Workers Struggles Around the World
Over 35,000 jute mill workers strike in Bangladesh; 200,000 Sri Lankan teachers and principals walk out for higher pay; Telstra technicians strike in Australia
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
16 March 2019
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Thousands of Sri Lankan teachers protest for higher pay; Pakistan sanitary workers strike over non-payment of wages; Telstra workers to strike in Australia
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
9 March 2019
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India: Pricol autoparts workers continue strike in Tamil Nadu; Chinese food delivery workers protest pay cuts; 3,000 New Zealand doctors hold two-day strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
2 March 2019
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Indian telecommunication workers strike; Bangladesh teachers and education workers protest pay cuts; New Zealand anaesthetic technicians strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
23 February 2019
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Irish nurses’ union seeks to impose settlement after calling off strike
By Dermot Byrne, 20 February 2019
The INMO nurses’ union is betraying the struggle for a decent pay rise and better working conditions.
Striking midwives rally outside New Zealand parliament
By Tom Peters, 20 February 2019
Midwives, doctors and other health workers face a common fight but their strikes are being divided and isolated by the union bureaucracy.
Sri Lankan tea plantation workers protest victimisations
By our reporters, 19 February 2019
Demonstrators denounced the unions’ betrayal of recent wage strikes and demanded management immediately end the frame-up of militant Annfield Estate workers.
Bangladesh steel workers demand wage rise; Australian coal haulage workers continue strike action; New Zealand bus drivers hold wildcat strikes
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
16 February 2019
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The international upsurge of working class struggle in 2019
By Niles Niemuth, 12 February 2019
This year is witnessing a resurgence of class struggle that expresses the objective unity of workers in every part of the world.
The way forward to win wages and social rights
Workers Action Committee in Sri Lanka calls plantation workers’ conference
By the Abbotsleigh Estate Workers Action Committee, 12 February 2019
The conference will discuss the lessons of the recent plantation workers’ struggle and the political strategy needed to win their demands.
Cascade of plant closings in New York state
Social costs mount
By Steve Filips, 9 February 2019
In recent months there have been a spate of plant closings throughout Upstate New York, including the Rochester and Buffalo areas.
Committee for Public Education (Australia): Support the fight against GM layoffs!
By the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), 9 February 2019
The February 9 demonstration, organised independently of the unions, provides a lead for all workers internationally, including teachers.
Over 200,000 Uttar Pradesh government employees strike; Bangladesh garment workers occupy factory; New Caledonia miners still on strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
9 February 2019
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Wave of walkouts in Matamoros, Mexico builds toward general strike
By Alex González, 7 February 2019
An additional 15,000 workers have gone on strike across multiple industries, threatening to bring the city to a standstill.
Strike wave hits Kosovo
By Paul Mitchell, 6 February 2019
The Kosovan government is determined to prevent workers overturning years of stagnant or declining wages.
Bangladesh garment workers demonstrate for unpaid wages; New Caledonia nickel miners’ strike enters second month
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
2 February 2019
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Indian state government fires hundreds of teachers as Tamil Nadu strike faces a crossroads
By Arun Kumar, 30 January 2019
By isolating striking teachers and government workers, the JACTTO-GEO, which has hundreds of thousands of members, has allowed the state government to intensify its anti-democratic attacks.
Sri Lankan plantation workers protest unions’ sellout wage deal
By M. Thevarajah and W.A. Sunil, 29 January 2019
The unions, having suppressed an indefinite strike last month, are imposing an agreement in line with the demands of the plantation companies and the government.
India: Striking Tamil Nadu teachers and government employees defy state repression
By Arun Kumar, 28 January 2019
In an attempt to break the strike, the state government has arrested hundreds of teachers who face charges of unlawful assembly and other bogus allegations.
New Zealand doctors to hold second nationwide strike
By Tom Peters, 28 January 2019
Some 3,300 doctors will strike in public hospitals for the second time this year in opposition to major attacks on working conditions overseen by the Labour Party-led government.
Two hundred thousand Indian midday meal workers still on strike; Tamil Nadu data entry workers protest: Tigerair pilots walkout in Australia
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
26 January 2019
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Following strike, Bangladesh employers sack hundreds of garment workers
By Rohantha De Silva, 22 January 2019
The workers were not given any warnings and have not been paid outstanding wages and benefits in direct violation of Bangladesh’s limited labour laws.
Hyundai and Samsung workers protest in India; Cambodian garment workers strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
19 January 2019
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General strike of 700,000 public sector workers shakes Tunisia
By Johannes Stern, 18 January 2019
Eight years after the ouster of Tunisian dictator Ben Ali in 2011, renewed mass struggles are erupting.
