[Onthebarricades] Worker protests and strikes, September 2007
Andy
ldxar1 at tesco.net
Tue Oct 9 13:56:05 PDT 2007
* INDIA: Unions protest plant closure
* PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Wildcat strike shuts down gold mine, hits profits
* MOROCCO: Blind job-seekers complain of police violence
* TRINIDAD: Maintenance workers protest against slow negotiations
* INDIA: Workers wear red marks to register protest at autocratic
management
* THAILAND: Anti-privatisation protests planned
* INDIA: Sacked cops (!) stage road-block, protest [how the tables turn…]
* DENMARK: Public broadcasters strike against job cuts
* SOUTH AFRICA: Mine workers injured by police shooting at picket
* CANADA: Alberta workers demand labour law change
* TRINIDAD: Worker, sewage workers blockade office in wages protest
* BULGARIA: Teachers stage prayer protest against low pay
* BAHRAIN: Health service drivers call off strike
* US: Event for the rich targeted by tax protesters
* AUSTRALIA: State threatens workers over labour law protests
* US: Cabbies strike over GPS privacy invasion, fee increases
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/Unions_protest_Bajaj_plant_closure/articleshow/2332348.cms
Unions protest Bajaj plant closure
3 Sep 2007, 0312 hrs IST,TNN
PUNE: Labour organisations at Bajaj Auto Limited pledged to continue
protesting against the closure of the Akurdi plant on Sunday.
Around 40 to 45 labour organisations came together at the workers meet
organised by the Kamgar Sanyukta Kruti Samiti to protest against closure of
the plant.
Retired judge B.G. Kolse-Patil, who presided over the meet, strongly
condemned the plant's closure and called upon the workers to unite to gather
firm public support for the agitation.
Vilas Lande, member of the legislative assembly (MLA) said he supported the
agitation as Bajaj Auto had shut down the Akurdi plant to benefit from the
rising land prices in the township. Speaking to TOI, Dilip Pawar, president,
Vishwakalyan Kamgar Sanghatna, said the workers would launch an indefinite
agitation against BAL management by organising bandhs, showing black flags
and morchas. "We will agitate as long as BAL does not rescind its decision
and reopen the plant" he said.
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/03/2022965.htm?section=business
Strike stalls production at PNG gold mine
By PNG correspondent Steve Marshall
Posted Mon Sep 3, 2007 7:21pm AEST
Updated Mon Sep 3, 2007 7:57pm AEST
Strike action is continuing to halt production at one of the world's largest
gold mines in Papua New Guinea.
Armed police were flown to the mine at the weekend to protect company
assets.
Disgruntled workers forced the Lihir gold mine to close four days ago.
Local reports say national workers accuse the mine of offering expatriate
employees a better deal.
But Lihir's Brisbane-based spokesman Joe Dowling says that is not the case.
"I have absolutely no knowledge of that whatsoever," he said.
"These allegations are untrue. You're talking about issues, I'm not
absolutely confident, are even the issues of the workers."
Mr Dowling would not comment how much the strike was costing the company in
lost production.
http://libcom.org/news/papua-new-guinea-wildcat-causes-millions-losses-05092007
Papua New Guinea: Wildcat causes millions in losses
September 5th, 2007 by Marshall
Ongoing wildcat action by striking workers has caused millions of dollars in
losses for a massive mining project.
Workers at the Lihir gold mine in Papua New Guinea walked out five days ago
over a pay dispute in an unofficial action that is still unresolved. Efforts
to cut a deal have stalled while managers consider Lihir's workers' demands,
which include sacking the entire management of the mine. It is claimed that
workers have been consistently denied the right to organise to protect their
rights at work. Miners were also concerned that management would renege on
commitments to raise their wages and improve working conditions.
A number of workers took direct action last week, moving heavy machinery to
block entrances to the mine and suspend production. Mining bosses and
government officials branded the action "illegal" after miners failed to
register their complaint through the proper legal channels, but the entire
workforce of 3,500 are out. Armed police were flown in from Port Moresby and
high-level government delegations are said to be attending the site.
According to Pacific Magazine's website, workers have now formed their own
organisation, the Lihir Gold Allied Workers Union, as a means of
co-ordinating demands.
The Lihir open-pit gold mine is one of the region’s biggest commercial
projects. About A$1.2bn (about US$1bn) in commercial bank financing has been
raised for the scheme, which will produce 1m oz of gold per year. Investment
banks Goldman Sachs and Australia’s Macquarie Bank underwrote the funding.
