[Onthebarricades] Worker protests, December 2008

[global resistance roundup]

* US: Illinois - Window factory occupation becomes iconic moment
* MALAYSIA/BURMA: Migrant workers deported after protest
* TURKEY: Tire workers occupy plant over job cuts
* MALAYSIA: Sixteen-day pedal protest for minimum wage, against 
repressive laws
* TAIWAN: Workers fight police over unpaid wages
* CHINA: Strike at Shanghai factory
* BAHAMAS: Protest over sandal factory layoffs
* INDONESIA: Hospital staff strike
* INDONESIA: Metal workers rally in Jakarta
* INDONESIA: Thousands join rallies nationwide against attack on wages
* TAIWAN: Hundreds protest forced leave
* BOLIVIA: Miners protest firings by Swiss company
* NIGERIA: Sacked telecom staff stage demo
* NIGERIA: Protest in Bayelsa for promised jobs
* NIGERIA: Dockworker protest closes central Lagos
* THAILAND: Thainox workers protest attacks on conditions
* TRINIDAD: Petrol workers continue strike into holidays
* ZIMBABWE: Strike against cash withdrawal limits; police attack protest
* PAKISTAN: Young doctors demand salary increase
* PAKISTAN: Journalists protest "economic murder" after employee's death
* THAILAND: Auto parts workers in successful bonus protest
* UGANDA: Clearing agents protest at customs
* ANGUILLA: Chinese migrant workers protest for unpaid wages, return to 
China
* KENYA: Council workers in pay protest
* INDIA: Labour protests roundup
* HUNGARY: Workers protest strikebreaking at airport, demand agreement
* SERBIA: Warning of mass protests ahead
* AUSTRALIA: Building workers protest
* UK: Derby fire crews protest cuts
* US: Union protesters target own representatives
* US: Protests after WalMart stampede death
* FRANCE: Life models brave the cold to protest nude
* JAPAN: Workers protest wave of job cuts
* US: Protest at Associated Press over attack on staff conditions
* US: California - Health workers protest rival union over centralised 
bargaining
* GREECE: Workers block stores in protest over Sunday opening
* US: University staff protest for right to smoke





http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=SOM20081209&articleId=11342

Worker Protest: The Chicago Factory Occupation and The Economic Crisis

by Eric Sommer

Global Research, December 9, 2008

A rare defining moment in social class relations occurred a few days ago 
in Chicago, U.S.A.: In the wake of the economic chaos unleashed by the 
financial crisis, class struggle of the working class was reborn in 
America with a full-force factory occupation by workers.

Workers at 'Republic Windows and Doors' in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. have 
assembled vinyl windows and sliding doors for many years; now, told that 
they are to be laid off with only three days notice, they have refused 
to leave the plant and have barricaded themselves inside until money and 
benefits owed to them are provided. Large numbers of people, and 
community organizations, are backing them, bringing food and other 
support items to the factory.

To understand the Chicago occupations importance, an analogy is useful. 
In the mid-1960's every U.S. male was required to carry a 'draft card' 
bearing a number which would be used by the U.S. government to induct or 
force them into the U.S. Army if the government chose to do so.

As the imperialist Vietnam war expandanded, the government required 
ever-more soldiers, and one day around 1965 a group of young men 
publicly burned their draft cards together in California to symbolize 
their refusal to enter the U.S. Army if they should be ordered to do so.

What looked at the time like a lone and perhaps hopelessly quixotic act 
of a few unusual individuals was in fact very far-sighted. Over time, as 
literally millions of men were ordered into the army over the next 10 
years, hundreds of thousands refused service, following on the example 
of this first set by the brave initial card burners. In retrospect, the 
timing of the draft-card burners was perfect; it was a perfect 
preparation of American males to resist the massive war of occupation 
and aggression by the U.S. in Vietnam.

Similarly, the auto industry workers occupation today is also a case of 
perfect timing.

