Western Europe
Pedrini, Belgrado, 1913-1979
A short biography of anarchist Belgrado Pedrini who took part in antifascist resistance and as a result served 30 years in prison in post-Mussolini Italy.
Born at Carrara on 5th May 1913, Belgrado’s mother died when he was nine. His father was a sculptor and had the opportunity to travel to many cities, and he named his son after the Yugoslav city which was still fresh in his memory.
Bonomini, Ernesto, 1903-1986
A short biography of Italian anarchist and Spanish Civil War fighter, Ernesto Bonomini, who assassinated a leading fascist in France.
Ernesto Bonomini was born on 18 March 1903 at Pozzolengo in Italy. From a very young age he became interested in socialist ideas and became an active antimilitarist. He trained as a tailor, in which trade he was expert.
With the fascist repression against the workers’, socialist and anarchist movements, Ernesto was forced to emigrate to France in 1922.
France: Migrant workers' occupation wins
Sacked workers occupying the Buffalo Grill restaurant for one month have beaten their employers and been re-instated with their employment status regularised.
The one-month occupation of the restaurant and parking lot of the Buffalo Grill in Viry-Chatillon outside Paris has resulted in an important victory for 20 undocumented migrant workers fired at the fast food chain.
France: employment law ruled to be in breach of international law
The Appeal Court in Paris has ruled that the CNE is in violation of international employment law.
The CNE is an employment law that allows workers in small businesses with fewer than 20 employees to be kept on a two-year probationary period during which they can be fired without reason. It is the sister law of the CPE which triggered waves of strikes, blockades, demonstrations and occupations across France in 2005-6
France: strikes at financial paper Les Echos
Staff at the Daily paper voted to strike for a third time in three weeks after management reneged on promises.
Workers at the paper are concerned about plans by its owner Pearson, to sell it to LMVH. LMVH is currently the owner of La Tribune, Les Echos' less popular rival. Although LMVH is currently trying to sell La Tribune and its head, Bernard Arnault has pledged to sell La Tribune if he does buy Les Echos.
Belgium: Strike action at Opel car factory
There have been a series of stoppages recently at the Opel factory, due to management restructuring.
The first strike at the General Motors-owned firm began on June 15th when the night shift walked of the job in protest at management's refusal to answer questions on the restructuring plan, the strike lasted until the 18th.
Belgium: Wildcat strike at Volvo Europa factory
Workers at the truck factory in Oostakker, walked out during negotiations over pay.
In a vote on Friday 78% of workers rejected management's offer. After this rejection a meeting had been planned between management and the unions for Wednesday. At 10am the workers spontaneously stopped working.
France: suicides amongst auto-workers
A spate of suicides amongst workers at French car plants reflects the fact that large numbers of workers are being driven to take their own lives by workplace stresses.
In France there are 300-400 suicides a year directly attributable to working conditions according to Christian Larose, vice-president of the social and economic council of the CGT. Roughly one worker is killing him/herself a day because of the job that they have.
Paris: Migrant workers occupy Buffalo Grill
Undocumented workers at the fast food chain in Paris have occupied the Buffalo Grill in Viry-Chatillon after being sacked and reported to the authorities.
The migrants, mostly of African origin, many with years of employment at the chain, face expulsion from the France of Nicolas Sarkozy to their country of origin.
Cochon, Georges, 1879-1959
A short biography of French anarchist, pioneering tenants' organiser and conscientious objector Georges Cochon.
Grandfather of squatting
Georges Alexandre Cochon was born on the 26th March 1879 at Chartres. Earning a living as a worker in the upholstering trade, he gravitated towards the anarchist movement in Paris.