The four-day stoppage has cost parent company Lihir Gold an estimated US$6m
in losses. According to Reuters newswires, the strike had “jolted” the world’s
gold markets, causing the price of gold to drop by US$2 per ounce last
Friday.
Mine workers now hope that the massive disruption caused means that
management will fulfill their verbal commitments to raise salaries and
improve conditions.
The Lihir mine is one of the world’s richest gold production sites, but has
come under severe criticism from locals. A blast earlier this summer was
said to be responsible for the death of a child and over the past few years
there have been numerous fatal accidents involving workers.
According to the Mineral Policy Institute, over 98m tonnes of
cyanide-contaminated “tailings” (waste by-products from processed gold ore)
and 300m tonnes of waste rock will be dumped into the ocean over Lihir's
projected 36-year lifetime .
The strike continues into its sixth day.
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL04818999.html
Blind Moroccan job seekers say beaten at protest
Tue 4 Sep 2007, 13:52 GMT
RABAT, Sept 4 (Reuters) - A group of blind Moroccan graduates who chained
themselves to a bridge to demand government jobs said they were beaten up by
police on Tuesday, leaving some seriously injured.
The demonstrators had planned to stop traffic on the bridge in the capital,
Rabat, and some had threatened to commit suicide by jumping off.
"But the security forces had information about the protest and blocked us,"
said a group member who identified himself only as Mario. "They intervened
very violently. We were marched off to a wood nearby and 14 of us were
injured, some very seriously."
An interior ministry spokesman said the police were obliged to use some
force to unchain the protesters, who were blocking the traffic, but that no
one was beaten.
Around 1 million of Morocco's 33 million people are officially unemployed
and joblessness is especially high among graduates after state cuts led to a
dearth of government jobs.
Some have been severely injured after drinking petrol and insecticide or
setting themselves alight to protest over their plight. In March, dozens of
disabled graduates chained themselves together at Rabat's central train
station, bringing services to a standstill.
Witnesses said at the time that some were kicked, beaten and threatened by
the security forces.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161199567
MTS workers take protest to Whitehall
Anna-Lisa Paul alpaul at trinidadexpress.com
Friday, September 7th 2007
Employees of the Maintenance Training and Security Company (MTS) yesterday
staged a mid-morning protest outside the Prime Minister's Whitehall, Port of
Spain office, hoping to get an audience.
They were disappointed after acting prime minister Dr Lenny Saith left
without speaking to them.
President of the Transport Industrial Workers Union Roland Sutherland said
the 300 MTS workers who assembled around 10 a.m. in the Queen's Park
Savannah, Port of Spain were frustrated by the slow pace of negotiations
between the union and the company.
Vowing that workers would continue to their protest action until negotiating
sessions resumed for the period 2005-2008, Sutherland said following a
meeting with Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert on Tuesday, workers
were demanding an immediate resumption of negotiations.
He said there were plans to picket the MTS plaza at Aranguez today and added
that some workers were forced to wipe out their savings to meet their daily
living expenses.
All 900 workers are hoping for a speedy conclusion to negotiations, he said.
thestatesman.org/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=16910
A protest with a difference
Statesman News Service
PATNA, Sept. 7: It was a very unusual kind of protest witnessed for the
first time in Bihar today. Hundreds of the government employees of the
Agriculture Department located in the state’s main secretariat today reached
office sporting big “tilaks” (red vermillion mark) on their forehead to
register protest against what they described as the “autocratic” action of
their department’s special secretary Mr CK Anil.
Mr Anil, it may be recalled, had yesterday recommended suspension of the
deputy director (monitoring) in the agriculture department Mr Laxman Mishra
for attending office with “tilak” on his forehead despite his repeated
warnings. Peeved at the action of the Mr Anil, all the employees reached the
office today sporting big and broad red vermillion marks on their forehead.
Those who forgot to put vermillion marks in their houses had their foreheads
embossed with the big red ‘tilak’ in the office as a mark of solidarity with
their senior colleagues who, they accused, were being victimised on
religious grounds.
archives.mybangkokpost.com/bkkarchives/frontstore/news.html?click_page=2
Workers plan protest against privatisation
State enterprise employees are planning a mass protest next week to pressure
the government to dump state enterprise privatisation bills. Sawit Kaewwan,
secretary-general of the State Enterprise Workers' Relations Confederation
(SERC), said the workers plan to gather outside parliament on Wednesday to
push the government to scrap a draft bill on state enterprise privatisation
along with the 1999 Corporatisation Act.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200709130357.htm
Sacked cops from Jhansi stage protest
Jhansi (UP), Sept. 13 (PTI): Several policemen, who were sacked by the Uttar
Pradesh government after an inquiry report indicted their recruitment
process, on Wednesday staged a protest against the government's decision and
blocked traffic here.
