Africa
Mayotte: Teachers strike over pay and conditions
Unions (FO and CGT) in Mayotte have ordered teachers to step down their protests after picketing led to massive disruption across the Island.
Mayotte, a small island off the coast of Madagascar is an overseas French department (DOM) as a result it is offically a part of France.
Mauritius: Yamachiche abattoir workers win strike
Workers at the abattoir have returned to work after winning salary increases and recognition of their union.
The workers had been on strike for over six months when victory was finally declared. At a meeting held on Saturday 87% of the 180 workers agreed to a settlement concluded earlier in the week. Before the strike the abattoir was dealing with over 15000 animals per week
Ivory Coast: 57 workers fired for wildcat strike
Earlier this week wood workers at Ivory Coast firm SMCI were accused by their boss of going on a wildcat strike, and fired.
Owner Dassi Simone originally sacked 90 of the 110-strong workforce on January 31st, although he later re-hired some of them. The workers became discontented after the infirmary was closed, as were payment by instalment schemes and loans for school fees. In addition workers were not properly paid at the end of the year and were refused pay slips.
Senegal: Strike at national airline
Air Senegal International was completely shut down for 48 hours this week as staff took strike action over low pay.
Staff, backed by the unions claim that the company is too influenced by Royal Air Maroc (the majority shareholder with 51%, with 49% held by Senegal) and that their salaries are much lower than those of workers at equivalent airlines.
Gasping from out the Shallows: Reflections on revolution in the early twenty-first century
A text by Wayne Spencer giving an overview of struggles in the UK, Poland, South Africa and Italy alongside his reflections on the possibilities for revolution and revolutionary theory in the 21st century.
Gasping from out the Shallows
Reflections on revolution in the early twenty-first century
By Wayne Spencer
Somalia: bus drivers on strike
Bus and truck drivers in central Somalia were on strike yesterday following a hike in local taxes
Strikers claimed that the local government was increasing taxes whilst failing to do anything about the security situation on roads between Hiran and Madug provinces, there are a number of illegal checkpoints set up by armed militias.
Guinea: General strike ends with appointment of new PM
Union leaders in Guinea once again suspended a general strike on Tuesday a nationwide strike after President Lansana Conte (pictured) agreed to appoint a new prime minister.
Previous libcom.org coverage
Zimbabwean government to crush any union-led protests
The Zimbabwe government on Sunday said trade union leaders calling for a national work boycott in April are itching “to start a war” in the country and vowed to sternly deal with them.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the largest umbrella union for workers in the country, at the weekend said it was mobilising workers for a two-day nationwide job boycott in the first week of April over the country’s fast deteriorating economic crisis and worsening conditions for workers.
The debt crisis, Africa and the new enclosures - Silvia Federici
Originally published in Midnight Notes, #10,1990 and republished by The Commoner www.thecommoner.org
Guinean general strike continues as martial law relaxed
Life is slowly returning to relative normality in Guinea now that the government has eased a curfew imposed after nationwide unrest, but the general strike is ongoing.
President Lansana Conte called the curfew on 12 February to curb widespread looting and rioting, which had swept the capital, Conakry, and towns across the country during protests calling for his resignation.
