protests
Updates on student struggle in Israel
A week following the previously reported protest, another student protest took a more incendiary turn, blocking streets, burning tires and attempt to block the highway, the latter successful for a longer period of time, though faced with tougher repression.
The protest disbanded in response to leaders' call, marking an increase in violence but a decrease in independence by student militants.
Student protest in Israel breaks out of police and leaders' control
Massive assembly evolves into street-blocking march, as students protest against tuition hikes.
The event began with a peaceful assembly at Museum Square in Tel Aviv, protesting plans for tuition hikes in Israeli public universities. The planned schedule included live performances by artists sympathetic to the cause, and speeches by various leftist politicians, celebrities and student leaders. Police claim that seeds of unrest could be sensed throughout.
Street vendors protest in Iraq
Street vendors won concessions from municipal and occupation authorities last week when they staged a sit-in, forcing them to reverse an eviction order.
The ICEM reported that a sit-in by street vendors in the southern city of Nasiriya produced a compromise by authorities in negotiations. Street vendors are represented by the Union of Unemployed in Iraq (UUI), part of the Federation of Workers’ Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI).
China: hundreds block railway line in benefits protest
Residents of Guixi in the Jiangxi province were angry at government plans which would see their wages and benefits cut.
The plans involve placing Guixi under the jurisdiction of the neighbouring district, which may mean a lowering of benefits and state wages for Guixi residents. Protestors blocked two rail connections for around six hours, including the heavily traveled line that runs from Shanghai in the east, cutting through Jiangxi to the southwestern city of Kunming.
Teachers protest in Warsaw
Over 12,000 teachers demonstrated today in Warsaw. Among their demands were not only calls for a pay rise and retention of early retirement priveleges, but also for he dismissal of the Minister and Vice-Minister of Education.
Today over 12,000 teachers from around Poland came to Warsaw to protest the policies of the government, both in regard to its financial committment towards education workers and to the outrageous actions of the Minister and Vice-minister of Education.
Iran: International Women's Day events defy repression
A report by the Organisation for Women's Liberation - Iran's (OWL) Maryam Kousha on events across the country, which have seen womens' liberation struggles build links with striking workers and Afghan refugees.
People in Iran welcomed 8th March this year by organising many events well ahead of the actual day in different cities all over the country. It culminated in major gatherings on Thursday, international women's day. People were passionate about the day, had prepared manifestos, resolutions and banners demanding equality, condemning gender apartheid and women's oppression.
Protests across the UK over NHS cuts
Health workers and their supporters have been holding local demonstrations across the country in protest over cuts in jobs and services.
The national day of action was organised by NHS Together, a combination of unions and local NHS staff groups. The protests aim to highlight that services are under increasing threat from budget deficits and privatisation.
Intakes - Inside & outside the G8 protests
Shortly after Bob Geldof called for a million people to converge in Edinburgh for the opening day of the G8 summit, Midge Ure, the co-organizer of Live 8, was asked if he was worried about the events being hijacked by anarchists. His response was that Live 8 was, in fact, hijacking the anarchists' event.
Belfast anti-water charges picket forces recruitment cancellation
Campaigners claimed their protest today a victory after it was announced that Echo Managed Services, the company responsible for recovering unpaid water charges had cancelled its much publicised open recruitment day.
Echo would collect on behalf of the new water company Northern Ireland Water Ltd.
Secretary of the We Won't Pay Campaign Gary Mulcahy speaking at the protest today warned Echo that today's protest was the first of many to target it's headquarters on Upper Queen St in Belfast.
Building the campaign to reinstate Joanne Delaney
Joanne Delaney was sacked by Dunnes stores in November 2005 for wearing her union badge on her uniform.
With more than four years service in the Ashleaf store in Crumlin on the south side of Dublin, the 22 year–old MANDATE recently elected shop steward received a letter on the 29th of November 2005 informing her that she had been dismissed by the company.