Police sources said the constables collected at the Elite Crossing Wednesday
morning and disrupted vehicular traffic briefly.
They said senior police officials including Senior Superintendent of Police,
Vir Bahadur Singh, reached the spot and pacified the agitating constables.
The authorities are maintaining a close eye on the situation, the sources
added.
Soon after the government decision Tuesday, the authorities re-called all
newly-recruited constables from duty and asked them to submit their uniform
and arms.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/12/europe/EU-GEN-Denmark-DR-Strike.php
Reporters at Danish public broadcaster stage strike to protest against
jobcuts
The Associated Press
Published: September 12, 2007
COPENHAGEN, Denmark: Thousands of reporters and news productions staff at
Denmark's public broadcaster, DR, walked off their jobs Wednesday in a
one-day strike to protest a savings package that will result in 481 layoffs,
union officials said.
Radio and TV journalists at the Danish Broadcasting Corp. walked out at
11:00 (0900 GMT), after management announced its full cost-saving plan, said
Steen Larsen, a DR representative for the Danish Union of Journalists.
"We're worried about the quality of our programs and the journalism we'll be
able to provide," Larsen said. "We're wondering how much time journalism has
left."
Larsen said about 1,000 reporters and about 1,000 news production workers
had joined in the strike action. Workers are expected to return to work on
Thursday, he said.
DR has cited higher-than-expected costs related to building its new
headquarters, saying it needs to cut costs by around 300 million kroner
(€40.3 million; US$55.7 million) a year starting in 2008.
Most of the job cuts will be made by leaving vacancies empty and by letting
time restricted contracts expire, DR officials say. But 50 layoffs were
announced Wednesday, Larsen said.
The company's General Director Kenneth Plummer said in a statement that
"2007 has been an extraordinarily tough year for DR. The savings plan has
left significant marks in the organization, and it has been horrible to say
goodbye to good, competent and dedicated colleagues, and to see that their
areas of work disappear."
DR said a series of programs would be reshuffled, shortened or canceled on
both Wednesday and Thursday due to the strike.
Created in 1925, DR is an independent company financed by viewers' license
fees.
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=594&art_id=nw20070913140623677C298151
Numsa workers injured during a protest
September 13 2007 at 04:29PM
Nineteen striking members of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA
(Numsa) were injured in Germiston on Thursday during a protest at the
Johnson Matthey factory, police said.
Workers in the motor industry are currently on strike demanding a nine
percent wage hike, while employers are offering 8.5 percent.
Germiston police spokesperson Captain Steady Nawa said a group of 300
strikers were picketing at the factory gate on Henderson street near Duka
Thole informal settlement when Ekurhuleni metro police opened fire on them,
allegedly without any provocation.
"One person who tried to take photos of the incident was assaulted by the
metro police. Sixteen others were injured and another two were injured
during a stampede," said Nawa.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/09/14/4497113.html
Boiling point reached among Alberta workers
Over 400 people demand labour law changes
By BROOKES MERRITT, Sun Media
There is something seriously wrong in Alberta.
That’s the message representatives of more than 180,000 unionized workers
took to the legislature yesterday, as malcontent construction workers were
joined by even bigger unions in their demand for Alberta’s labour laws to be
reformed.
“When 97% of members in a construction trade vote for a strike, but the
government can still rule that strike is illegal, there is something
seriously wrong in Alberta,” Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil
McGowan shouted to a crowd of over 400 people outside the Alberta Labour
Relations Board this afternoon.
McGowan, whose group represents over 30 Alberta unions, was joined by the
presidents of dozens of non-labour trade unions, including the Alberta Union
of Provincial Employees, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the United
Nurses of Alberta and the Health Sciences Association of Alberta.
An animated speaker, McGowan roused the crowd into several ear-splitting
chants of “Rights right now!” and “Recall the (labour legislation)!”
The demonstration is the latest development in growing labour strife across
Alberta’s construction sector, which has now spread to the entire unionized
labour force.
What began with the Carpenters Union calling an Alberta labour law into
question because it banned them from striking has started a broader movement
exposing what McGowan calls “unconstitutional labour laws that deny workers
their rights.”
