France - The Cold Autumn Hots Up
Submitted by Samotnaf on Oct 19 2010 05:01
Despite the colder weather, and the increasing lack of petrol, the social movement is hotting up, fueled by fun, fire and fury. "Operation Snails' Pace", strikes, mini-riots, schools blockades, General Assemblies, occupations, and today the 4th 24 hour "General" Strike since 7th September ...but where is it all going? What contradictions aren't being confronted? Read on...
General Strike In France
Submitted by Samotnaf on Oct 13 2010 10:58
Yesterday - 12th October - there was a General Strike in France - the third in 5 weeks (the others were Sept. 7th , & Sept. 23rd (see Developing Struggles in France). Possibly as many as 3,500,000 marched in the streets for the withdrawal of the extension of the retirement age from 60 to 62 or from 65 to 67 for those only eligible for State pensions.
The strike was pretty extensive, effecting both French and international capital (for example, Ryanair alone had to cancel over 230 flights).
China: trouble in the world's sweatshop
Submitted by Joseph Kay on Aug 23 2010 14:45
China is experiencing a rising wave of industrial unrest, as workers increasingly turn to collective action to fight against their exploitation.
Rapid industrialisation over the past few decades has created massive internal migration from the countryside to the cities on an unprecedented scale, dwarfing Britain’s industrial revolution two centuries ago. Now, this new urban working class has begun to flex its muscles, disrupting production in order to assert their demands.
Malaysia: migrant workers protest ends in victory
Submitted by Ed on Aug 23 2010 13:13
The migrant workers' protest (previously reported on libcom.org) which took place at an electronics factory has ended in a resounding victory for the workers.
More than 5,000 migrant workers of JCY Co. Ltd., an electronics factory in the Tebrau Industrial area of Johor Baru, protested near the workers' quarters over the negligence of their employer when a fellow worker died of high fever while at work. This happened on 16th August when the employer did not allow him to be taken to hospital in time.
Ghetto riots in the USA - Martin Glaberman
Short article by Martin Glaberman focusing on the riots in Watts, Los Angeles, in 1965.
The Negro ghetto of Watts in Los Angeles does not look at all like Harlem. Instead of the massive congested tenements, there are wide streets, small homes, grassy lawns and palm trees. But 98 per cent of the residents are Negro and 30 per cent are unemployed.
5,000 migrants riot at Malaysian factory
Submitted by Rob Ray on Aug 16 2010 11:50
More than 5,000 migrant workers tore down a guard tower during rioting at the facility where they were staying in Malaysia’s industrial city of Johor Baru today.
During the struggle rubbish and stones were used against over 200 riot police, with fire extinguishers being torn off the walls and allegedly used to spray bystanders.
The fighting, which was eventually contained in the early evening after seven hours, was sparked after an injured staff member died when employers delayed sending them to hospital.
Rebel violence vs. hierarchical violence, UK 1985-86
A chronology of anti-hierarchical violence in mainland UK, July 1985 - May 1986. A bit of nostalgia and/or a lesson in over-optimism? A text from that epoch that covers some of the contradictions of the social movements in the period after the miners strike.
Includes a look at riots in Liverpool, Notting Hill, Birmingham, Brixton, Peckham, Tottenham, and lots of smaller riots, plus riotous strikes in mining areas, at Wapping and prison riots. Also a look at some of the contradictions of football hooliganism, drug taking and other stuff.
Some of it has not come out very clearly, but almost all of it is readable.
The university, the car factory and the working class
A text on class conflict in Oxford and the Blackbird Leys riots of the early 90s.
AN (UN)FRESHER’S GUIDE TO OXFORD’S CLASS WAR
At its very outset Oxford University was established to tie together the hegemony that would run dear old Albion for ever more. In Oxford science, religion and the aristocracy pooled their resources to deepen, mystify and finance their power. The presence of the working people of Oxford was permitted essentially only in order to facilitate all this cerebral masturbation.
First published probably in autumn 1991.
The university, the car factory and the working class
A text on class conflict in Oxford and the Blackbird Leys riots of the early 90s.
AN (UN)FRESHER’S GUIDE TO OXFORD’S CLASS WAR
Oxford's Class War and the Blackbird Leys Riots of the Early 90s
AN (UN)FRESHER’S GUIDE TO OXFORD’S CLASS WAR
A text on some of the history of class conflict in Oxford, concentrating on the Blackbird Leys riots of the early 90s, and written shortly afterwards.
At its very outset Oxford University was established to tie together the hegemony that would run dear old Albion for ever more. In Oxford science, religion and the aristocracy pooled their resources to deepen, mystify and finance their power. The presence of the working class in Oxford was permitted essentially only in order to facilitate all this cerebral masturbation.
First published probably in autumn 1991.
A riot outside the NZ parliament in June 1968?
Submitted by Skraeling on Aug 9 2010 23:58
An account of a little-known strike and unruly demonstration outside parliament, Wellington, New Zealand, June 1968.
Hot on the heels of events in France in May-June 1968, a worker-student protest of several thousand people converged on parliament [Wellington, New Zealand] on June 26 1968.1 Students held ‘Students and Workers Unite’, ‘Student-worker Solidarity’ and ‘Bursaries and wages must be increased
- 1. This article is a shortened version of a paper presented at the LHP seminar 1968: A Year of Revolution?
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