Western Europe
Sweden: European Court sets precedent on foreign workers
The European Advocate General, Paolo Mengozzi advised the European Court of Justice that companies should respect local pay and conditions when hiring foreign workers.
The case began in 2004 when a Lithuanian company, Laval, entered the building trade, winning a string of contracts in Sweden. The company, then best known for producing cake, based its strategy on the importation of cheap Latvian labour. Laval argued that as Sweden does not have a legal minimum wage this was entirely legal.
Durand, Jules, 1880-1926
A short biography of the tragic life of French anarchist and coalheaver Jules Gustave Durand, who was framed for the killing of a scab.
The Dreyfus of the poor
Aer Lingus wildcat strikers' pay docked
Around 100 clerical staff will have their wages docked for a brief unofficial strike earlier this month.
The Irish Times reported that in a letter sent to Siptu union president Jack O'Connor, Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion said the pay of "all staff involved in the stoppage will be deducted for the period of the stoppage".
Sweden: Migrant workers "used as slaves"
Young British men are being used as 'slave labourers' in Stockholm, police have said. The men are being used in building work, and according to reports they are paid only sporadically and live in squalor.
thelocal.se reported:
Sweden: Volvo workers wildcat
An unofficial strike broke out at a Volvo Trucks plant in Umeå on Thursday. 150 workers downed tools for one and a half hours.
thelocal.se reported:
The walkout came in response to wage negotiations at the plant, where unions and Volvo are finding it hard to reach agreement. At 10 am the workers left their positions, in what management describes as a wildcat strike. Around 150 employees in the factory, which makes truck bodies, were away from their work for about one and a half hours.
Montels, Jules, 1843-1916
A short biography of anarchist, Paris Communard and tutor to Leo Tolstoy's children, Jules Montels.
Jules Montels was born in France at Gignac in the Herault department, on 25th March 1843. As a young boy he experienced the uprising in 1851 against the coup of Louis Napoleon, which was followed by savage repression. These left bitter memories for him.
Alérini, Charles, 1842-1877+
A short biography of French anarchist revolutionary and First International activist, Charles Alérini.
Charles Alérini was born at Bastia, Corsica, on 20 March 1842.
He became a teacher and taught first at the lycée of Marseilles and then at the College of Barcelonnette in southern France.
Bastelica, André, 1845-1884
A short biography of First International member, brilliant agitator and organiser of the Marseilles working class, André Bastelica.
Born at Bastia in Corsica on 28th November 1845, Bastelica was from an early age, extremely curious. He was an autodidact par excellence, like so many other workers found in the revolutionary movement. An anarchist even before the term had been properly applied, he started his working life as a shop assistant and then as a typesetter.
Pindy, Jean Louis, 1840-1917
A short biography of Jean Louis Pindy: Paris Communard, anarchist and inventor of the Paindy.
“Authority, in whatever hands it is placed, is always pernicious to the advancement of humanity” Pindy, writing in La Revue Blanche.
Jean Louis Pindy was born on June 3rd at Brest in western France. A carpenter-joiner, he became a member of the Brest section of the First International in 1867.
Caron, Roger, 1914-1999
A short biography of anarchist communist, Platformist, and one of those who rebuilt the post-war French anarchist movement, Roger Caron.
Born on 23rd October 1914 in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, Roger Caron began work at the age of 12 as an apprentice and then as an electrical mechanic. He joined the Union Anarchiste (UA) a revolutionary anarchist organisation, in the 1930s. He became treasurer of the Jeunesses Anarchistes (Anarchist Youth).