Their example will - almost without doubt - inspire large numbers of 
other workers in America, also faced by factory closures, mortgage 
foreclosures, and the like, to act militantly - as members of the 
working class - to secure their livelihoods and futures.

It's important to understand that the standard method of worker protest, 
recognized by U.S. law, is the strike, in which workers refuse to work 
and perhaps picket outside a workplace.

Occupation or seizure of control of the workplace is a much rarer and 
more serious matter, as it directly threatens the control of production 
and of property by the owners of capital, and points, in the limit case, 
to worker control of the economy.

The Chicago occupation indicates both the severity of the economic 
crisis, and the kinds of working class actions which are now on the 
horizon.

Below is a first report in the NY Times, followed by a link to a more 
detailed account of the support effort for these workers.






http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/us/08chicago.html?_r=1&em

In Factory Sit-In, an Anger Spread Wide
Workers laid off from a Chicago factory on Saturday at what they called 
an occupation of the plant. They criticized their former bosses, the 
company’s creditors and the federal government.

By MONICA DAVEY
Published: December 7, 2008
CHICAGO — The scene inside a long, low-slung factory on this city’s 
North Side this weekend offered a glimpse at how the nation’s loss of 
more than 600,000 manufacturing jobs in a year of recession is boiling 
over.

Workers laid off Friday from Republic Windows and Doors, who for years 
assembled vinyl windows and sliding doors here, said they would not 
leave, even after company officials announced that the factory was closing.
Some of the plant’s 250 workers stayed all night, all weekend, in what 
they were calling an occupation of the factory. Their sharpest 
criticisms were aimed at their former bosses, who they said gave them 
only three days’ notice of the closing, and the company’s creditors. But 
their anger stretched broadly to the government’s costly corporate 
bailout plans, which, they argued, had forgotten about regular workers.
“They want the poor person to stay down,” said Silvia Mazon, 47, a 
mother of two who worked as an assembler here for 13 years and said she 
had never before been the sort to march in protests or make a fuss. 
“We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere until we get what’s fair and 
what’s ours. They thought they would get rid of us easily, but if we 
have to be here for Christmas, it doesn’t matter.”
The workers, members of Local 1110 of the United Electrical, Radio and 
Machine Workers of America, said they were owed vacation and severance 
pay and were not given the 60 days of notice generally required by 
federal law when companies make layoffs. Lisa Madigan, the attorney 
general of Illinois, said her office was investigating, and 
representatives from her office interviewed workers at the plant on Sunday.
At a news conference Sunday, President-elect Barack Obama said the 
company should follow through on its commitments to its workers.
“The workers who are asking for the benefits and payments that they have 
earned,” Mr. Obama said, “I think they’re absolutely right and 
understand that what’s happening to them is reflective of what’s 
happening across this economy.”
Company officials, who were no longer at the factory, did not return 
telephone or e-mail messages. A meeting between the owners and workers 
is scheduled for Monday. The company, which was founded in 1965 and once 
employed more than 700 people, had struggled in recent months as home 
construction dipped, workers said.
Still, as they milled around the factory’s entrance this weekend, some 
workers said they doubted that the company was really in financial 
straits, and they suggested that it would reopen elsewhere with cheaper 
costs and lower pay. Others said managers had kept their struggles 
secret, at one point before Thanksgiving removing heavy equipment in the 
middle of the night but claiming, when asked about it, that all was well.
Workers also pointedly blamed Bank of America, a lender to Republic 
Windows, saying the bank had prevented the company from paying them what 
they were owed, particularly for vacation time accrued.
“Here the banks like Bank of America get a bailout, but workers cannot 
be paid?” said Leah Fried, an organizer with the union workers. “The 
taxpayers would like to see that bailout go toward saving jobs, not 
saving C.E.O.’s.”
In a statement issued Saturday, Bank of America officials said they 
could not comment on an individual client’s situation because of 
confidentiality obligations. Still, a spokeswoman also said, “Neither 
Bank of America nor any other third party lender to the company has the 
right to control whether the company complies with applicable laws or 
honors its commitments to its employees.”
Inside the factory, the “occupation” was relatively quiet. The Chicago 
police said that they were monitoring the situation but that they had 
had no reports of a criminal matter to investigate.
About 30 workers sat in folding chairs on the factory floor. (Reporters 
and supporters were not allowed to enter, but the workers could be 
observed through an open door.) They came in shifts around the clock. 
They tidied things. They shoveled snow. They met with visiting leaders, 
including Representatives Luis V. Gutierrez and Jan Schakowsky, both 
Democrats from Illinois, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
Throughout the weekend, people came by with donations of food, water and 
other supplies.
The workers said they were determined to keep their action — 
reminiscent, union leaders said, of autoworkers’ efforts in Michigan in 
the 1930s — peaceful and to preserve the factory.
“The fact is that workers really feel like they have nothing to lose at 
this point,” Ms. Fried said. “It shows something about our economic 
times, and it says something about how people feel about the bailout.”
Until last Tuesday, many workers here said, they had no sense that there 
was any problem. Shortly before 1 p.m. that day, workers were told in a 
meeting that the plant would close Friday, they said. Some people wept, 
others expressed fury.
Many employees said they had worked in the factory for decades. Lalo 
Muñoz, who was among those sleeping over in the building, said he 
arrived 34 years ago. The workers — about 80 percent of them Hispanic, 
with the rest black or of other ethnic and national backgrounds — made 
$14 an hour on average and received health care and retirement benefits, 
Ms. Fried said.
“This never happens — to take a company from the inside,” Ms. Mazon 
said. “But I’m fighting for my family, and we’re not going anywhere.”






