Middle East
Egypt's wildcat strike wave continues unabated
As reported previously on libcom, tens of thousands of workers in Egypt continue to defy their unions and the government in the nation's state-owned industries to strike and occupy their workplaces.
The often-successful struggles are over wages, jobs and privatisation at a time when prices are rising, government-owned industries are being sold off and jobs are being slashed.
Dan Morrison on sfgate.com reported:
Deported Iraqi refugees beaten on return
Reports say Iraqi refugees, forcibly deported from Britain, were beaten by Special Police (Asayish) as soon as they stepped off the plane in Erbil.
The plane had not landed at the usual passenger terminal but instead taxied to a cargo area where media access was barred. Deportees were then herded into a waiting bus while some were beaten. They were subsequently taken to a hotel controlled by the Asayish, where those with family members already in Erbil were eventually released.
Unprecedented strike wave sweeps Egypt
A wave of unprecedented strikes by disgruntled workers has swept Egypt this week.
The atmosphere at the mammoth Factory No 1 belonging to the Misr Shebin Al-Kom Spinning and Weaving Company (SSWC) in the Delta is glum. The din of roaring machines at the 47-year-old factory is no more, after someone flicked the shut down button last week for the first time in nearly half a century.
Israel's Ashdod port wildcat strike ends
A two-day wildcat strike in defiance of bosses and unions at the Ashdod port ended on Friday with a return to work.
The action was seemingly a mirror of a similar struggle at the port reported on libcom.org last year.
Port2port.com reported that the port workers committee decided at midnight on Tuesday 30 January to exercise a labor dispute declared three weeks ago. The strike ended 2 days later and the workers reurned to work on Friday
Lebanon, Iran and the ‘Long War’ in the ‘Wider Middle East’
Aufheben analyse the long-term geopolitical aims of the US in the Middle East, following the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as President of Iran in July 2005.
Introduction
Workers strike at Iran's largest shipbuilding company
On January 30, 2007, the entrance to the Iran Sadra (SADRA- Iran Marine Industrial Co.) in its Bushehr Yards Ship Building was shut down by about 150 workers of the company in the City of Bushehr who were protesting the sacking of 38 of their colleagues as well as the short temporary contracts.
According to one of the representatives of workers, Ranjbarian, the strike was spontaneous. Workers are sacked by the employer despite previous protests as well as meetings in the governor's office to create employment opportunities for laid off employees.
Egyptian railway drivers on strike
Last Saturday (20 January), at 12 noon, railway drivers of the railway agency announced the beginning of a strike in protest of the continued enforcement of article 18 of the bylaws considering the replacement of drivers suffering chronic illness.
According to this provision a driver suffering chronic medical illness is transferred to another position, even if lesser than his original one, where he received his full wage for two years, after which he received only his essential pay and social incentives which basically means a reduction by 50% of his wage.
Fragments of struggle from Palestine: new videos of past Anarchists Against the Wall actions
Since 2002, Israeli anarchists have been joining the Palestinian popular resistance to the wall. These are six new videos of joint demonstrations and direct actions from past years.
Since 2002, Israeli anarchists have been joining the Palestinian popular resistance to the wall. These are six new videos of joint demonstrations and direct actions from past years.
Saffa, 22.05.05 – Soldiers use extreme violence to disperse farmers from their lands.
Independent Israeli occupation resister released from prison
After having served 877 days in prison on spurious charges, Tali Fahima, an Israeli citizen who independently crossed the lines with Palestine to befriend a chief militant and to initiate humanitarian work in the Jenin refugee camp, was yesterday released from prison.
Fahima's plea bargain meant that her release was supposed to have occured on September 13th, but it was delayed due to an incident in which she was "rude to a warden." This was just the latest step in a campaing to leave her in perpetual custody, ever since she was imprisoned on August 9th, 2004 for allegedly plotting to take part in a terrorist attack.
Imprisoned Iranian trade unionist released
Mansour Osanloo, leader of the Iranian bus workers' union, was today released from prison on bail after being imprisoned since November 19th.
The ITUC and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) today welcomed the release of detained Iranian trade unionist Mansour Osanloo, while deploring the fact that he had to post additional bail to ensure his release. Osanloo was already on bail of 150 million Toman (US$ 165,000), stemming from his previous detention by the authorities from 22 December 2005 to 9 August 2006.
