European Workers Issues
Italy: Strikes and protests against the Renzi government’s “Jobs Act”
By Marianne Arens, 4 October 2016
Italy is experiencing a wave of strikes by rail workers, flight attendants and teachers that are also directed against the traditional unions.
The pseudo-left’s role in the defeat of the British junior doctors’ struggle
By Robert Stevens, 3 October 2016
The Socialist Workers Party sowed illusions in the trade unions and the Labour Party at every juncture in the junior doctors' struggle.
Irish unions call off Dublin bus strike
By Dermot Quinn, 30 September 2016
The unions are winding down the dispute and paving the way for the defeat of their members’ struggle.
The Verdi union’s despicable role in the breakup of Germany’s Kaiser’s Tengelmann retail group
By Marianne Arens, 30 September 2016
Roundtable talks, secret negotiations, time limit extensions—the unions are seeking to ensure nothing prevents the smooth sell-off of the retail chain.
German supermarket chain to be broken up with thousands of jobs lost
By Marianne Arens, 22 September 2016
The trade unions and the SPD have given their seal of approval to the destruction of jobs, wages and workers’ rights in the store chain merger.
French unions join far-right movement against refugees in Calais
By Anthony Torres, 12 September 2016
The CGT is inciting nationalist hatred to divide the workers and disorient their opposition to the wars and social cuts of the French government, which it helped elect.
Working conditions worsen in Germany
By Dietmar Henning, 10 September 2016
Working conditions in Germany have worsened significantly. Evening, night and weekend work as well as both paid and unpaid overtime are on the rise.
Appeal by Berlin Senate candidate Andy Niklaus: Workers need their own party!
By Andy Niklaus, 9 September 2016
Andy Niklaus has worked for the Berlin Transport Company for 25 years and is running as a candidate of the Partei für Soziale Gleichheit in the Berlin Senate elections on September 18.
British Medical Association calls off junior doctors strikes
By Robert Stevens, 8 September 2016
The junior doctors have been isolated by both the trade unions and by the Labour Party, with a key role played by party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Volkswagen production halt affects almost 30,000 workers
By Dietmar Henning, 24 August 2016
The hard-line position of company headquarters toward suppliers is part of a massive attack on workers.
UK: Strike action at historic low, and unions work to keep it that way
By Simon Whelan, 23 August 2016
The virtual disappearance of strikes during a period when workers’ jobs, wages, and conditions have been under unparalleled attack is a damning indictment of the trade unions.
Trade unions work to suppress German hospital strikes
By Markus Salzmann, 23 August 2016
With some difficulty, the trade unions managed to suppress the justifiable anger over poor working conditions and inadequate pay at hospitals.
Thyssen-Krupp Steel works council meeting prepares job cuts in Germany
By Dietmar Henning, 18 August 2016
Around 250 works council officials from Thyssen Krupp’s steel division met at a conference last Friday in Duisburg.
Lufthansa sets a course for confrontation with pilots
By Marianne Arens, 16 August 2016
The breaking off of talks between the pilots’ union and management heralds a new phase in the dispute.
BHS scandal in the UK: The real face of capitalism
By Jean Shaoul, 13 August 2016
The BHS/Philip Green scandal shows how asset-stripping, sale-and-lease-back arrangements, dummy companies and tax havens are now the norm, not the exception.
Union calls off UK rail strikes
By Michael Barnes, 12 August 2016
By calling off the Scotrail and Southern GTR strikes, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union has again proved its worth to the government and the rail companies.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
12 August 2016
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Southern rail conductors begin longest UK rail strike in 50 years
By Robert Stevens, 9 August 2016
The five-day stoppage by train conductors on the busy Southern rail network has caused widespread disruption, with some 60 percent of services expected to be cancelled.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
5 August 2016
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UK: Weymouth and Bridport bus drivers escalate strike action
By Ajanta Silva, 3 August 2016
The Weymouth bus drivers’ dispute demonstrates that whenever the union bureaucracy are forced to call industrial action, they ensure that it remains isolated.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
29 July 2016
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UK trade unions fail to mobilise for anti-austerity demonstration
By Paul Mitchell, 19 July 2016
The most striking feature of the London demo was the absence of trade union leaders and Labour “lefts.”
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
15 July 2016
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Five agency workers crushed to death in British scrapyard
By Danny Richardson, 11 July 2016
Three serious incidents have occurred at the Hawkeswood Metal recycling plant in the Nechells area of Birmingham in the last few years.
UK junior doctors vote to reject contract
By Paul Mitchell, 7 July 2016
Junior doctors rejected a contract supported by the British Medical Association union that slashes overtime pay and extends working hours.
Lufthansa flight attendants union accepts arbitration agreement
By Marianne Arens, 6 July 2016
By agreeing to the arbitration award, the union is stabbing cabin staff and pilots in the back in their struggle to defend jobs, wages and pensions.