http://www.fightbacknews.org/2008/12/support-grows-for-republic-window-occupation.htm

Support Grows for Republic Windows Occupation
By Stephanie Weiner


UE Local 1110 President Armando Robles speaks at Fight Back! event, 
funds collected to support struggle
Chicago, IL - Saturday, Dec. 6 brought more inspiration from workers at 
Republic Windows and Doors who are occupying their plant in Chicago. The 
workers’ union, Local 1110 of the United Electrical workers (UE), held a 
rally at noon outside the plant doors. By then, the workers’ militant 
action had already become international news.
Lalo Muñoz, a worker in the plant for 34 years spoke to the rally and 
explained that they had just been given notice on Tuesday that the plant 
would close Friday. The company had no plans to pay them the 75 days pay 
required in the Illinois WARN Act, nor their sick pay or vacation pay, 
and their health insurance would end immediately. Behind him were other 
occupying workers with blankets wrapped around them to protect them from 
the below zero temperatures.
Reverend CJ Hawking from the Interfaith Committee on Workers’ Issues 
called up speaker after speaker to express the importance of the plant 
occupation for all workers across the U.S. Teamsters Local 743 President 
Richard Berg, AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Larry Spivak, SEIU 
Local 73 executive board member Joe Iosbaker, Michelle Aymold, an 
officer with the Graduate Employees Organization at UIC, Moises Zavala 
from UFCW, Martin Unzueta from The Chicago Workers Collaborative and 
Jobs with Justice director James Thindwa called these 260 workers true 
heroes.
Leaders from the United Electrical workers, Carl Rosen and Leah Fried, 
explained that the workers were told that Bank of America would not loan 
the company money. Bank of America denied the loan despite the $25 
billion taxpayer bailout the bank had recently received. The 200 person 
crowd assembled on hours notice chanted, “You got bailed out, we got 
sold out!”
By the end of the rally, Congressman Luis Gutierrez promised to stick 
with them until they got justice. People left with concrete plans to 
return to the 1333 N Hickory Street factory with food, supplies, money, 
endorsements and ready to get more people for the planned Monday and 
Tuesday events.
Local 1110 President Armando Robles and his family spent the late 
afternoon explaining to Chicago activists the details and history of 
their struggle. As he walked into the packed room at the 17th annual 
People’s Thanksgiving fundraising dinner for Fight Back! newspaper, the 
ecstatic crowd chanted “Si se puede!”
The room included people from the disability rights group Access Living, 
Iraq Veterans Against the War, Southside Together Organized for Power, 
Sector Latino, the activist fan club of the Chicago Fire, SDS, Palestine 
Solidarity Group, National Lawyers Guild, Chicago Coalition Against War 
and Racism, and even the staff of the Venezuelan Consulate.
The crowd made it clear that the workers’ action on Friday had inspired 
folks far beyond the traditional labor movement. The fundraising bags 
circulating the room were filled as people came forward to put in $100 
donations. After the event a group of 25 people drove to the factory to 
personally deliver the $1500 raised.
By late night the factory had numerous TV trucks parked outside and was 
busy with Mexican community members bringing in large silver pots of 
homemade soup through the barricaded front doors of the main plant 
filled with expensive equipment and merchandise. The workers had already 
developed their own food, housekeeping, security and media committees. 
Vicente Rangel, a union steward with 15 years in the plant, was on his 