Top Labour representatives from Calgary and Red Deer were even in attendance
today.
“It’s getting to a boiling point,” McGowan said. “(Employment minister) Iris
Evans had better get this message, or things could get worse.”
That message is clear: it demands Evans immediately begin the process of
reforming labour laws in Alberta through consultation with the unions.
McGowan - joined by CUPE president D’Arcy Lanovaz, AUPE president Doug
Knight and NDP MLA David Eggen – delivered the letter to a gobsmacked
ministerial assistant this afternoon, as hundreds chanted outside the
legislature.
“We’re not asking Mrs. Evans to look at changing the labour laws. We won’t
accept an empty promise to re-evaluate the law only when these people go
back to work. We’re demanding she meet with us to begin the process today.
We’re available day or night, and we’ll be waiting,” McGowan told the
bewildered aid.
“We union leaders represent over 180,000 Alberta workers. Be warned we are
not a group who should be turned away lightly.”
Evans was not available for comment.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161203115
WASA workers block office in wage protest
Jensen LaVende
Saturday, September 15th 2007
more pay: WASA workers protest at their Farm Road, St Joseph, headquarters
yesterday.
WORKERS at the Water and Sewerage Authority blocked the entrance and exit to
the office yesterday, demanding a better wage offer.
The monthly-paid workers, including managers, technical and clerical staff,
used their cars preventing access to WASA's head office at St Joseph.
The workers are arguing that their salaries must not be lower than that of
the daily-paid employees who received a proposed increase of 28-31 per cent
three weeks ago.
Heralal Maharaj, spokesman for the protesting WASA employees, led the
workers in chanting "We shall not be moved" while demanding to have
negotiations over and done with.
Maharaj added that negotiations had begun in January and to date no
acceptable offer was made.
He said that the 28-31 per cent increase offered to the daily-paid workers
should be matched by the Public Services Association who has only offered
them a 15 per cent increase.
One worker vented his frustration saying that the increase in the cost of
living forced the workers to protest.
Gerald Richardson, general manager of Human Resources, said that the protest
action was premature.
He added that there had been progress in the negotiations and questioned the
motive behind the protest. When asked what would be the next move if a
favourable response wasn't made Maharaj said: "If necessary things would go
further next week."
Speaking with the Express, Stephen Thomas, acting chairman of the PSA, said
that the offer made by the Public Sector Negotiating Committee (PSNC) was
"senseless".
"If we don't get a reasonable position put to us we would meet directly with
the PSNC," he added.
Thomas said that they expected to see a proposal on Monday and on Wednesday
they are expecting an acceptable response from the PSNC.
http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/teachers-in-bulgaria-protest-with-prayer-for-bulgarias-education/id_24929/catid_66
TEACHERS IN BULGARIA PROTEST WITH PRAYER FOR BULGARIA’S EDUCATION
16:30 Mon 17 Sep 2007
Prayers for Bulgaria’s education mark the first official school day in
Bulgaria, September 17 2007.
The prayers were part of the teachers’ protests against the low salaries
they receive, Focus news agency reported.
Teachers from all over the country took part in the protests, which included
prayers, silent rallies, one-hour strikes. Protests would continue during
the rest of the week.
The teachers demand a 100 per cent increase in the monthly wages from
October 1 2007.
The Teachers’ union threatens with a strike from September 24 2007, if the
negotiations with the Cabinet fail.
The Cabinet offers a 52 per cent gradual increase in the salaries by July
2008.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=194328&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=30183
Drivers call off protest
By MANDEEP SINGH
MORE than 120 Health Ministry drivers, excluding those in the Accident and
Emergency Department, yesterday called off a two-day strike and dropped
their overtime demands.
The move followed a meeting with ministry Under-Secretary Dr Aziz Hamza and
Finance and Human Resources Assistant Under-Secretary Ebrahim Shehab.
The drivers had demanded two hours' overtime during Ramadan, since they have
to start work earlier than timings set by the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) for
government employees.
"Officials asserted this demand could not be met in the absence of a budget
and the drivers were offered days off in lieu," said a ministry spokesman.
He said the drivers initially declined the offer, but following discussions
with ministry officials at the meeting they later agreed to it.
The strike is now officially cancelled and drivers will return to work
today, said the spokesman.
The ministry had signed a BD2.8 million four-year contract with Avis Bahrain
in July as part of an outsourcing plan for its transport services.
The deal involves supply of all kinds of vehicles, excluding ambulances,
training drivers as well as supervising and managing operations.
