unions
Articles about unions and the nature and function of labor or trade unionism.
Police seek arrest of Korean union leader
South Korean police said Monday they plan to seek a warrant to arrest the head of the union of Hyundai Motor Co., the country's No. 1 carmaker, for an alleged assault at a company event.
Arrest warrants will be sought for Park Yu-ki, the Hyundai Motor union leader, and two other union members over their alleged violence at the company's New Year ceremony on Jan. 4, police officials in this southeastern industrial city said.
Imprisoned Iranian trade unionist released
Mansour Osanloo, leader of the Iranian bus workers' union, was today released from prison on bail after being imprisoned since November 19th.
The ITUC and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) today welcomed the release of detained Iranian trade unionist Mansour Osanloo, while deploring the fact that he had to post additional bail to ensure his release. Osanloo was already on bail of 150 million Toman (US$ 165,000), stemming from his previous detention by the authorities from 22 December 2005 to 9 August 2006.
India: general strike in Kerala and West Bengal
A mass 24-hour walkout has brought economic life to a halt across two states in India, protesting privatisation, discriminatory labour legislation, rising prices and low wages.
Public transport has been paralysed and all flights cancelled, as well as most trains, banks and businesses are also closed. The streets are reportedly deserted of traffic while thousands of armed police have been deployed. Thousands of people also rallied in the Indian capital Dehli in support of the strike.
JJB steward sacked
Only weeks after JJB workers scored a massive victory over anti-union boss Dave Whelan, their union (GMB) is under serious attack. One steward has been sacked and the convenor is facing disciplinary action as well.
JJB boss Whelan is notoriously anti-union and pro-poverty. His own personal fortune of £200 million is creamed from the low wages of his own staff. In 1997 workers forced JJB to increase wages. In 2006 the workers at the Wigan distribution depot took five days of strike action to secure improved and fair pay for all employees.
Two Iranian trade unionists briefly imprisoned
Two more Iranian trade unionists were detained today while a third continues to be imprisoned.
December 3, 2006 - According to a news release issued by the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), two other members of the Board of Directors of the union were arrested today, December 3rd, 2006 in Tehran's Khavaran bus terminal but were released late this evening. They are scheduled to appear in court tomorrow morning, December 4, 2006.
UK building workers to prepare for 2012 Olympics
The Olympics will bring much new construction work to London, and some union activists look to the opportunity for a greater say both in the unions they are members of and in the industry itself.
Building workers met in London on Monday evening 27th Nov to discuss possibilities for union organising during the preparations for the 2012 Olympics.
Members of all four unions associated within the construction industry were present at the meeting called by the newly-formed Building Workers Rank and File Committee.
Principles of Syndicalism - Tom Brown
Written by the well known activist and propagandist Tom Brown, the article explains clearly the principles according to which syndicalist unions organise, and the new society they aim to create "within the shell of the old".
This simple introduction to syndicalism, workers control and libertarian communism originally appeared as a series of articles in War Commentary for Anarchism in 1943.
Contents
1. Not Centralism - But Federalism
2. Economic Federalism
3. Abolition Of The Wages System
4. The End Of The Money Trick
5. To Each According To His[/Her] Needs
6. Workers' Control of Distribution
Indian technology industry workers get organised
A short article from business magazine, Forbes, about the recent unionisation drive within the Indian technology industry.
India’s technology industry, which has been merrily soaking up jobs from higher-cost countries, got a little shock last week when it had its first brush with organized labor.
The Workerists and the unions in Italy's 'Hot Autumn'
A brief history of the Italian Workerists in the 'Hot Autumn' of 1969, when unions succeeded in recuperating radical working class demands - leaving the Workerists to pursue the doomed road of all-or-nothing armed struggle
Extract from Steve Wright’s book 'Storming Heaven'
'We Are All Delegates!'
Greek school children occupy in support of teachers' strike
Schools students and civil servants have joined the nationwide teachers' strike during it's sixth week.
Rallies have been held in Athens and Salonika, whilst over 900 schools are occupied by pupils as part of an on-going battle over pay. There have been clashes between the protestors and parents, but the strike remains strong regardless. Students burned desks in the yard of one Athens school, after using furniture to blockade the gates.
