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Roundup of a month of strikes in Iran

Alex... — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:09:41 +0000

After three weeks of not receiving wages workers at the Alborz Elastics Factory began a strike on July 12. Management had reneged on a promise to pay a New Year's bonus to 400 workers, and has refused to pay into a loan fund for workers despite taking regular deductions from salaries.

Bahrain bus drivers strike

catch — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:50:51 +0000

The workers earn around BD200 per month, and were striking for a minimum 40% increase. Workers had originally demanded a rate of BD380, but during long negotiations be their union and employer, the demand has been reduced several times.

Scottish civil servants vote for strike over pay

Ed — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:15:45 +0000

The PCS union expressed anger that the Scottish Government had proposed to cap pay rises at 2%. Three other public sector unions - Unison, Unite and the GMB - have also balloted for action over pay.

Union bosses claimed industrial action could hit policy delivery, ministerial visits, answers to Scottish parliamentary questions and operations at the Registers of Scotland.

Brazil oil strike spreads

Ed — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:41:23 +0000

Petrobras said on Thursday output at its platforms, refineries and distribution units was not affected by the strike. But the unions will vote next week on a proposal to stop production in a nationwide strike planned for Aug. 5.

UK: One in four will live in fuel poverty

Saii — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:21:44 +0000

Around 4.5 million households are currently living in fuel poverty, equating to around 10.4 million people according to the government’s 2002 figures from the Household Survey, but another 1.6 million homes are likely to be added as prices continue to rise.

Argos strike 'solid'

Ed — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:26:02 +0000

Distribution workers voted overwhelmingly for strike action; close to 70% of those voting in the ballot voted for strike action with a turnout of over 75%.

This stoppage will be followed by a 24 hour stoppage on Thursday 24th July followed by 4 day total stoppages beginning on 30th July as workers take staggered strike action.

Brazilian oil workers begin five day strike

Ed — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:30:33 +0000

The Brazilian state-run oil producer, Petrobras, says the strike has cut its production by 7%. The union, however, is saying the walkout has cut production by more like 22%, approximately 400,000 barrels.

Workers riot in China

Ed — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:51:05 +0000

The protests began on 10 July in Kanmen in the coastal province of Zhejiang. Workers - reportedly angered by a beating meted out to a colleague - attacked a police station for three successive nights.

Water transport workers in Bangladesh in national wildcat

Ed — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:38:46 +0000

The workers stopped working at midnight Thursday, calling for increased wages in keeping with the current prices of essentials and cost of living.

Iranian autoworkers strike against precarious work

Ed — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:10:52 +0000

What began as a hunger strike launched on June 28 has grown to a full-scale strike as thousands of workers at Iran Khodro, the country's largest auto manufacturer, walked off the job to win wage and conditions improvements.

Workers' demands include:
1) Prohibited entry of security guards to workstations;
2) An end to mandatory over-time;
3) Increases in productivity benefits;

One worker killed as security guards attack Indian diamond workers strike

Ed — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:51:12 +0000

The security guards hit back and one person died while others were injured in the firing. Workers are demanding a 20 per cent raise. Currently, they are paid anywhere between 15-25 Rupees per diamond which they say is inadequate in these times of skyrocketing prices.

6,000 workers wildcat in Vietnam

Ed — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:34:37 +0000

The strike, which took place in the Song Than II Industrial Zone in the southern province of Binh Duong, asked the company's management to raise basic salaries by 15 per cent, and provide workers with accommodation and transportation costs. It was reported that the workers' current salaries are too low to cope with the country’s high inflation.

Nottingham Trent University de-recognises academics union

Ed — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:21:11 +0000

The university has formally terminated recognition of UCU in what has been described as a 'direct attack on independent trade unionism' by the union.

Bus driver rehired after co-workers wildcat

Ed — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:19:14 +0000

"The employee is back to work. I think both parties realized that this is something that should be resolved between the parties rather than go through the grievance process and through a third party," said Canadian Auto Workers Local 111 president, Don MacLeod.

Cardiff landfill site workers walkout

Ed — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:55:54 +0000

The lorries were turning up at the site at Lamby Way only to find the weigh bridge blocked by workers. The workers took the action in support of two members of staff who had been disciplined. One of the men has now been moved to another job by management, amounting to a demotion, and it is this move which sparked the walk out.