way to a live CNN interview.
Next steps
Sunday morning, Rev. Jesse Jackson of Operation PUSH met with the 
workers in the plant cafeteria and stated his intention to press Bank of 
America to reinstate Republic’s line of credit. UE has set up a website 
for this as well: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/bankofamerica
A labor rally will be held at the factory door on Monday, Dec. 8 at 
noon, called by Chicago Federation of Labor president Dennis Gannon and 
SEIU state council head, Tom Balanoff.
The next negotiations between the company, the bank, Local 1110 and 
Representative Gutierrez will take place on Monday, Dec. 8 at 4:00 pm. 
If the company does not agree to the workers’ demands for justice, the 
occupation will continue. The workers will rally on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 
noon in front of the Bank of America, 231 South LaSalle Street in Chicago.





http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/us/07chicago.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

After Layoffs, Workers Stay at a Factory in Protest

By MONICA DAVEY
Published: December 6, 2008
CHICAGO — Scores of workers laid off from a factory here that makes 
windows and doors have refused to leave, deciding to stage a “peaceful 
occupation” of the plant around the clock this weekend as they demand 
pay they say is owed them.
Workers at Republic Windows and Doors, which laid off about 250 people, 
said they were notified Tuesday that the plant, more than four decades 
old, would close Friday. They said they were given insufficient notice 
and were never paid for vacation days or severance.
The workers, many of whom were sitting on fold-up chairs on the factory 
floor Saturday afternoon, said they would not leave.
“They’re staying because the fact is that these workers feel they have 
nothing to lose at this point,” said Leah Fried, an organizer for the 
United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Local 1110, who 
said groups of 30 were occupying the plant in shifts. “Telling them they 
have three days before they are out on the street, penniless, is 
outrageous.”
Officials from the company, which makes vinyl windows and patio doors, 
were not at the plant on Saturday and could not be reached by telephone.
Crain’s Chicago Business reported that the company’s leader had reported 
that sales had fallen drastically over the last month.
The Chicago police said they were monitoring the situation but had no 
reason to remove the workers. “We haven’t got any reports of a criminal 
nature at this time,” a police spokesman said.
Workers blamed Bank of America, which they said had served as an 
important lender to Republic Windows, for cutting off credit to the 
company and preventing workers from being paid. Some workers carried 
signs and stickers criticizing the bank: “You got bailed out, we got 
sold out.”
A spokeswoman for Bank of America, Julie Westermann, said in a written 
statement that “because of our client confidentiality obligations, we 
cannot comment on any individual clients’ situations.” But Ms. 
Westermann noted, “Neither Bank of America nor any other third party 
lender to the company has the right to control whether the company 
complies with applicable laws or honors its commitments to its employees.”
Representative Luis V. Gutierrez, Democrat of Illinois, said union 
leaders hoped to meet Monday afternoon with the company’s leaders and 
its lenders.
Meanwhile, workers said they were going nowhere.
“It came as a complete surprise,” said Lalo Muñoz, 54, who had worked at 
Republic for 34 years and who spent the night on the factory floor 
Friday and was still there Saturday afternoon. “We’re waiting for answers.”