UK teachers hold one-day strike against education bill
By Tania Kent, 5 July 2016
The strike by National Union of Teachers members takes place amid the drive for the complete privatisation of state education.
Volkswagen: 700 workers lose their jobs in Germany
By Dietmar Henning, 5 July 2016
The VW board is using the company’s current crisis to make long-planned cuts in its workforce, relying heavily on the IG Metall trade union and its related works councils.
Workers at two UK rail companies strike against threat to jobs and safety
By Michael Barnes, 29 June 2016
On all existing driver-only operations there are no conductors or onboard staff, other than the revenue inspectors.
IG Metall trade union backs Volkswagen board
By Dietmar Henning, 28 June 2016
IG Metall sprang to the support of management, which is exploiting the emission scandal to impose the biggest ever attacks on jobs, wages and conditions.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
24 June 2016
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Despite mounting opposition, French unions signal concessions on labor law
By Alex Lantier, 20 June 2016
The Stalinist General Confederation of Labor has indicated that it may be open to negotiating firm-level contracts under the new law that violate the national Labor Code.
Billionaire former BHS boss faces down UK parliamentary committee
By Jean Shaoul, 20 June 2016
Some 11,000 workers are set to lose their jobs and around 22,000 present and future retirees will see their pensions decimated after the collapse of high street retailer BHS.
Leeds bus workers strike over pay
By Barbara Slaughter, 18 June 2016
Earlier this month, 250 workers employed by First Bus Leeds voted unanimously to reject management’s paltry pay offer and begin a campaign of strike action.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
17 June 2016
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Belgian unions try to suppress country’s growing strike wave
By Ross Mitchell and Paul Bond, 13 June 2016
The unions in Belgium and France view a joint struggle by workers in both countries as a threat.
North Sea oil workers must wage unified struggle
By Steve James, 13 June 2016
The crisis in the North Sea industry is one expression of the global capitalist chaos in oil production.
Sports Direct and BHS: The real face of British capitalism
By Julie Hyland, 13 June 2016
While lamenting Ashley and Green as the “unacceptable face of capitalism,” the media made clear that much of what had occurred was perfectly legal.
Bond yields fall as fears rise over global economic growth
By Nick Beams, 11 June 2016
As the pile of negative yielding government debt passes the $10 trillion mark, it has been described as a “supernova that will explode one day.”
UK trade union federation calls for Britain to remain in EU
By Robert Stevens, 11 June 2016
The Trades Union Congress is backing the Remain campaign on the cynical basis that it is necessary to protect workers from the attacks of the Conservative government.
Public meeting at Humboldt University in Berlin
The referendum on Brexit: Why the SEP rejects both camps
11 June 2016
On Friday, June 17, Chris Marsden, a member of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site from Britain, will speak in Berlin at Humboldt University on the referendum for British withdrawal from the EU, and on the party’s campaign for an active boycott.
British rail workers facing state repression
By Michael Barnes, 10 June 2016
Workers have held strikes to protest the elimination of the safety-critical role of the conductor, who operates doors on the busiest routes in the UK.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
10 June 2016
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Strikes against austerity in France and Belgium defy union pressure for sellout
By Alex Lantier, 9 June 2016
Garbage workers took strike action in several cities across France, joining rail, port and oil workers in France and rail workers in Belgium.
UK: The political fraud of the Another Europe is Possible campaign
By Julie Hyland, 7 June 2016
The campaign makes no mention of the Cameron government’s austerity agenda that has seen millions of jobs destroyed, wages cut, welfare slashed to the bone and migrants denied entry to the UK.
Strikes in France elicit support from German workers
By Verena Nees, 3 June 2016
Sympathy from workers and young people, anger and resentment in the media—this is how Germany is reacting to the strikes in France.
Strike wave against labor law spreads in France
By Kumaran Ira, 2 June 2016
As the trade union bureaucracy prepares to sell out an escalating strike wave, opposition to the Socialist Party’s “El Khomri” labor reform is mounting in the working class.
UK firms use new regulations to cut pay and conditions
By Danny Richardson, 2 June 2016
Many of the attacks on wages and conditions began within the food industry, which is heavily reliant on the use of agency workers as cheap labour.
French strike movement exposes bankruptcy of New Anti-capitalist Party
By Alex Lantier, 2 June 2016
The emergence of the working class as the central force in struggle against France's Socialist Party government refutes the anti-working class perspective of the NPA.
The return of the “grand narrative”
By Andre Damon, 1 June 2016
The resurgence of the class struggle is undermining the intellectual charlatanry that underpinned the ideological dominance of various forms of anti-Marxism over the past half-century.