Mexican strikers show working class answer to capitalist reaction at US-Mexico border
By Eric London, 17 January 2019
At the US-Mexico border, the two chief social classes under capitalism—the capitalist class and the working class—are demonstrating the two alternatives for the future of mankind.
Indian fireworks workers protest over layoffs, Pakistan water treatment workers walkout; New Caledonia nickel miners extend strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
12 January 2019
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Foxconn workers stage protest in Zhengzhou, China
By Navin Dewage, 8 January 2019
Police violently suppressed a protest by hundreds of temporary workers over the non-payment of bonuses.
Sri Lankan plantation workers oppose company-union attempts to impose sell-out
By our reporters, 8 January 2019
There is widespread hostility to the plans for a new collective agreement that would reject workers’ demand for a 100 percent wage rise.
Indian workers need revolutionary socialist program to combat social devastation and political reaction
By Deepal Jayesekera and Keith Jones, 8 January 2019
Tens of millions of workers and young people will participate in this week’s 48-hour, all-India strike against the socially incendiary “pro-investor” economic policies of the BJP-led government.
India’s unions to hold two-day “general strike” next week
By Deepal Jayasekera, 5 January 2019
While millions of workers will join the protest strike to oppose Modi and his class-war policies, the Stalinists and their union allies are intent on channelling social opposition behind the Congress and other rightwing parties.
Sri Lankan plantation union discussing sellout deal with companies
By Pani Wijesiriwardena, 3 January 2019
The back-room negotiations between the unions and employers are part of a broader attack on the living conditions of all workers.
One million Indian bank workers strike; tens of thousands of Korean taxi drivers protest
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
29 December 2018
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Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
Fight by rail guards at UK rail franchises continues
28 December 2018
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Sri Lanka: Abbotsleigh tea plantation workers speak out against harsh living and working conditions
By our reporters, 21 December 2018
Sri Lankan plantation workers, like their international counterparts, are being ruthlessly exploited by the giant corporations that control the industry.
Coal mine rescue brings to light desperate social conditions in West Virginia
By Naomi Spencer, 17 December 2018
The tragedy unfolded just a few miles from the scene of the 2010 Upper Big Branch mine disaster, where 29 miners lost their lives in a massive explosion.
Australian Amazon worker alleges unfair dismissal
By Oscar Grenfell, 13 December 2018
The Sydney worker has claimed he was sacked for joining a union and asking for more hours per week.
Sri Lankan plantation companies reject workers’ wage demand
By W.A. Sunil, 11 December 2018
Despite an indefinite strike, the employers are insisting that profits must be defended by subjecting workers to super-exploitation.
Which way forward for France’s “yellow vest” protests?
By Alex Lantier, 10 December 2018
The critical question is the independent organization of the working class, in France and internationally, in the preparation of a European general strike.
Pakistan municipal workers protest for outstanding wages; Sri Lankan housing workers fight layoffs; New Zealand teachers reject new pay offer
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
8 December 2018
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India: Contract health workers remain on strike in Bihar; South Australian teachers strike over pay and conditions
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
1 December 2018
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UK: Cammell Laird shipyard workers strike against redundancies, Iran sugar and steel strike continues against pay arrears, South Africa’s Sibanye gold miners reject company/union pay deal
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
1 December 2018
Workers at Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, England have launched a series of strikes over redundancies while workers at the Tappeh Sugar Cane mill in Iran are continuing a walkout and gold miners in South Africa are continuing a series of job actions marked by employer violence.
Around 100,000 Sri Lankan plantation workers walk out again for pay rise
By our correspondents, 30 November 2018
The plantation unions are determined to prevent industrial action by estate workers that could trigger mass action by other sections of the working class.
Ten thousand taxi drivers end protests in India; 1,600 rubber plantation workers strike in Bangladesh; New Zealand secondary teachers vote to strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
24 November 2018
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Scottish teachers overwhelmingly reject pay offer
By our reporter, 23 November 2018
The Scottish government, local authorities, teaching and local government unions are desperate to avoid strikes, and above all to prevent a united offensive by teachers and council workers.
Indian chrome miners strike over safety; Western Australian mine workers walkout over “wage theft”
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
17 November 2018
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Thousands of Indian contract workers remain on strike; 29,000 New Zealand primary school teachers to take national strike action
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
10 November 2018
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Mass strikes by transport workers and government employees in India
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
3 November 2018
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Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
Strikes in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan
27 October 2018
The stoppages are part of an emerging movement of the working class the Indian sub-continent.
