Umshini Wam
Submitted by red jack on Aug 21 2012 07:10
Chris McMichael on the Lonmin Massacre. 'Umshini Wam' is Jacob Zuma's trade mark song. It means 'bring me my machine gun'.
“There’ll be civil war, said Johnny. Civil fucking war, that’s what there’ll be. I said, What you think we got now?
Senzeni Na?
Submitted by red jack on Aug 21 2012 06:53
A beautifully written piece on the Lonmin massacre by Chris Rodrigues.
'Senzeni na?' is the name of a very mournful struggle song in South Africa that means 'What have we done?'
By the time you read these words, the miners of Marikana will have long crossed the river Styx. Contemplate dear reader: These men with dirt in their pockets, their ears ringing with the noise of exploding lead, the holes through their bodies.
The Marikana mine workers massacre – a massive escalation in the war on the poor
Submitted by Mark. on Aug 20 2012 20:13
Ayanda Kota from South African shack dwellers movement Abahlali baseMjondolo reports on the background to the massacre of striking mine workers at Marikana Platinum.
18 August 2012
It’s now two days after the brutal, heartless and merciless cold blood bath of 45 Marikana mine workers by the South African Police Services. This was a massacre!
Some words on the miner's conflict in Asturias
Article about the miners' strike in Asturia in 2012 by Jose Maria Martinez.
The 'Coal Plan 2006-2012' is an agreement signed by Rodríguez Zapatero's Socialist Party (PSOE ) [1], the trade unions UGT [2] and CCOO [3] and CARBUNIÓN [4] in 2005. The main objective of the agreement was the ending of the government subsidies, meaning the closure of the Spanish coal mines in 2018.
Solidarity with mine workers at Marikana Platinum
Submitted by red jack on Aug 17 2012 13:49
This statement from South African shack dwellers movement Abahlali baseMjondolo on the massacre at Marikana Platinum has just come out on their newswire. The death toll is now over 40.
17 August 2012
Abahlali baseMjondolo Press statement
Solidarity with Mine Workers at Marikana Platinum
Striking miners killed by security forces in South Africa
Submitted by working class s... on Aug 16 2012 16:04
Earlier today at least seven striking miners have been gunned down and killed by security forces at South African platinum mine. The killings are the latest in a long line of deaths during a strike that is complicated by a bitter and violent inter-union dispute over membership numbers.
Yesterday, South African police ordered thousands of striking miners to leave the vicinity of the Lonmin Marikana platinum mine or face being forcibly removed. Up to 3,000 police officers, an elite paramilitary unit, supported by horses and helicopters, confronted the miners and delivered their ultimatum.
Just before the police attacked the strikers, a spokesman said that:
1500 Zimbabwean diamond miners sacked for striking
Submitted by working class s... on Aug 7 2012 17:01
Over 1500 diamond miners in Zimbabwe have been sacked following a strike for higher pay. Many of the workers have reported serious sexual assaults by the bosses.
In Zimbabwe - the Chinese diamond mining firm Anjim Investments has sacked 1500 workers who participated in a strike over pay, and better working conditions. The workers were demanding a rise from $235 a month, to $650 a month.
The sacked workers have been told that they can re-apply for their jobs if they wish.
A Teamsters strike over disgraceful attacks on pay and conditions enters a third week
Submitted by working class s... on Aug 7 2012 00:52
Over sixty workers at the Grand Rapids Gravel Company in Wyoming are now in the third week of a strike over proposed pay cuts and vicious attacks on conditions. The bosses have brought in scabs and private security.
Workers at Grand Rapid make up to $17.40 an hour – depending on length of service. The bosses are insisting that they take a $6 an hour pay cut.
Other changes to terms and conditions include – reducing holiday entitlement to just two weeks a year – reducing overtime pay by 75% - and the cancellation of retiree health insurance.
An unnamed worker said that,
Zambian miners kill supervisor in dispute over pay
Submitted by working class s... on Aug 6 2012 00:07
Miners have killed a supervisor and seriously injured another during a dispute over pay at the Collum mine in Zambia.
The company that owns the mine is Chinese – as are all the supervisors. There is growing animosity towards the owners due to allegations of abuse, underpaying, health and safety, bullying, and anti-trade union activities.
Workers at Vio.Me factory in Northern Greece vote for factory self-management
Submitted by Ed on Jul 10 2012 22:29
Statement from workers at a mining industry factory in Greece announcing their decision to take over their factory under workers' self-management.
“You can’t? We can!” Workers at Mining Industry factory in Northern Greece vote for and prepare for self-management of their factory – victory to the workers!
Concerning the struggle at VIOMIHANIKI METALLEYTIKI (Mining Industry) in Thessaloniki
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