Belgian public sector goes on strike in run-up to French rail walkout
By Ross Mitchell and Alex Lantier, 1 June 2016
Workers are mobilising across national borders in Europe against the reactionary austerity policies that the entire European Union has imposed since the 2008 crash.
CGT union tries to block general strike against French labor law
By Alex Lantier, 30 May 2016
On the BFM-Politique show, CGT General Secretary Philippe Martinez said he was in back-channel talks with the government over its unpopular labor law.
Amid strikes, French President Hollande pledges to impose labor law
By Alex Lantier, 28 May 2016
Hollande is manoeuvring to use the trade union bureaucracy to contain social anger among workers against his reactionary labor law reform.
The El Khomri law in France and the Schröder-Blair Paper
By Peter Schwarz, 28 May 2016
Over the past decade and a half, the social democratic parties, working with the trade unions, have led the drive to impose austerity on the working class.
Greece's Syriza government imposes harsh austerity measures
By Christoph Vandreier, 27 May 2016
Eurogroup finance ministers have made clear they will accept no way of dealing with the Greek debt crisis other than continuing attacks on the working class.
Rail strike hits Belgium
By Ross Mitchell, 27 May 2016
Rail workers began an indefinite strike Wednesday evening in Belgium, paralysing mass transit and creating traffic jams in Brussels.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
27 May 2016
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Strike wave against austerity spreads in France, Belgium
By Kumaran Ira, 26 May 2016
Police repression of anti-austerity protests in France and Belgium is enraging workers and driving broader layers of the working class into struggle.
Mobilize European workers to defend French strikers!
By Alex Lantier, 26 May 2016
The most powerful ally of workers struggling against pro-austerity governments in France, Belgium and Greece is the European and international working class.
The Brexit referendum, socialism and the European working class
By Julie Hyland, 26 May 2016
The following is a speech delivered to public meetings by Julie Hyland, assistant national secretary of the SEP, on the Party’s campaign for an active boycott of the referendum on the UK’s membership in the European Union.
International finance capital and the strikes in France
By Nick Beams, 25 May 2016
The aim of the “structural reforms” demanded by the IMF and the financial elites is the destruction of all the social gains of the European working class won in the past seven decades.
Belgian prison wardens strike met with government repression
By Ross Mitchell, 25 May 2016
The government plans to shrink the public sector by 20 percent, with pay and staffing being cut by 10 percent by 2020 overall.
Oil workers mobilise against French labour law
By Kumaran Ira, 23 May 2016
The Socialist Party is sending riot police to break up refinery strikes as they cause fuel shortages across France.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
20 May 2016
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French government backs neo-fascist protest against opposition to labor law
By Alex Lantier, 19 May 2016
Wednesday’s protest, organised by a police union close to the neo-fascist National Front, was aimed at intimidating broad popular opposition to the Socialist Party's labor reform.
Wage deal in Germany: IG Metall agrees to end industry-wide contracts
By Dietmar Henning, 16 May 2016
Industry heads are enthusiastic about the deal that allows individual corporations to be released from wage contracts when profits are lower than desired.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
13 May 2016
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Protests erupt in France against regressive labor law
By Alex Lantier, 12 May 2016
Protesters clashed violently with police and sacked the headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party in several cities across France.
Volkswagen board pockets €63 million in 2015
By Dietmar Henning, 10 May 2016
Despite the exhaust emissions scandal and record losses, the nine members of the VW Executive Board were paid €10 million more in 2015 than the previous year.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
6 May 2016
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Volkswagen works council and IG Metall back executive bonuses
By Dietmar Henning, 2 May 2016
While thousands of workers are losing their jobs due to the emission scandal, top executives are reaping huge bonuses.
Workers and youth in Amiens speak out against French labour reform
By Antoine Lerougetel, 29 April 2016
A WSWS team spoke to protesting youth who unanimously criticised the strategy of the trade and student unions as insufficient to struggle against the labour reform.
German public sector union holds “warning strikes”
By Marianne Arens, 29 April 2016
Selective strikes are taking place in the public sector across Germany this week, but the Verdi union is determined to impose attacks on wages and work conditions.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
29 April 2016
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In run-up to labour law protest, French rail workers stage one-day strike
By Stéphane Hugues and Alex Lantier, 28 April 2016
The trade unions, seeking to block the entry of workers into struggle against the labour law reform, organised no meetings or protests on the strike day.
Vast increase in “zero-hours” labor contracts in the UK
By Edwin Wills, 28 April 2016
Under zero-hours contracts, workers must be ready to work whenever required.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
22 April 2016
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Steel producers summit threatens stepped-up trade war against China
By Robert Stevens, 20 April 2016
The focus of the Brussels summit on the global steel crisis was “promoting structural adjustment” through job losses, deregulation and trade war measures against China.
