lockouts

Mexico: 250 Corona bottle makers fired for forming an independent union

More than 250 employees of a factory that manufactures beer bottles for Corona (amongst others) in San Luis Potosí have been fired for associating with a legally recognised independent union. The factory's owners are also purging the factory of sympathisers of the sacked workers.

Almost two years of unionising activity had resulted in workers ousting the corrupt, mainstream Confederación Revolucionaria de Obreros y Campesinos (CROC) union from the shopfloor of the Industrial Vidriera Potosí (IVP) glass factory and replacing it with the independent Sindicato Único de Trabajadores de la Empresa IVP (SUTEIVP).

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange: union overtime ban forces trade to end three hours earlier

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange

Following a declaration on Thursday (March 6th), the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange workers` union has declared an overtime ban. This has resulted in management closing down trading three hours early for two days straight.

The ban took effect on Sunday (March 9th), and has been maintained on Monday (March 10th) as well. This step is a direct response to current conditions, which preclude overtime pay from counting into workers` pension plans.

Mexico: miners strikes in Sonora and Guerrero

A long-running miners' strike in Cananea, Sonora continues despite strikers being repressed by police and military and a judge declaring it illegal. In Taxco, Guerrero however, the bosses respond to striking miners by closing down the site permanently.

The 1100 workers in Cananea have been out since 31 July, demanding improved hygiene and security, and show no signs of abating, despite the picket line being attacked by a combined force of 800 police (including the hated Policía federativa preventativa [PFP] who crushed the Oaxaca revolt in 2006) and milita

Mexico: Maquiladora factory closed after workers change union

GAP

The Vaqueros Navarra factory in Tehuacán, Puebla will never make another pair of jeans again following the victory of the leftist Frente Auténtico de Trabajo (FAT) over the corrupt unions in workplace elections.

Employees became suspicious when upon returning from a Christmas break (which management had extended to 21 January without offering extra pay), they were locked out, told that the factory's doors had not been ordered open. Two days later, the workforce - comprising of at least 450, the majority of whom are indigenous women - learnt of their universal redundancies.

Occupation of Ledco plant ends

Workers at the Ledco tool and die plant in Kitchener, Ontario ended a three day occupation after a judge ruled it illegal.

Workers were locked out on Wednesday after refusing a 25% cut in wages and 20% cut in benefits. Ledco Ltd., which makes parts for GM, Ford and Chrysler, filed for bankruptcy on Thursday evening.

1998: Danish private sector strike

A short history of the massive private sector strike that gripped Denmark for 10 days in 1998. Although ending after negotiations between the government and union leaders left workers demands largely unmet, the strike, involving about 10% of the Danish population was nonetheless a spectacular show of workers' strength.

April of 1998 saw a series of talks between private sector unions and employers in Denmark. Initiated by the unions in response to a general economic upturn in the country, the talks represented for many Danish workers the chance for improvements to their working conditions.

Mount Isa: the great Queensland strike - Solidarity

Mount Isa: the great Queensland strike

Pamphlet by the UK Solidarity group on the 1964-1965 strike and lockout at the Mount Isa copper mine in Queensland, Australia, which placed miners in direct opposition to their union, employer and the Queensland State Government for almost seven months.

New Zealand: 800 Hospital cleaners locked out after strike

Locked out workers at Middlemore Hospital

Around 800 workers contracted to Spotless Services Ltd have been locked out of their kitchen, orderly and cleaning jobs today at 13 public hospitals across New Zealand after they attempted to start industrial action.

The action involved striking for 55 minutes of every hour, 24 hours a day in a struggle for better wages and conditions.

Canada: CN Rail lock out strikers

CN Rail strikers

After increasing strike activity to five locations across Canada, CN Rail have locked out all participating employees.

CBC.ca reported that the dispute flared up again after union members rejected a tentative deal struck in February to end a 15-day walkout.

United Transportation Union workers in Ontario, British Columbia and Nova Scotia began rotating strikes late Tuesday to force Canada's largest rail carrier to return to the bargaining table.

Australia: three-day lockout at Bridgestone ends

Bridgestone logo

Union members at the tyre maker, Bridgestone, in Salisbury, South Australia have returned to work after a three-day lockout without pay.

There has been no progress on their pay dispute as the company refused to negotiate in good faith.
“The company is refusing to negotiate with its workers and their union, and is hiding behind Howard’s laws to deny their workers a collectively negotiated agreement.”

