strikes

The Mechanics Educational Society of America and World War II

Submitted by Pennoid on Apr 20 2014 22:54

A brief introduction to the MESA and their experiences in WWII.

Writing in the early 2000's, Nelson Lichtenstein argued that:

Alabama prisoners to launch strike, IWW to offer support

Submitted by Chilli Sauce on Apr 19 2014 11:34

As prisoners in Alabama prepare to strike, this short article outlines some of their demands as well as the groups - including the Industrial Workers of the World - who intend to support them in their struggle.

Prisoners in Alabama, organised under the Free Alabama Movement, have announced they will be starting their second strike of the year this weekend.

Acknowledging, in the words of incarcerated activist Melvin Ray, that prisons are little more than a “free labor system”, prisoners at the St. Clair correctional facility have decided to strike.

Responses to a questionnaire submitted by Álvaro Hilario in connection with the new Spanish edition of Manuscript found in Vitoria - Miguel Amorós

Miguel Amorós responds to questions from a journalist in connection with the new (2014) Spanish edition of Manuscript Found in Vitoria.

The struggle of the 'mill girls': class consciousness in early 19th century New England - Ian Schlom

Submitted by Ian Schlom on Apr 2 2014 01:58

This article traces the development of class consciousness of and the antagonism between the capitalists and the Lowell and Lawrence "Mill Girls" in the earlier half of the 19th Century in New England.

Preface

Nothing in common: unions as bosses

Submitted by Phil on Mar 31 2014 18:25

Some cursory thoughts on the contradictions created by trade unions, as the collective voice of organised workers, also being employers.

On the 26 March, when the National Union of Teachers was taking strike action, members of the GMB were also out on strike. The reason that this action received less attention, particularly from trade union sources, is that it represented a rather unusual situation.

Toyota workers in India continue strike

Submitted by Empire Logistics on Mar 31 2014 16:33

A strike by Indian workers at a Toyota Kirloskar auto factory near Bangalore bear a striking resemblance to the strike of Honda workers in Foshan, China in the spring of 2010 that set off a strike wave in Guangdong of auto workers at other companies (like Toyota), as well as electronics and even brewery workers. Confirming Beverly Silver's research on patterns of labor unrest, there have already been militant strikes at automakers Hyundai, Honda, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Maruti Suzuki in India.

News story from March 27, 2014

Police arrest Alexandria workers as strikes continue nationwide

Submitted by C.Hélène on Mar 26 2014 10:11

Striking postal workers arrested as more than 50,000 employees of the state-owned postal services have been on strike across the country since Sunday, and have begun to be joined by other groups of workers.

Despite official attempts to bring an end to a wave of labor unrest that contributed to the downfall of Hazem al-Beblawi's government, a broad range of Egypt's labor workforce embarked on nationwide strikes on Tuesday.

Solidarity with oil workers in Las Heras, Argentina!

Submitted by plasmatelly on Mar 18 2014 19:35

As the Argentine state makes a grab for oil, a class war burns...

A lot has happened since 2006 and the death of a policeman during a strike of oil workers in the remote Argentinian town of Las Heras. As the court case against the arrested workers rumbled imperceptibly on, leaving the men and their families in stasis, the world around them moved at breakneck speed.

Protests in Turkey following the death of teenager wounded during Occupy protests

Submitted by Leo on Mar 11 2014 21:31

Huge protests have erupted across Turkey, as Berkin Elvan, a 14-year-old boy wounded by police during the Occupy Gezi protests last year, has died. Clashes with police have occurred across the country and many workers are due to strike tomorrow in protest. One libcom poster reports from the streets.

Leo wrote:

(Noon)
Berkin Elvan, a boy who was shot by the police in the head with tear gas when he was 14 years old, died today, 269 days later, at the age of 15. Berkin had left his house to buy bread when he was shot by the police.