COBAS

Base and grassroots unions in Italy have called a general strike in October, which has now been moved forward to October 11th. This article was previously published by the International Confederation of Labour.

Issue #48 of Direct Action, with articles on a health service dispute and a Scottish demonstration in support of it, welfare restructuring and benefit cuts, the Burton's sacking dispute, a mass eviction of Stamford Hill squatters, a Third Position-influenced split in the NF, a TV technicians' dispute, sackings of union journalists on a Finchley local paper, Scottish pit closures, a Doncaster council strike, shoot-to-kill policies in Northern Ireland, the "corporals killings" and attacks on IRA funerals, an article from the USI about the COBAS movement, news from the Spanish CNT, the fight against Section/Clause 28 and more.

Issue #42 of Direct Action, with articles on a strike support group conference, strikes by Frickley miners and London bus drivers, an occupation at Salford Plastics, state racism and the immigration system, reproductive rights, Reagan's "Star Wars" plans, anti-deportation campaigns, union "broad lefts" holding back action, the Midlands Trader dispute, a meat factory occupation in County Antrim, the COBAS movement in Italy, the CNT struggle in Puerto Real, a Wall Street Journal article on slowdowns, the Iran-Iraq War, a report of a tour about the Mujeres Libres and a play about Emma Goldman, repression against South African unionists and more.

Four rallies, involving 10,000 people, crossed Bologna as part of the European general strike on 14 November 2012. The rallies left at 9 a.m. from different parts of the city, marching along all major streets, from those of the university quarter to shopping areas to the avenues where most urban traffic circulates.