Workers Struggles
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Brazilian university workers, students to strike over cuts; series of strikes hit Argentina
14 May 2019
Public university professors and students will strike later this week over cuts by the government of Jair Bolsonaro while educators, petroleum workers and judicial workers in Argentina have set dates for stoppages.
Strikes by US workers outpacing rate in 2018
By Jerry White, 13 May 2019
There have been 17 major strikes in the US so far in 2019, involving nearly 230,000 public school and university employees, hospital staff, supermarket employees and other workers.
French public sector workers strike against Macron government attacks
By Anthony Torres, 11 May 2019
Over 150 demonstrations took place Thursday against Emmanuel Macron’s “modernization” reform that would overturn conditions for public sector workers established in 1946.
Thousands of powerloom workers strike in Tamil Nadu; Migrant workers strike and protest in Taiwan; New Zealand teachers voting on national walkout
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
11 May 2019
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“They depend on us for their wealth and power”
Uber and Lyft drivers in Chicago, New York and California speak out against exploitation of gig economy workers
By our reporters, 10 May 2019
Drivers across the United States spoke out against the classification of Uber drivers as independent contractors as Uber heads into an Initial Public Offering worth billions of dollars.
GM workers denounce deals to “save” token jobs in Lordstown and Oshawa
By Shannon Jones, 10 May 2019
The moves, which will retain at most a few hundred jobs out of the thousands that are being permanently eliminated, are being denounced by workers.
Fiji authorities suppress May Day protests, arrest locked-out workers
By John Braddock, 10 May 2019
The sacking and persecution of the FWA workers and ban on the protests again underlines the dictatorial nature of the Fijian regime, which rests directly on the military.
South African municipal strikers defy unions; strike continues by South African workers at Cell C phones
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
10 May 2019
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“We need to fight capitalism and change the whole system”
Uber and Lyft drivers conduct international strike
By our reporters, 9 May 2019
Thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers in the US and several other countries struck and protested Wednesday in advance of Uber’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange Friday.
Workers at Airbus’ Montreal facility repudiate union-backed, concessionary contract
Workers Struggles: The Americas
7 May 2019
Some 1,000 workers at Bombardier voted by a 73 percent margin to vote a union-backed concessions deal and then voted overwhelmingly to grant strike authorization.
Polls show growing sentiment for teachers strike in Mississippi
By J. L’Heureau, 4 May 2019
Mississippi educators, seeking to join the international strike wave of teachers, are demanding action against poverty wages and abysmal working conditions.
San Diego Sweetwater Teachers Union begins bargaining as false financial situation reported by district
By Evelyn Rios, 4 May 2019
The union and district are negotiating an austerity contract based on what is most likely fraudulent accounting, amidst allegations of fraud and mismanagement investigations.
Fuel tanker drivers threaten new strike in Portugal
By Paul Mitchell, 4 May 2019
The fuel tankers dispute is the latest manifestation in Portugal of the eruption of the class struggle internationally.
Workers march and protest across Asia on May Day
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
4 May 2019
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UK rail union calls off strikes against driver-only-operated trains
By Michael Barnes, 3 May 2019
The Conservative government is behind the plot to impose a huge cost-cutting and de-staffing operation on the railways
Brazilian unions defend reactionary pension “reform” at May Day rally
By Miguel Andrade, 3 May 2019
With economic figures showing no sign of economic recovery, the PT and the unions are working to quell any working class movement against Bolsonaro.
May Day 2019 in Germany: Trade unions call for support for the European Union
By Ulrich Rippert, 2 May 2019
Instead of appealing for the international unity of workers, the German Trade Union Confederation calls for the unity of the government, big business and the European Union against workers.
Trump’s labor department moves to designate gig economy workers as “independent contractors”
By Aaron Murch, 2 May 2019
The Trump administration is backing so-called gig economy companies, which misclassify their employees as “independent contractors” in order to circumvent minimum wage, overtime and other federal labor laws.
One-day general strike in Colombia
Workers Struggles: The Americas
30 April 2019
Workers mobilized in opposition to the National Development plan being proposed by President Ivan Duque that would mean significant attacks on workers.
Strike by 1,400 pilots grounds hundreds of flights at Scandinavian Airlines
By Jordan Shilton, 29 April 2019
While pilots, cabin crew, and ground staff have suffered wage cuts since 2012, SAS chief executive Rickard Gustafson’s total compensation has shot up by 38 percent over the past three years.
Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel intervenes to end CSO musicians strike with concessions
By George Marlowe, 29 April 2019
While musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra fought courageously, their seven-week strike was deliberately isolated by the unions.
Indian rail workers protest; Bangladeshi food workers demand pay rise; New Zealand doctors to strike for five days
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
27 April 2019
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Mayor Emanuel intervenes to shut down Chicago Symphony Orchestra strike
By George Marlowe, 26 April 2019
As part of his final act on behalf of the city’s financial elite, outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel has offered to intervene to end the nearly two-month strike by Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) musicians
GM continues tax avoidance schemes while it slashes thousands of jobs
By George Kirby, 26 April 2019
General Motors has received billions of dollars in government tax benefits over the past decade even as it continues to cut jobs and extract concessions from workers.
University of Illinois at Chicago faculty announces deal on eve of strike
By George Gallanis, 26 April 2019
More than 1,100 professors, lecturers, instructors and assistant professors are voting on a concessionary contract being pushed by the UIC United Faculty union, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers.
Ontario Tory government intensifies assault on workers’ rights
By Penny Smith, 26 April 2019
Ford’s thinly veiled threat to criminalize teachers’ strikes must be taken as a serious warning: emboldened by the unions’ complicity, the Tories are escalating their class-war assault.
Australian construction workers facing massive fines for striking
By Terry Cook, 26 April 2019
The Australian Building and Construction Commission has launched legal action against workers involved in a short work-stoppage last year.
Miners’ union sells out five-month long strike at Sibanye Stillwater in South Africa
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
26 April 2019
The South African Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union agreed to a deal ending the five-month strike by gold miners on the same terms as the “slave labour” agreement signed with three other unions.
As union seeks to end walkout
Polish teachers speak out on why they are striking
By Will Morrow, 25 April 2019
The main teachers’ union has called for the suspension of the powerful strike to allow students to complete their exams.
Rutgers University faculty union blocks strike by professors and teaching assistants
By Owen Mullan, 25 April 2019
The American Federation of Teachers acted to prevent a coordinated fight by educators against the Democrats’ austerity measures.
Industry publication floats idea of UAW calling a “targeted” strike
By Shannon Jones, 24 April 2019
After expressing concerns over the rebelliousness of factory workers, Automotive News suggested that the United Auto Workers call an impotent partial strike if negotiations hit an impasse.
Unions scramble to contain Polish teachers’ strike as 40,000 social workers prepare to stop work
By Clara Weiss, 24 April 2019
The teachers’ strike, the first nationwide walkout since 1993, is one of the largest strikes since the restoration of capitalism in Poland in 1989.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Argentine newspaper and casino workers strike
23 April 2019
Workers at Clarín and sports daily Olé walked off the job April 17 over the firing of 56 of their colleagues while workers struck all Buenos Aires-area casinos for 48 hours over threatened closures.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra strike
Socialism and the defense of culture
By Kristina Betinis, 22 April 2019
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians, now in the seventh week of their strike, require the active support of the entire working class, in the United States and internationally.
“Why did Boeing make it like that? Pure negligence and greed. There is simply no other answer.”
Aviation reporter Rytis Beresnevičius speaks to WSWS on Boeing 737 crashes
By Bryan Dyne, 20 April 2019
Rytis Beresnevičius has closely followed the two recent Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes and the engineering, executive and regulatory decisions that led to these disasters.
US education secretary to gut regulations, seek a “major shift” in higher education—Part 1
By Nancy Hanover, 20 April 2019
A crude assault on educational standards, which hardens the class divide in educational access and spurs the plundering of the “education market,” is being enacted under the cover of “rule-making” by the US Department of Education.
Conflict continues over Peruvian copper mine as peasant blockade is lifted
By Cesar Uco and Armando Cruz, 20 April 2019
The Peruvian government gave in to demands of 1,200 peasants of Fuerabamba who suspended the road blockade that for 66 days paralyzed export of copper concentrate to China
“We’re all in this together. That is how I see it.”
Detroit Fiat Chrysler autoworkers defend Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning
By a WSWS reporting team, 20 April 2019
A WSWS Autoworker Newsletter campaign team spoke to workers Thursday at the Warren Stamping plant outside of Detroit about the importance of the defense of whistleblowers Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning.