Indian police detain thousands of striking Tamil Nadu auto workers
By Arun Kumar, 25 October 2018
Stalinist union leaders have sought to isolate the strikers, fearing that their struggle could become the focal point for a broader movement of the working class.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
Police attack striking workers in India and Bangladesh
20 October 2018
Police opened fire on garment workers demanding unpaid wages in Bangladesh, while Indian authorities attacked protesting health workers.
New Zealand rail union promotes sellout at Wellington meeting
By our reporter, 19 October 2018
Wellington rail workers employed by Transdev and Hyundai Rotem held stopwork meetings called by the Rail and Maritime Transport Union to ratify yet another pro-company agreement.
Indian sanitation workers union shuts down month-long strike; Western Australian bus drivers strike over pay
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
13 October 2018
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Tamil Nadu police arrest hundreds of striking Indian autoworkers
By Arun Kumar and Moses Rajkumar, 11 October 2018
Strikes and protests have broken out in Tamil Nadu companies that employ the majority of India’s 7.6 million auto manufacturing workers.
TDU, Teamsters United capitulate to Hoffa’s override of UPS workers’ “no” vote
By Jerry White, 10 October 2018
The Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) and Teamsters United (TU) oppose preparations for a national strike, which would bring workers into direct conflict with the entire Teamsters apparatus.
Indian police arrest 600 striking Yamaha workers; Pakistan teachers, municipal employees and other workers demonstrate for unpaid wages
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
6 October 2018
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India police attack striking auto workers in Tamil Nadu; New Zealand bus drivers walkout
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
29 September 2018
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Class struggle escalates in Dominican Republic
Workers Struggles: the Americas
25 September 2018
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Rajasthan bus drivers strike in India; New Zealand Ministry of Justice workers walkout
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
22 September 2018
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Three thousand emergency workers strike in India; 29,000 primary school teachers vote on pay offer in New Zealand
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
15 September 2018
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Chicago hotel strike pits workers against Democrats’ billionaire candidate for governor
By Jerry White, 12 September 2018
Striking workers are in a battle against the major hotel operators, including Hyatt, which is owned by the Pritzker family.
“Gas, rent and milk goes up and we’re still making the same money”
Striking Chicago hotel workers speak out
By George Gallanis, 12 September 2018
WSWS reporters spoke to striking hotel workers at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place hotel in Chicago.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
8 September 2018
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Argentine teachers, transport workers in strike action
Workers Struggles: The Americas
4 September 2018
Teachers in Buenos Aires province struck for three days last week for pay and infrastructure improvements, while Buenos Aires area bus drivers struck against arbitrary dismissals and the generally poor shape of transport facilities.
Reserve Bank of India employees to walkout over pensions; Alcoa workers still on strike in Australia
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
1 September 2018
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Peruvian municipal workers strike in Lima’s most affluent district
By Cesar Uco, 29 August 2018
The strike in Miraflores highlights the glaring social inequality that pervades Peru.
Bangladesh jute mill workers demonstrate; Paradip port workers strike in Orissa
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
25 August 2018
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Mexican public health workers strike, protest over non-deposit of savings
Workers Struggles: the Americas
22 August 2018
Doctors, nurses, dentists, administrative and social workers in public hospitals, clinics and health centers in the Mexican state of Sinaloa struck recently over the government’s failure to contribute its portion to their savings fund.
Thousands of beedi cigarette workers strike in India, Sri Lankan tea plantation workers demand higher pay, South Korea finance workers plan national walkout
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
18 August 2018
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Over 400,000 West Bengal tea plantation workers strike; Alcoa workers walkout in Western Australia
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
11 August 2018
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13,000 sanitation workers strike in Ahmedabad, India; Tamil Nadu rubber workers protest
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
28 July 2018
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1,700 Detroit janitors on poverty wages face a July 31 contract expiration
Workers Struggles: The Americas
24 July 2018
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Indian electricity workers on strike in Madhya Pradesh; Indonesian motorcycle taxi drivers threaten mass strike action
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
21 July 2018
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Goodyear Mexico fires workers who attempted to form independent union
Workers Struggles: The Americas
17 July 2018
Around 50 workers from Goodyear’s San Luis Potosi factory have been fired in the wake of attempts by workers to oust the corrupt Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM).