NZ: Trolley jam in support of locked out supermarket workers

A number of customers blocked aisles in a New Zealand supermarket yesterday in support of locked out employees.

Customers filled shopping trolleys with goods then used them to block the aisles of the Foodtown Tauranga supermarket. Each trolley included a message of support for the locked out workers.

2003-2004: Los Angeles supermarket strike

Striking Safeway workers picket

The history of a huge five-month strike and lockout of 70,000 supermarket workers in California, which ended in defeat.

The walkout was against cuts in benefits, and run almost entirely by union leaderships. While the supermarkets lost $2.5bn in profits, they succeeded in beating the strike and imposing the cuts.

Notes on Another Defeat for Workers in the US

1926: British general strike

Strikers watch tanks on the streets during the 1926 general strike

A short history of Britain’s only ever general strike which lasted 10 days and was called in support of locked-out coal miners.

Britain’s only ever General Strike shook the British ruling class out of their thrones and showed brilliantly how collective working class action can change society.

It also showed how willing the ruling class and how unwilling labour leaders are to fight. Without wanting to sound too light-hearted: We could’ve done it if it wasn’t for those pesky Trade Union bureaucrats!

Tehran bus workers leader released

Mansoor Hayat Gheibi, one of the leaders of the Tehran Bus Workers Union was released yesterday following a hunger strike that started last week.

However, his comrade Mansoor Ossanlou, remains imprisoned after his arrest in December last year. Meanwhile the lock-out of some 1,000 bus workers continues, with another 116 more sacked last week.

India: Tea estate lockouts lead to starvation deaths

Assam and Darjeeling tea estate lockouts have led to malnutrition and starvation deaths in India this month.

Roopacherra tea estate in South Assam has been under lockout for nearly month after the executives abandoned it. Leading to the death of a three-year-old girl, Shivani Kalindi and two workers, Yogendra Kalindi, 22, and Manorama Dev, 60, according the workers' panchayat (council). Shivani had been taken to the garden hospital on Tuesday evening, but no doctor was available.

India: Tea estate lockouts lead to starvation deaths

Assam and Darjeeling tea estate lockouts have led to malnutrition and starvation deaths in India this month.

Roopacherra tea estate in South Assam has been under lockout for nearly month after the executives abandoned it. Leading to the death of a three-year-old girl, Shivani Kalindi and two workers, Yogendra Kalindi, 22, and Manorama Dev, 60, according the workers' panchayat (council). Shivani had been taken to the garden hospital on Tuesday evening, but no doctor was available.

India Toyota 'good conduct' offer to locked-out wildcats

Toyota said it will end a 12-day lockout at its plant in Bangalore, India if employees sign a 'good conduct' pledge.

The company declared the lockout on January 8 at its plant on the outskirts of Bangalore after unionised employees staged a wildcat strike to protest the dismissal of three colleagues accused of 'indiscipline' - 'union activity' according to the workers.

Melbourne Tram Dispute and Lockout 1990 - Anarcho-Syndicalism in Practice

The history of the January-February 1990 tramways dispute in Melbourne, Australia which saw transport workers, under anarcho-syndicalist influence, taking control of the trams and running them for free before power was cut off by the bosses. Includes a short introduction with information about the anarcho-syndicalist tram workers grouping involved.

Introduction

Solidarity with the Gate Gourmet workers

Sacked workers and their supporters picket Gate Gourment, August 2005, Heathrow, London

Resources and links with information on background and how you can support the 620 sacked Gate Gourmet workers.

Read information about the strike here:
http://libcom.org/tags/gate-gourmet

By far the best strike support website to check out is http://sackedbygategourmet.org.uk. Make sure you visit the support page for info on solidarity protests, support gigs, mailing list and more!

  • http://sackedbygategourmet.org.uk
  • 1995-1997: Mersey Docks Dispute

    MERSEY DOCKS DISPUTE (UK)

    For two years in the middle of the 1990s, 500 dockworkers were locked out by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company of Liverpool.

    In the course of those long months, their inspiring fight against the casualisation of working conditions has raised a wide range of questions about the changing balance of forces between workers and capital, the nature of unionism, and the practical meaning of internationalism.

    Dave Graham was active in Liverpool supporting the dockers throughout their dispute. More than this, he has provided a blow-by-blow assessment of both the conflict itself, and its broader significance.

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