Jet Airways employees demonstrate in India; Pakistan doctors protest privatisation; Queensland bulk haulage train and maintenance workers to strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
20 April 2019
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South African platinum miners may join gold miners’ strike; German Amazon pay strikes
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
19 April 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Mexican teachers protest while DHL and Amazon pilots protest stalled talks
Workers Struggles: The Americas
16 April 2019
Workers in a number of towns in Chiapas are protesting education “reforms” under the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador while air cargo pilots protested outside Amazon’s offices in Florence, Kentucky.
Chicago symphony musicians strike defies aristocratic principle
By Kristina Betinis, 13 April 2019
As CSO strike enters sixth week, a right-wing pressure campaign is being mounted to try to force the musicians to make concessions on their pensions.
070 UIC faculty vote to strike
13 April 2019
Police attack teachers in Kolkata; thousands of Bangladesh jute mill workers protest
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
13 April 2019
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Sacramento, California teachers conduct one day strike
By Ben McGrath, 12 April 2019
As the teachers union works to reach a sellout deal with county officials, rank-and-file teachers are striving for a broader struggle in defense of public education.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
12 April 2019
Gold miners in South Africa voted to continue strike action against Sibanye Stillwater, while Greek teachers planned a 24-hour walkout and Israeli firefighters say they will strike over working conditions.
US independent trucker group calls for shutdown, protests in Argentina against austerity
Workers Struggles: The Americas
9 April 2019
A group of US owner-operator truckers has set April 12 for a protest over rates and regulatory issues, while tens of thousands in Argentina marched to protest the Macri government’s anti-worker economic policies.
Boeing CEO praised “streamlined” oversight of 737 plane that crashed in Indonesia and Ethiopia
By Barry Grey, 6 April 2019
Muilenberg’s praise for the gutting of government oversight points to the subordination of safety concerns to profit and the transformation of regulatory agencies into rubber stamps for the corporations.
“Music is too powerful to be silenced by tyranny”
Chicago symphony musicians host packed concerts as strike reaches turning point
By George Marlowe, 6 April 2019
Musicians in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra have continued to host successful, packed concerts as their strike enters its fourth week.
Another steelworker killed at ArcelorMittal in Indiana
By Jessica Goldstein, 6 April 2019
Fleming’s death is the 392nd to occur at the mill, which has operated since 1902.
“We are the future. Give us what we need!”
Thousands of Ontario students walk out to protest school cuts
By our reporters, 6 April 2019
The student-led initiative saw thousands rally across the province against the right-wing government of Doug Ford.
Ontario workers need an international socialist program to defend public education and fight austerity
By the Socialist Equality Party (Canada), 6 April 2019
If public education from kindergarten to university is to be defended, workers and students must launch a political struggle independently of the unions and in opposition to the entire political establishment.
Australia: Tasmanian teachers take strike action
By Frank Gaglioti, 6 April 2019
Teachers in Tasmania are the lowest paid of any state in Australia.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
6 April 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
5 April 2019
Gold miners have voted to continue their four-month strike after management rejected a deal proposed by mediators.
One-day transport strike paralyses Berlin
By our reporters, 4 April 2019
Berlin public transport workers discussed building action committees and the political issues at stake during the 24-hour strike by thousands of BVG workers on Monday.
University of Illinois-Chicago faculty to vote on strike action as grad student walkout enters third week
By George Gallanis, 4 April 2019
The American Federation of Teachers hopes to block faculty members from joining grad students and escalating the fight against the Democratic Party’s austerity program.
Wisconsin Harley-Davidson workers reject USW-company deal
By Jessica Goldstein, 4 April 2019
This week’s contract rejection comes as the current contract, pushed through by the unions in 2010, is due to expire on April 14.
New trade union bureaucracies or rank-and-file workers’ power?
Lessons of the Matamoros workers’ rebellion: Part three
By Andrea Lobo, 3 April 2019
As the wildcat strikes began to spread, the government, companies and unions scrambled to suppress each new struggle and prevent them from uniting and spreading internationally.
As Mexican president calls Mussolini a “great leader”
Companies and police violently attack remaining strikes in Matamoros
By Andrea Lobo, 2 April 2019
The Mexican ruling class and its imperialist patrons in the US and Europe are responding to the largest strike in North America in the last three decades by turning sharply toward authoritarian forms of rule and militarized counterrevolution.
