energy
News and articles about work, policy and workers' struggles in the energy sector around the world.
Halemba mine tragedy: the high costs of greed and outsourcing
No worker should not have gone into the mine that day. But Halemba sent in some unqualified contractors. Laure Akai reports.
Previous libcom.org coverage here.
Polish miners killed, trapped in massive blast
8 miners have been killed and 15 more remain trapped following an explosion in a deep coal mine yesterday in Ruda Slaska, Southern Poland. Reports suggest the miners were knowingly put at risk to recover company property.
Update 23/11/06: The death toll has now risen to 23, with no survivors.
1927: Colorado miners strike and Columbine Mine massacre
Short history of a strike by miners in Colorado in 1927 and the massacre of strikers at the Columbine mine by the state militia. The strike lead to an almost complete shut down of the mining industry in the state.
For the fifty years prior to 1927, the struggles in the Colorado mines had been a flashpoint for labour relations throughout the mining industry and had been marked by many strikes, aborted uprisings and confrontations between miners and mine owners, and the state militia.
Update on Iranian workers' struggles
A round-up of recent struggles going on in Iran, including textile and petrochemical workers' strikes and opposition to new changes in labour law.
Security forces kill a worker and wounded others
Security forces opened fire on workers and drivers in Bandar-e Daylam’s (Persian Gulf Port Daylam) custom, killing one worker and wounding a few others in November 5, 2006.
South Africa Exxon strike, 2001
The 2001 strike of workers at Engen - the South African affiliate of the oil multinational Exxon.
Electricity struggles - Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee
Article about struggles over electricity supplies in South Africa.
North Sea oil divers face bully tactics during strike
Personal harrassment by managers has been reported by North Sea oil divers who have launched an indefinite strike over pay.
The strike by over 900 divers has entered its third day, and reports have been made that management are harrassing and intimidating workers in a bid to undermine the strike. Workers have been receiving intimidating phone calls at home urging them to return to work and sign individual contracts, a classic tactic used to break solidarity between strikers.
Oil refinery workers threaten sit-in protest today
Workers at Bahrain Petroleum Co. are due to hold a sit-in protest over pay.
The workers at Bapco oil refinery in Bahrain have threatened a 45 minute sit-in protest today if their demands for higher pay are not met.
Peruvian indigenous group wins oil pollution battle
Local residents return to their homes having reached an agreement over oil waste after a 15-day protest.
Protesters from the Achuar Indian communities in the northern Peru forest have won an agreement for an Argentine oil drilling firm to stop dumping toxic waste into the rainforest. The Native Federation of the Corrientes River brought jungle operations of Pluspetrol Norte to a standstill, demanding a clean-up of the harmful waste produced by 30 years of drilling in the area.
Nigerians storm oil platforms
Villagers in Nigeria have stormed and seized three Shell oil platforms in the Niger Delta.
A spokesman for Royal Dutch Shell PLC said the seizures have forced oil production to be shut down at the platforms.
Officials, however, declined to say how much oil had been cut off after the platforms were attacked.
