonstrate, while a 20,000 strong demonstration was also held protesting against government policies. Meanwhile, two Kia motor workers continue their aerial protest for secure jobs in central Seoul.

The current BJP government in India has initiated a set of ongoing changes to weaken workers’ rights in India. This has led to massive protest by workers all over India. The government is also waging a nationalist and xenophobic offensive against its enemies and minorities. Its youth wing, the ABVP and the fascist RSS group are at the forefront of this offensive. In the last couple of weeks, a number of students and academics have been arrested for ‘anti Indian sentiments’ amid a push by these far right forces to repress opponents (see here and here). Solidarity for Indian students and academics has been global (see here and here).

International Women’s Day (IWD) originated in the USA in 1908, when women garment workers held demonstrations protesting against their appalling and dangerous working conditions. The exploitation continues as global capitalism increases its demands for ever lower wages and conditions for workers. Violence against women is still very common. Women make up the majority of the world’s poor and as refugees face particular dangers. Actions and events on March 8 are organised in many countries around the world. In Melbourne, Australia, a demonstration will be held in conjunction with activities by the Victorian Trades Hall Council.

As previously reported, the prospect of returning hundreds of sick refugees to the prisons camps in Nauru, sparked widespread protests in Australia. While the Australian government temporarily backed down, their commitment to a policy of repression remains. This week, an Iranian journalist held in the Manus Island, PNG, prison camp detailed the cruelty of the current system and the toll it is taking on refugees. Protests continue against the government’s policies.

Over the last few months, Australian unions have fought against the giant energy and manufacturing company Alcoa as it tried to undercut wages and conditions by importing workers paid at a much lesser rate. The Maritime Union of Australia is fully aware of this ‘Race to the Bottom’ and the use of ‘Flags of Convenience’ ships to break unions and force down working conditions. Just recently an example was documented of workers being put in danger inside the hull of a ship, while in another case, a ship has been allowed in, whose captain is accused of ‘disappearing’ two of its crew members. Against companies like Alcoa, and in a globally integrated industry like shipping, only by workers organising internationally and developing a ‘Global Picketline’, can they fight back effectively.

The outcomes of the occupation by Israel of Palestinian lands have been documented before, whether in the repression that it unleashes, or the continual resistance to it that it breeds. A Palestinian journalist, Muhammad al-Qiq, is currently close to death due to a hunger strike in protest against the continuing use of administrative detention to punish Palestinians. The International Federation of Journalists has joined the calls for his immediate release. Life for most Palestinian workers continues to be unbearable with extremely long days, low pay and constant harassment, both by Israel and the Palestinian Authority.