latest news, library and history articles

Gatwick and Stansted strikes suspended

Steven. — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:38:55 +0000

Unite will hold a consultative ballot with its members at Swissport which will begin shortly. Therefore, the union will suspend industrial action at Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester airports pending the outcome of the ballot result.

A battle for life

Spartacus — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:51:48 +0000

Foreword

Nationalism and the road to happiness for the Chinese

Spartacus — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:23:39 +0000

Chinese society is at the darkest stage now. Under such circumstances, young people become impotent and weak without the power to resist corruption. Even the brave ones can only keep quiet and submit to fate. When it is really unbearable, suicide is the only way out. China is paralyzed; where can we find happiness?

Bitter death in a chocolate factory

laureakai — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:00:23 +0000

In May 2008, Krzysztof Pruszewicz would have been 21. He was killed on April 16 in an industrial accident in the Vobro Chocolate Factory in Brodnica, Poland.

Council workers and civil servants strike in Scotland

Ed — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:44:59 +0000

Schools were closed, rubbish went uncollected, ferry services were disrupted, and services like libraries were closed. Union leaders said an estimated 150,000 workers took part in the one-day strike over pay. The pay row is over an offer of 2.5% for each of the next three years, an offer made "derisory" by the rising cost of living.

Tube strike called off after improved offer

Ed — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:34:58 +0000

Some 1,000 track, signal and train maintenance staff working for Tube Lines, the contractor responsible for running the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee lines, were due to walk out. The strike would have meant that any signalling problems - a daily occurance - or track faults would have closed down the lines.

Tube workers to strike over harrassment

Django — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:17:58 +0000

London Underground workers on the District and Northern lines will begin a 24 hour strike on August 22nd.

1987: The Great Workers' Struggle

Alex... — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:23:39 +0000

The workplace struggles that took place in 1987 occurred within the wider background of political reform. For thirty years South Korea had been ruled by a military dictatorship, and growing calls for democracy had echoed across the peninsula through the 1970s and early 80s.

Manx Telecom workers to strike this Friday

Django — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:40:01 +0000

The workers, represented by the Communication Workers Union, have been offered a 4.1% pay rise by the company, meaning in real terms a pay cut. Official inflation in the Isle of Man is running at 6.5%, though as workers spend more on necessities such as food and gas, which have seen global price hikes in the past year, they are more severely hit by inflation in necessities.

South Korean government steps up conflict with candlelight demonstrators

Django — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:10:56 +0000

Riot police in Seoul have stepped up their repression of the "candlelight demonstrations" in Korea, arresting around 150 people after a demonstration on August 15th. Police used water cannons filled with dye on the protestors, and used dye stains as a pretext for arrests.

Zadov, Lev Nikolaevich aka Zinkovsky aka Leva aka Levka the Bandit 1893-1938

Battlescarred — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:09:39 +0000

Lev Zadov was born on April 11th 1893 in the small Jewish farming settlement of Veselaya in southern Ukraine. Around 1898-1900 his family fell on hard times and moved to Yuzovka, in the Donetsk region, where his father worked as a coachman.

Eurostar cleaners vote for Bank Holiday strike

Ed — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:41:46 +0000

More than 120 members of the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will walk out on 25th August. The workers want a higher basic wage than the £6.37 per hour which the staff, who work for contractor OCS, receive.

Tube workers to strike over pay

Ed — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:34:54 +0000

RMT members at the company will down tools between noon on Wednesday August 20th and noon on Saturday August 23rd. The second 72-hour strike will begin at noon on Wednesday September 3rd and end at noon on Saturday September 6th.

Belash, Viktor Fedorovich aka Bilash 1893-1938

Battlescarred — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:37:16 +0000

Viktor Belash was born in 1893 in the village of Novospasovka (Ukrainian form is Novospasivka) in southern Ukraine. Novospasovka was also the home of other anarchists who later participated in the Makhnovist movement like Vassili Kurilenko and Vdovichenko. He received an elementary education and worked as a railway engineer. He was already an anarchist communist in 1908 at the age of fifteen.

Gatwick and Stansted airport workers set to strike

Ed — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:55:01 +0000

At Gatwick, 318 Swissport workers will walk out for 24 hours, halting services at some airlines and a second strike is planned for Friday 29 August.