Western Europe
The German Revolution: The First Stage - Anton Pannekoek
Anton Pannekoek's article on the unfolding German revolution of 1918 shows some of the hopes which the upheaval inspired. Originally written in 1918, it was later published in Workers Dreadnought in 1919.
The struggle against Shell in the west of Ireland
This report was written for the International of Anarchist Federations in March 2007. A Spanish language version is here.
There are, at a very conservative estimate, currently thirty local campaigns against unwanted hazardous developments in Ireland.
Rossport: a closer look.
This article on the Shell to Sea campaign and on Rossport Solidarity Camp, was written in May 2006, for a publication which unfortunately did not see the light of day. It is a look at the campaign against the state and Shell’s “development” of a corner of the west of Ireland, situating it in an international context of environmental justice struggles.
This campaign against the plan to build an unprecedented high-pressure raw gas pipeline and refinery in Northwest Mayo is in its sixth year, but last spring took a turn towards popular protest and direct action and has shut down construction work.
The German Revolution - Paul Mattick
The German Revolution, chapter 7 from Mattick's work Reform or Revolution, looks at the events upsurge of working class militancy in Germany during November 1918.
Contrary to Bolshevik expectations, the Russian Revolution remained a national revolution. Its international repercussions involved no more than a growing demand for the ending of the war. The Bolsheviks’ call for an immediate peace without annexations and reparations found a positive response among the soldiers and workers in the Western nations.
Midnight legislation: Class Struggle in Ireland 1760-1840
This article was originally carried in issue 60 of Organise!, journal of the Anarchist Federation. It is a brief history of Whiteboy groups in rural Ireland.
During the years 1788-1868, 2,249 political prisoners were transported from Ireland to exile in Australia. Of that number, less than 20% belonged to the well commemorated nationalist rebellions and conspiracies of 1798, 1803, 1848 and 1867.1
Who were the rest?
France: Ghanty workers win strike
Workers at the retailer on the island of La Réunion won several concessions after launching a strike during the busy sales period.
The strike, the first ever at the company, was launched by workers in protest at low salaries, workers who have ben with the company for 15 or 20 years are still on minimum wage. The strike was observed by 40% of workers and held for nine days. The agreement reached with management was for an immediate 1% increase in salaries and for the company to pay 50% of the value of meal vouchers for staff.
Belgian airport union signs minimum service agreement
The airport security union representing workers at Brussels South Charleroi Airport signed an agreement with the Wallonian regional government which guarantees a minimum level of service in the event of future strikes, according to Belgian weekend press reports.
The agreement guarantees that, in the event of a grievance, all other avenues of dialogue will be exploited before a strike is called, according to Belgian financial daily L'Echo.
According to La Libre Belgique, the text states its aim as 'guaranteeing social harmony' at the airport.
1942: General strike against military conscription in German-occupied Luxembourg
An account of the walk out in the central post office during the general strike in Luxembourg, 1942.
George Kieffer was born in 1950, the son of Michel Kieffer, a technician of the Telephone Department of the Luxembourg Post Office, who was active with his wife in the Resistance during the Second World War. Following the death of his father, George, who now lives in England, transferred the former's collection of papers, documents and medals to the Second World War Experience Centre.
Belgium: Ryanair threatens to axe services after wildcat strike
Ryanair has suspended bookings for flights to and from Brussels' Charleroi airport from November 12.
Ryanair is demanding £1m compensation from the christian CNE union for a wildcat strike by security staff in June. In addition they are demanding that workers agree to maintain a minimum service during strike action. The union has reacted angrily to these attacks on the right to strike.
France: transport workers protest against proposed minimum service law
The plan to introduce obliging workers to maintain a minimum service during public transport strikes has been taken as an attack on the right to strike by workers and unions.
There have also been strong indications that if the government can establish a minimum service law for the transport sector then it will be introduced for other public and private services. François Fillon, has stated that if the law works it should be altered to include: "other public services, notably education"