Mexican paper workers strike, demand ousting of company union
Workers Struggles: The Americas
2 April 2019
Paperworkers in the state of Tamaulipas struck March 29 to demand the expulsion of the Fasim union, which they accuse of siding with their employer, Absormex.
Quebec: USW proposes further rollbacks, after locked-out ABI workers reject derisory company offer
By Laurent Lafrance, 30 March 2019
It is the Steelworkers’ systematic isolation of the ABI aluminum workers’ anti-concessions struggle that has emboldened Alcoa to repeatedly escalate its demands.
Build rank-and-file factory committees to fight Honda job losses!
By Steve James, 30 March 2019
Today’s demonstration shows workers are ready to fight and there is widespread support for such a struggle in the car industry in the rest of the UK and internationally.
FCA Canada to cut third shift at Windsor Assembly
By Shannon Jones, 30 March 2019
The global assault on auto jobs is continuing with the announcement by Fiat Chrysler that it is eliminating a full shift, 1,500 jobs, at its plant in Windsor, Ontario.
Engineering department workers strike in India’s Jammu state; Sri Lankan nurses strike; Tasmanian teachers to strike for higher pay
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
30 March 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
“Music is the language of the world”
Striking Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians hold successful free concerts
By George Marlowe and Michael Walters, 29 March 2019
CSO musicians in the third week of their strike have won widespread public support, including for their defiant free concerts.
“There is widespread interest in classical music."
Musicians, youth and workers speak in support of Chicago Symphony Orchestra strike
By Benjamin Mateus and George Marlowe, 29 March 2019
Striking CSO musicians and young people spoke out about the fight and the importance of the defense of arts, music and culture.
San Diego teachers and parents left in the dark as school district threatens massive budget cuts
By Evelyn Rios, 29 March 2019
The Sweetwater school district and its teachers’ union have begun bargaining on an austerity contract in the aftermath of the announcement of the district’s $68 million shortfall.
New trade union bureaucracies or rank-and-file workers’ power?
Lessons of the Matamoros workers’ rebellion: Part two
By Andrea Lobo, 29 March 2019
When workers in Matamoros learned their raise and bonus was being stolen and formed rank-and-file committees to launch a wave of wildcat strikes, Susana Prieto worked to isolate the struggle and chain workers to the unions and to illusions in the ruling party.
Textile workers strike in Ethiopia’s new economic zone; Sibanye miners union ends strike paving way for slave labour deal
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
29 March 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Strike by University of Illinois at Chicago grad students in danger
By George Gallanis, 28 March 2019
While graduate workers have received broad support from workers and students, their struggle has been isolated by the teachers unions, which are aligned with the state Democrats.
Hundreds of Uber and Lyft drivers strike in Los Angeles
By Dan Conway, 27 March 2019
The strike was triggered by Uber’s recent announcement to cut drivers’ per-mile compensation in Los Angeles and part of nearby Orange County by 25 percent.
UPS workers confront wall of union-company collusion in local supplement fights
By Kayla Costa and Mark Witkowski, 27 March 2019
After the Teamsters unilaterally imposed the national contract last October, workers now confront efforts by union bureaucrats to push through local and regional supplemental agreements.
Goodyear-Dunlop plans 1,100 job cuts in Germany
By Marianne Arens, 27 March 2019
The latest measure will cut over one-third of the workforce at two factories in the state of Hesse.
Thousands of young Moroccan teachers assaulted by anti-riot police
By Nancy Hanover, 26 March 2019
Contract teachers have struck the Northern African country of Morocco since March 3 and mass protests have escalated.
New trade union bureaucracies or rank-and-file workers’ power?
Lessons of the Matamoros workers’ rebellion: Part one
By Andrea Lobo, 25 March 2019
The ongoing strike wave on the US-Mexico border provides critical lessons for the incipient movement of the working class on an international scale.
Mexican government intervenes to end Coca-Cola strike in Matamoros
By Alex González, 23 March 2019
The AMLO administration’s action openly shows that the local, state, federal and court systems are jointly operating on behalf of the corporations and against the workers.
Ford announces 5,000 job cuts in Germany
By Marianne Arens, 23 March 2019
The mass lay-offs are a component of Ford’s global onslaught on jobs known as the Fitness Programme, which aims to eliminate 25,000 jobs around the world.