Proposal
Avis Bahrain business head Greggory Rodrigues told the GDN that the company
has offered the ministry 15 of its own drivers to take care of the "extra
two hours" every day.
"This proposal has been accepted," he said.
Mr Rodrigues said the ministry staff initially had some reservations about
the new deal, but these doubts were soon dispelled.
"The role of Avis is restricted to supervising, training and managing
operations," he said.
Mr Rodrigues said Avis is also prohibited from interfering with the rights
of the employees in line with the relevant laws of the CSB.
"However, employees must follow the procedures placed by the company related
to running the operations in a successful and organised manner," he said.
He said reports presented by the company to the ministry authorities on the
performance of the employees would be helpful when promotions or incentives
are considered.
Ministry services acting director Mahmood Habib Ibrahim said in a circular
issued to the Transportation Department that the drivers would be entitled
to 26 hours' overtime in one month, but that would be 'paid' in the form of
three and a quarter days of leave, added into their leave bank.
mandeep at gdn.com.bh
http://www.reuters.com/article/mergersNews/idUSN1928853320070919
Carlyle's Rubenstein the subject of tax protest
Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:31pm EDT
By Michael Flaherty
NEW YORK, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Roughly 25 members and supporters of the
Working Families Party gathered outside the Waldorf Astoria here on
Wednesday to protest the tax treatment of private equity firms.
The group specifically targeted David Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle
Group [CYL.UL], one of the largest private equity firms in the world, who
was speaking at a conference inside.
"These firms are getting away with murder," said Dan Cantor, executive
director of Working Families, a community and labor-based organization that
advocates for the middle and working class.
Private equity firms, which have raised more than $400 billion and done more
$700 billion in the last year alone, have their profits taxed at the capital
gains rate, or 15 percent.
Lawmakers have proposed various bills that seek to raise taxes on the
profits -- known as carried interest -- on private investment funds to 35
percent, the same as the ordinary income tax rate.
Members of the protest briefly entered the conference and hung a banner
above the audience before Rubenstein. The message was the same as on the
signs and handouts: Why does Carlyle Group founder David Rubenstein pay
taxes at a lower rate than a hotel doorman?
When asked about the protest, Rubenstein cracked several jokes as the
audience laughed and applauded.
"When history is written and people talk about the great protests,"
Rubenstein said, mentioning civil disobedience efforts from Gandhi and
Martin Luther King, "I don't think that this will be in that category."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22475323-2862,00.html
Anti-WorkChoices protest warning
John Masanauskas
September 25, 2007 12:00am
EMPLOYERS have been warned not to pay any workers who walk off the job and
take part in an anti-WorkChoices protest tomorrow.
Up to 30,000 building and manufacturing workers are expected to shut down a
major part of the CBD when they march from Carlton to Flinders St station
from 10am.
Organised by the Trades Hall Council, it will be the first major rally this
year against the Howard Government's workplace changes.
The last mass protest was held at the MCG in November last year, but unions
failed in their bid to fill the arena.
Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry spokesman David Gregory
said that tomorrow's protest was pointless and would disrupt businesses and
city workers.
"We understand what the union position is on IR -- this rally is an
absolutely unnecessary, misguided waste of time," Mr Gregory said.
"You have to wonder what is motivating the organisers."
Under federal laws, workers at the rally face fines or having their wages
docked unless they get written permission to attend or take leave.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/04/content_6829894.htm
NY cabbies to strike again in protest of GPS installations
NEW YORK, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of New York taxi drivers are
planning a second strike in less than two months in protest of new Global
Positioning System (GPS) installations and credit-card scanners, local media
reported Wednesday.
The Taxi Workers Alliance will begin the 24-hour walkout on Oct. 22,
including a lunchtime demonstration outside the Taxi & Limousine Commission
in Lower Manhattan, announced Bhairavi Desai, executive director of the
cabbies' group.
The stoppage is directed against the new GPS systems and credit-card
scanners that the city is mandating for all cabs. Taxis are required to have
the new technology installed as of their first inspections scheduled after
Oct. 1.
The union says it represents about one-fifth of the city's 44,000
licensed taxi drivers.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city would be ready, but told the
cabbies that it was in their best financial interest to keep working.
The first cab strike on Sept. 5-7 caused delays, but fell short of
bringing the city to a grinding halt.
Cab drivers are angry over fees averaging about 5 percent on each credit
card transaction, and the invasion of their privacy by the presence of the
GPS system.
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