Australia Asia Worker Links

As reported last week, tens of thousands of Palestinian teachers have been on strike and mobilising for better wages and conditions. Most schools in the West Bank have been shut for over two weeks. Importantly, one of the teachers’ demands is for union members to have the right to elect their own representatives and not for the union officials to be appointed by the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority is threatening to force the teachers back to work. Solidarity messages to the Palestinian teachers can be sent here. 

The automotive industry has seen a massive expansion over the last decade with hundreds of thousands of new workers being created. As in other countries experiencing this industrialisation boom, the working conditions are characterised by low wages, long days and atrocious OHS standards. Indian workers have fought hard against this exploitation. Even a business mouthpiece like the ‘Economic Times’ has had to acknowledge the widespread labour struggles in this sector. In the last couple of weeks, new actions have been taken by Honda workers in the Gurgaon region and the Tata Motors workers in Karnataka.

Last year saw major demonstration and strikes by thousands of automobile workers in the Bursa region of Turkey. Late last month, workers employed by Renault were scheduled to hold elections to elect new union representatives. Renault management not only cancelled these elections at the last moment but also dismissed workers who took action to protest at this attempt to stifle organising. Some workers were then arrested when police moved in to clear picket lines. The workers are continuing with their actions.

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.

In early February, hundreds of bus workers demonstrated in Phonm Phem against the Capitol Tours Bus Company union busting activities. The demonstration was viciously attacked by employer sponsored thugs who beat many of the protestors (see video). The police then detained a number of the bus workers, but let the thugs go free. Two of these labour activists, Nan Vanna and Ruos Siphay, are still under arrest and are facing up to 6 years in jail for riotous behaviour. There is an international campaign calling on the government to stop union repression and for the freedom of these two unionists.

As reported previously, the repression against workers in Iran continues unabated with many workers arrested and sentenced to years of jail for the sole crime of attempting to improve wages and conditions. This week, Reza Shahabi, a leading activist with the Vahed Syndicate of bus drivers in Tehran, was sentenced to a further year in jail for his activities. This is not the first time that Reza has been arrested.

Free Reza Shabadi! 

Organising is not a crime!

As reported previously, the Samsung Electronics company in South Korea is not only notoriously anti-union, but has murderous health and safety record. The company is now trying to discredit labour activists who are increasing the pressure on the company to admit its atrocious OHS record. A protest vigil by OHS activists in Seoul has been going for over 150 days (see video).

In an ongoing dispute that began late last year, bus drivers at the Howick and Eastern Buses Company are fighting to keep their conditions in relation to overtime and penalty rates. Part of their actions involve offering free rides to passengers by refusing to collect fares. The company is owned by the billionaire Brian Souter who owns transport companies all around the world. Solidarity messages can be sent to the bus workers’ organiser Rudd Hughes at Rudd.Hughes@firstunion.org.nz

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).