Thirty thousand coconut fibre workers strike in India; Chinese workers protest closure of Sanding housekeeping company
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
14 July 2018
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Ontario salt-mine strikers blockade mine entry
Workers Struggles: The Americas
10 July 2018
Striking workers at Compass Minerals’ salt mine in Goderich, Ontario set up a blockade last week to halt replacement workers in a job action that has been ongoing since April.
New Zealand nurses speak to WSWS opposing sellout deal
By Tom Peters, 7 July 2018
Nurses denounced the union-backed proposed agreement, which keeps wages low and maintains severe under-staffing of hospitals.
Delhi Metro rail threatened with India’s essential services laws; New Zealand teachers vote in favour of strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
7 July 2018
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Thousands of West Bengal textile workers locked out; New Zealand nurses union cancels planned strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
30 June 2018
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Mexican teachers union ends “indefinite strike” of 80,000 teachers on the eve of national elections
By Alex González, 27 June 2018
The teachers struck as part of a continuing struggle for the repeal of the 2013 national education legislation.
Postal workers defy Sri Lankan government and continue national strike
By our correspondents, 23 June 2018
Four thousand postal workers protested in central Colombo on Monday to oppose government-imposed salary cuts and changes in recruitment policies.
Indian transport workers strike in Uttarakhand, 20,000 health workers continue indefinite walkout in Haryana state
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
23 June 2018
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Nine million truck drivers across India strike over increasing fuel prices
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 19 June 2018
Although fuel price hikes are affecting working people as a whole, the union bureaucrats are blocking any united struggle against this and other government austerity measures.
Uttar Pradesh childcare workers demand teachers’ pay rates, Sri Lankan water supply workers strike for pay increase
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
9 June 2018
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Indian garment workers demand higher pay, teachers demonstrate in China
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
2 June 2018
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Brazilian truck drivers reject union-government attempt to shut down strike
By Eric London and Miguel Andrade, 30 May 2018
The government has sought to block the spread of social unrest with a ruling Tuesday that a planned strike by oil workers is illegal.
The Tuticorin massacre and Modi’s India
By Keith Jones, 26 May 2018
The barbarity of class relations in contemporary India was laid bare in Tuesday’s police massacre of protesters in Tuticorin demanding the closure of a copper smelter that has spewed toxic chemicals for decades.
Indian port workers to walk out, 30,000 municipal workers remain on strike in Haryana state
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
26 May 2018
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Delivery drivers strike in China, Korean Airline pilots and workers demand dismissal of company chairman
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
12 May 2018
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India: Tamil Nadu government arrests hundreds of protesting teachers and public sector workers
By Sasi Kumar and Moses Rajkumar, 10 May 2018
The demonstrators’ main demand is for the scrapping of a regressive new pension system.
14,000 AT&T; Midwest workers still without a contract
By Samuel Davidson, 10 May 2018
More than three weeks after the April 14 deadline, the CWA is keeping AT&T; workers on the job despite the telecom giant’s demands for sweeping concessions.
Chinese construction workers and crane operators protest on May Day
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
5 May 2018
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Iranian workers march on May Day in defiance of authorities
Workers Struggles: Middle East, Europe & Africa
4 May 2018
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May Day 2018: Millions march on International Workers Day
By our reporters, 2 May 2018
Mass protests, including marches and strikes, and involving millions of people around the world, took place yesterday on every continent, reflecting a growing radicalization of the working class.
Zimbabwe sacks 16,000 striking nurses, as Uganda nurses threaten strike
By Eddie Haywood, 23 April 2018
The Zimbabwean government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has faced growing popular opposition since coming to power after a military coup removed long-time president Robert Mugabe.
Unions shutdown three-week strike by Chinese technology workers
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
21 April 2018
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Thousands of oil tanker drivers in Odisha, India to strike next week for higher pay
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
14 April 2018
The Odisha tanker drivers are employed by contractors for the state-owned oil corporations and are only paid about $US115 per month.
More than 3,000 striking employees shut down Sri Lanka’s international airport
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
7 April 2018
The strikers seized control of all water and power supplies and blocked the entrance to Bandaranaike International Airport to demand higher wages and outstanding benefits.
Hundreds of Korean shipyard workers strike against wage and job cuts
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
31 March 2018
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Teachers’ rebellion spreads on four continents
By Eric London, 28 March 2018
Teachers in North and South America, Europe, Africa and elsewhere are fighting for higher wages, pensions, and in defense of the right to public education.
Strike at York University in Canada begins its fourth week
Workers Struggles: The Americas
27 March 2018
Some 3,000 contract teachers and research and teaching assistants are fighting for a substantial pay increase and enhanced job security under conditions where the unions are isolating their strike.
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