Midday meal workers protest in Telangana, India; Telstra technicians implement work bans across Australia
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
23 March 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Macron sends the French army against anti-austerity protests
By Alex Lantier, 22 March 2019
The move is a major step toward the implementation of police-state forms of rule in France, as part of a global onslaught against democratic rights.
Unifor announces bogus ‘job saving’ plan as GM moves to close Oshawa plant
By Carl Bronski, 22 March 2019
Unifor will suspend its Save Oshawa GM publicity campaign on the basis of nothing more than the possibility of a slight adjustment in the plant’s closing schedule.
How Norwood Jewell and the UAW pushed through the 2015 contract
By Jerry White, 22 March 2019
Throughout months of supposed negotiations and the campaign to sell the concessions contract to workers, Jewell and other UAW negotiators were on the payroll of Fiat Chrysler.
French public sector strikes; further protests in Algeria; union ends wage strike at South Africa’s Sibanye Gold without an agreement
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
22 March 2019
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Thousands hold one-day strike at University of California schools and health systems
By Evelyn Rios, 21 March 2019
Yesterday, thousands of the lowest paid workers struck throughout the University of California’s ten campus system, the largest public higher education institution in the world.
Striking musician: “Art is what makes us human”
Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians strike in its second week
By Michael Walters, 21 March 2019
As the strike by CSO musicians in opposition to concessions entered week two, the Democratic Party and the trade unions feigned support for the strike.
University of Illinois at Chicago graduate student workers go on strike
By Andy Thompson, 21 March 2019
Graduate student workers walked out Tuesday to demand increases to pay and benefits and a reduction in fees.
Amid scandal and federal investigations, Nashville, Tennessee charter school closes in the middle of the school year
By Zachary Thorton, 21 March 2019
The largely unregulated charter school edu-business industry took another hit with the sudden closure of the scandal-ridden New Vision Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.
Striking Salta, Argentina teachers mobilize against their union
Workers Struggles: The Americas
19 March 2019
Thousands of striking teachers in Salta protested against their union after rejecting a wage deal negotiated behind their backs
Free the Maruti Suzuki Thirteen!
Two years since Indian court condemned autoworkers to life-in-prison in monstrous frame-up
By Keith Jones, 18 March 2019
The Maruti Suzuki 13 are class war prisoners, who have already had to endure six and a half years in the nightmare that is India’s penal system.
Canada: Train derailment kills three, exposes terrible working conditions
By Penny Smith, 16 March 2019
CP Rail is lobbying Transport Canada to abandon a new rule it introduced following last month’s derailment, calling it too "time-consuming."
Strike looms for University of Illinois at Chicago graduate students
By George Gallanis, 16 March 2019
The Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) is determined to avoid a strike at all costs and ram through a sellout agreement.
Socialist Workers Party seeks to derail movement against Algerian regime
By Will Morrow and Alex Lantier, 16 March 2019
Algeria’s Socialist Workers’ Party seeks to tie protests to discredited bourgeois parties and block a revolutionary working class challenge to the regime.
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
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
VW, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia
Jobs bloodbath in the global auto industry
By Jerry White, 15 March 2019
Recently announced cuts by VW are part of an ongoing jobs bloodbath in the global auto industry, aimed at satisfying the rapacious appetite of the financial oligarchy.
Auto workers in China face job losses and closures
By Gary Alvernia, 15 March 2019
A slowing Chinese economy and lower car sales, compounded by US trade war measures, has resulted in domestic and foreign auto manufacturers closing factories and laying off workers.
Kohler Company to shut Wisconsin generator plant and eliminate 325 jobs
By Jacob Crosse, 15 March 2019
The United Auto Workers union is complicit in an operation that shifts production from Wisconsin to a low-wage plant in Mississippi.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra strike nears end of first week
By Michael Walters and Kristina Betinis, 15 March 2019
Pensions have emerged as a major issue in the dispute that has pitted musicians at one of the top orchestras in the world against wealthy corporate donors.
São Paulo teachers’ union shuts down one-month strike
By our reporters, 15 March 2019
The union called an end to the strike after a clear majority of teachers voted to continue it.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
15 March 2019
Thousands of teachers strike in Morocco, car workers walkout in Hungary.
Teacher sickouts in Kentucky, protests in Maryland and Texas
By E.P. Milligan, 14 March 2019
Thousands of teachers are fighting for more school funding, higher wages, and an end to attacks on public education.
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