wildcat strikes
Articles about unofficial industrial action, or "wildcat" strikes.
1970-71: Uprising in Poland
A short history of the 1970-71 uprising by workers in Poland which saw strikes and occupations at workplaces across the country. Although suffering savage repression, the uprising forced the government to back down over plans to increase prices of basic consumer goods.
On the morning of December 14 1970, thousands of workers from the Gdansk shipyards downed tools and began marching into the city. Their objective was the local regional office of the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR), the party that had ruled the People's Republic of Poland since 1952. The protestors were met by police units and fighting between the two sides lasted into the evening.
Vietnamese garment workers strike
More than 200 workers of Korean-owned Takyung Vina Company, a garment processor in Ho Chi Minh City’s Hoc Mon District, went on strike Tuesday seeking payment of unpaid salaries.
According to workers, they have not been paid their August salary despite continuing to bear heavy workloads.
The company owes VND500 million (US$30,000) in August salaries but blames late payments from customers for the delay in payment, local authorities said.
More wildcats in Vietnamese garment industry
Some 2,000 workers at two foreign-owned companies have gone on strike, demanding better pay and allowances, company and union officials said Friday.
More than 1,400 workers at Valley View Vietnam, a Taiwanese-owned garment company based in the central city of Danang, have been on strike since Thursday, demanding a monthly petrol allowance of 100,000 dong (6 dollars) and an increase in their daily meal allowance.
1987: The Great Workers' Struggle in South Korea
A short account of the South Korean strike wave of 1987 known as the Great Workers' Struggle. Affecting most major industries and involving over a million workers, the strikes and militant tactics used won significant gains in pay and conditions for many.
The workplace struggles that took place in 1987 occurred within the wider background of political reform. For thirty years South Korea had been ruled by a military dictatorship, and growing calls for democracy had echoed across the peninsula through the 1970s and early 80s.
Bangladesh: carrot and stick - security forces fire on garment workers as government recalls unions
Garment workers continue their agitations... and the uncertain role of unions.
Wednesday 13 Aug - Dhaka; over 5,000 workers at Reedisha Knitex factory staged a demonstration inside during their lunch break at 1pm; they demanded a pay rise to compensate for the rampant inflation of food and other essentials such as rent and transportation. Their demands being ignored by management, they set about ransacking the factory.
Wildcat strike in Haringey Council
Benefits and taxation workers in Haringey Council walked out yesterday at the suspension of two shop stewards following the national pay strike last month.
Staff were protesting against the attack on two Unison shop stewards, Sheila Amaneer and Mark Tindley, suspended due to allegations of "intimidation" on the picket line during last month's strike.
Nearly all staff in the Benefits and Local Taxation office struck, and were due to meet today to vote on further official action.
Bangladesh; garment workers attack factories as thousands wildcat and riot
.jpg "garment workers' riot")
The ongoing unrest in the garment factories continues...
Savar, Dhaka area; thousands of garment workers came out on strike over the weekend in a new outbreak of unrest. On Friday 8th Aug two workers on the overnight 'graveyard' shift at Biswas Synthetics Limited were caught sleeping by 'ansar men', who then assaulted them.
Wildcat strikes hit Plymouth and Falkirk
Workers at a new nuclear power station in Plymouth and coach builders Alexander Dennis in Falkirk were both on wildcat strike this week.
Sixteen staff were laid off from the Langage power station construction site near Plymouth, and picketed the site on Thursday morning, bringing 350 workers out in support by shift start.
Bangladesh: migrants export class struggle
In recent days over 800 Bangladeshi workers have been deported by the Kuwaiti government for organising strikes and violent protests.
There are about 200,000 workers from Bangladesh in the Gulf countries, mostly employed in cleaning services, security guards or construction. Every year thousands of poor Bangladeshis pay a labour recruiting agent (dalal) to arrange temporary jobs in Kuwait and other wealthy countries.
14,000 workers strike in Vietnam
Nearly 14,000 workers at a South Korean footwear company in Vietnam have gone on strike to demand higher salaries, blaming the action on rising consumer prices.
The workers of Hwa Seung Vina in southern Dong Nai province stopped work Saturday, asking company leaders to raise their incomes by at least 300,000 dong (18 dollars), said Tuoi Tre daily newspaper.
The management of the company, which produces shoes for export, offered to raise workers' salary by 200,000 dong (12 dollars) but the compromise did not work, the paper said.