Refugee deaths in the Mediterranean: An imperialist crime
By Peter Schwarz, 20 April 2016
Thousands of deaths by drowning are accepted, if not welcomed, as collateral damage required by the campaign to keep desperate refugees out of Europe.
VW hands out massive bonuses to company executives
By Dietmar Henning, 18 April 2016
The granting of bonuses to executives at VW illustrates how management is reacting to the exhaust emissions scandal, which has resulted in losses and potential fines.
People’s Assembly demonstration promotes Corbyn’s anti-austerity fraud
By Paul Mitchell, 18 April 2016
Large numbers of junior doctors currently involved in industrial action took part in the protest, which also included student nurses and steelworkers.
Conflicts over European financial policy point to coming attacks on workers
By Alex Lantier, 16 April 2016
Criticisms by German officials of easy-money policies at the European Central Bank were bitterly denounced by British, French, and US media and politicians.
Belgian air traffic controllers launch wildcat strike at Brussels airport
By Robert Stevens, 14 April 2016
The working class throughout Belgium and Europe must come to the defense of the striking air traffic controllers, who have taken a courageous stand against attacks on retirement.
Steel day of action: IG Metall, employers and German government demand trade war
By our correspondents, 13 April 2016
The German metalworkers union IG Metall organised the rallies as a backdrop for management and government representatives to demand protective tariffs and trade war measures against China.
UK: Unions work with asset stripper to impose cuts at Tata Steel
By Robert Stevens, 13 April 2016
Plants will be taken over only on condition that wages, conditions and pension rights are decimated.
French police attack demonstrators protesting anti-worker labor law reform
By Alex Lantier and Stéphane Hugues, 11 April 2016
The decision of the trade unions and their political allies not to call workers on strike alongside protesting students left the PS government free to assault the demonstrators.
Junior doctors face political fight to save National Health Service
By Paul Mitchell, 7 April 2016
Junior doctors have demanded more effective action after Health Secretary Hunt announced he would impose a new contract by August 1.
Hundreds arrested as French police assault student protests against labour reform
By Alex Lantier and Senthooran Ravee, 6 April 2016
Police are trying to intimidate youth in the run-up to the next major protest by workers and students, on April 9, amid rising anger with austerity and the state of emergency.
Youth and workers in Marseille speak out against austerity
By Anthony Torres, 6 April 2016
WSWS reporters in Marseille discussed with youth and workers who mobilised yesterday against the El Khomri law.
The working class in France mobilizes against austerity
By Alex Lantier, 4 April 2016
The attempt to promote hysteria over terrorism to suppress popular opposition is failing in the face of a growing radicalization of workers and youth.
UK Tata Steel operation at centre of escalating trade war
By Robert Stevens, 4 April 2016
The Labour Party and the trade unions have responded to the planned closure of Tata Steel’s UK plants with demands for protectionism and trade war.
French workers, youth defy state of emergency to protest austerity policies
By Anthony Torres, 1 April 2016
As many as 1.2 million people participated in demonstrations Thursday across France against the draconian anti-working class policies of the Socialist Party government.
Forty thousand jobs threatened as Tata Steel announces end of UK operations
By Robert Stevens, 31 March 2016
Neither Labour leader Corbyn nor the trade union bureaucracy proposes any struggle by steel workers in defence of their jobs.
Germany’s Deutsche Bahn to slash 2,100 rail freight transport jobs
By Dietmar Henning, 29 March 2016
Works councillors and union functionaries have already indicated they are prepared to cooperate in implementing the cuts, the first step to a further wave of consolidations.
UK Junior doctors dispute at a crossroads
Statement by NHS Fightback
29 March 2016
The imposition of a draconian contract on 55,000 junior doctors is a test case for restructuring employment conditions for the entire workforce of the National Health Service.
UK dockers strike suspended by Unite union
By Steve James, 25 March 2016
From the start, Unite made clear that it sought nothing more than good relations with Forth Ports to carry forward their shared interests.
200,000 jobs threatened by Norway oil industry crisis
By Ellis Wynne, 24 March 2016
Norway’s ruling elite insists that the relatively high wages in the oil industry be slashed.
Germany: Siemens cuts another 2,500 jobs
By Elisabeth Zimmermann, 18 March 2016
Siemens management announced the cutting of a further 2,500 jobs on March 9, with motor plants in Bavaria being hit hardest.
French government, trade unions rework reactionary labor reform
By Anthony Torres, 17 March 2016
The unions and the Socialist Party want to channel workers’ opposition to the most unpopular government since World War II behind minor changes to its hated reform.
Glasgow City Council workers strike against cuts and poverty wages
By Steve James and Minnie Watson, 17 March 2016
Another round of spending cuts imposed by the Scottish National Party government on behalf of the Conservative central government is likely to cost as many as 15,000 job losses.
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