strikes

1.5 million may strike over pensions

Submitted by Steven. on Jan 24 2006 10:18

Workers in nine different unions are to be balloted for strike action over Whitehall plans to alter the local government pensions scheme.

Unison, AMICUS, the Transport and General Workers Union, GMB, FBU and the NUT are amongst the unions involved, in what has been described as potentially the largest walk-out since the general strike of 1926. Talks have been going on for a year around the issue.

Union leaders suspend Alitalia strikes

Submitted by Steven. on Jan 23 2006 19:07

Following wildcat strikes over the weekend which downed flights, Alitalia SpA union leaders said they would "suspend'' a 24-hour strike planned for Jan 23 after the government offered to discuss complaints about longer shifts, decreasing job security and the sale of a unit.

"We've been called in for a meeting with the government on Wednesday to discuss the Alitalia situation, so we've suspended the 24-hour strike due to start tonight at midnight,'' said Alberto Cassandra, a spokesman for Filt Cgil, the transport branch of Italy's largest union federation, in an interview.

Scandinavian planes grounded by international wildcat strikes

Submitted by Steven. on Jan 23 2006 18:54

Wildcat strikes by pilots for Scandinavian airline SAS have forced the company to cancel a large number of flights from Copenhagen.

At 1pm on Monday, the airline had cancelled 80 departures from Kastrup airport in the Danish capital, with warnings that more cancellations will follow if the pilots don't return to work.

Many travellers to and from southern Sweden have been hit by the strike at Kastrup, which also serves nearby Malmö.

Council workers may strike over Westminster-Dingwall move

Submitted by Steven. on Jan 23 2006 10:24

Westminster Council workers threaten strike after being told they must move to the north of Scotland or face redundancy

More than 400 workers at Westminster City Council offices are threatening strike action after a shock announcement on Friday that they are to be evicted from their offices. The staff were outsourced by the council to a private company in 2002, and have been told they must relocate to Dingwall in the far north of Scotland, or face redundancy.

Civil service jobs 'to go overseas'

Submitted by Steven. on Jan 23 2006 10:22

Thousands of civil service jobs could be moved to call centres overseas in a bid to save the government £1 billion, a union is claiming.

The Public and Commercial Services Union says a leaked document from the Department of Work and Pensions shows that Secretary of State John Hutton is considering the outsourcing plan, which would hit staff in call centres in job centres and benefit agencies.

Wildcat walkouts over restructuring ground flights in Italy

Submitted by Steven. on Jan 22 2006 19:15

Alitalia cancelled 44 flights today due to continued labour unrest, the second day in a row Italy's struggling national carrier has had to scrap flights because of wildcat walkouts.

Italy's main unions, meanwhile, met at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport to discuss whether to proceed with a threatened full-day strike starting Monday - the second in a week. Italian news agencies ANSA and Apcom said the walkout was cancelled pending the outcome of a meeting with the government scheduled for Wednesday.

Bangladesh: general strike

Submitted by libcom on Jan 22 2006 11:33

A general strike is in force today across Bangladesh.

It was called by the opposition to protest against government manipulation of the voters list, comes alongside threats of a general election boycott early next year. Sunday is a normal working day in Bangladesh.

1,300 Toyota employees arrested

Submitted by Steven. on Jan 22 2006 10:42

1,300 employees at Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), were arrested on Saturday as they gathered at the State Labour Secretary's office after buses failed to pick them up from work.

60 employees attended the TKM plant on Saturday after it was decided to resume talks following a wildcat action and lock-out this week, although TKM claimed 200 employees were back at work.

New York transit strikers reject offer

Submitted by libcom on Jan 22 2006 10:09

New York City transit workers rejected bosses' offer after their illegal three-day strike last month.

A tiny margin of just seven votes scuppered the deal, leaving the New York Times to report that angry workers may turn to other forms of direct action, such as wildcat stoppages and slowdowns.

From NYtimes.com on January 22, 2006:

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

Submitted by Steven. on Jan 21 2006 10:43

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.