transport
News and articles about work, policy and workers' struggles in transport and distribution around the world.
Scotland: Airport workers to strike over 2% pay offer
After a 2% pay offer - 2.5% pay cut against inflation - fire-fighters and engineering staff in Highland airports in the T&G (Unite) union have decided to strike from July 30.
Starting July 30 a succession of 24hr strikes every week will affect airports across the Highlands and Islands from the largest in Inverness, which is expected to deal with several thousand holiday-makers and travellers at its most busiest time, to smaller airports in "Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick".
The Winter of Discontent - An Introduction
An overview of the Winter of Discontent, from the Revolt Against an Age of Plenty site.
THE WINTER OF DISCONTENT: AN INTRODUCTION
HISTORY & CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE U.K.
(Written around 2002)
NOW IS THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT
France: new wildcat strike at Bordeaux airport
After a 6 hour wildcat earlier this week security staff have again walked out over pay claims.
The wildcat strike, as reported earlier on libcom, was in support of wage demands and three colleagues. When SGSA Penauille bought Astriam the 88 workers (out of a total of 100 at the airport) were transferred, in the process they lost a week's salary, which SGSA is refusing to pay.
France: Security staff wildcat strike at Bordeaux airport
Security workers at Bordeaux airport launched a wildcat strike yesterday morning.
The workers, employed by SGSA Penauill walked out yesterday morning at 6:30 am. All 88 SGSA employees, who make up around 90% of the workforce, joined the wildcat.
The action was in support of a current wage dispute with management. Workers agreed to return to work at 1pm some 29 flights had been delayed by this point.
Scottish dock workers ballot for strike action
After a wildcat strike last month, 1200 workers at Rosyth Royal Dockyard have announced they are to ballot on industrial action in their dispute over pensions.
Shop stewards for the four main unions at the yard decided to request the ballot on Wednesday 11 July. The result will be declared on 25 July.
Workers will be asked to vote on whether to back strike action and action short of a strike, with a strong recommendation from shop stewards to vote yes on both counts.
Iranian trade unionist kidnapped
Iranian bus union leader, Mansour Osanloo, was kidnapped on his way home from work yesterday.
The following report was received this evening from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) in London:
Aer Lingus wildcat strikers' pay docked
Around 100 clerical staff will have their wages docked for a brief unofficial strike earlier this month.
The Irish Times reported that in a letter sent to Siptu union president Jack O'Connor, Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion said the pay of "all staff involved in the stoppage will be deducted for the period of the stoppage".
Strike Across The Empire, 1925 - Baruch Hirson and Lorraine Vivian
A fascinating and detailed account of a little known international seamens' strike in 1925, lasting over 100 days and spreading from Britain to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The strikers confronted the shared hostility of governments, employers and union leaders alike. The text also deals with how the racism prevalent in the labour movement affected the conduct and outcome of the strike.
"THIS IS A STRIKE that has vanished from history. In August 1925, the seamen of Britain, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand walked off their ships in protest against a ten per cent wage cut. It was one of the few genuinely international strikes, directed against a powerful international cartel. One would have expected it to be widely debated. Yet, newspaper coverage apart, history has largely been silent.
Israel: bus drivers strike in Tel Aviv
1,250 Dan bus drivers began an all out unannounced strike in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
The strike began as efforts failed to settle a five-year collective wage agreement and bonus payments, and drivers set no limit on the duration of the strike.
Haaretz reported that
Belgium: Flights grounded by wildcat strike
Thousands were affected when security guards at Charleroi airport walked out in a row over privatisation
The BBC reported that all flights in and out of Ryanair's Belgian hub at Charleroi airport were grounded on Friday after security staff walked out in a wildcat strike.
A row over the privatisation of public sector security personnel caused the disruption, which began at dawn and spread to Liege airport in the east.
An estimated 8,000 passengers have been affected by the action so far.