http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/12/08/20081208workers-takeover1208-ON.html

Laid-off workers become symbol of mounting anger
16 comments Dec. 8, 2008 06:04 PM
Associated Press
CHICAGO - The nation's grim economy now has a rallying point: Employees 
at a window-and-door factory that went out of business have taken over 
the building in a siege that has come to symbolize the woes of the 
ordinary worker.
The Republic Windows and Doors factory closed abruptly last week after 
Bank of America canceled the company's financing. Since then, about 200 
of the 240 laid-off workers have taken turns occupying the factory, 
declaring that they will not leave until getting assurances they will 
receive severance and accrued vacation pay.
But the standoff has also come to embody mounting anger over the 
government's willingness to bail out deep-pocketed corporations but not 
average people.
"There's a simplicity and straightforwardness to this particular case 
that anybody can wrap their head around," said James Thindwa, executive 
director for the Chicago office of Jobs With Justice, a national 
coalition of unions, community groups and other organizations.
Apolinar Cabrera, a 17-year Republic employee, lost his job and benefits 
just as his wife is about to deliver their third child.
"I don't know what to do," said Cabrera, 44, who worked in Republic's 
shipping department. He has been shuttling between the plant and home so 
he can check on his wife.
The workers show up in groups of 50 or 60 to occupy the plant 
around-the-clock in eight-hour shifts.
The union assigns some employees to clean the factory and make sure it's 
safe. Others take in food donations brought to the door. Outside, they 
hung a huge American flag, and some are huddled around a fire in a 
garbage can.
The protest - along with vocal support from President-elect Barack 
Obama, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, civil rights activists and others 
- has also created something else: a chance for unions that have been 
losing members and strength for years to show they still matter.
"I hope it's the beginning of a real fight-back movement," said Leah 
Fried, an organizer for the United Electrical Workers, which represents 
the Republic workers, who are mostly Hispanic.
Jobs With Justice organizers said it was time to seize the moment by 
reviving a tactic - the sit-in - that has not been widely used in the 
U.S. in decades.
The workers say the company violated the federal law because employees 
were not given 60 days' notice that they were losing their jobs.
The company did not return calls for comment, but issued a timeline of 
its discussions with Bank of America through a public relations company.
Republic said it presented a plan for an "orderly wind down" to Bank of 
America in October, including its intention to end manufacturing in 
January 2009.
On Nov. 25, Republic said it requested "permission" from Bank of America 
to issue vacation pay to its employees, but said the next day the bank 
"rejected" that request.
"The company wished to pay but was not allowed to make that payment 
according to the instructions of the bank," said Tom Figel of Lake 
Effect Communications, the company retained by Republic.
In a prepared statement, Bank of America said it had "worked with the 
company and shared our concerns about the company's situation and its 
operations for the past several months." But the bank said it agreed 
that Republic should try to honor its obligation to employees.
Most of the anger over the plant closure has been directed at Bank of 
America, not the company, which has not sought to evict workers from the 
building. Fried said the company cannot pay its employees because the 
bank will not let it.
The law allows businesses to close without giving the required notice 
under certain circumstances, such as if another company that is the sole 
source of income suddenly goes out of business, said Mark Johnson, 
president of Erisa Benefits Consulting in Grapevine, Texas, who said he 
was not familiar with the Republic case.
Blagojevich on Monday ordered all state agencies to stop doing business 
with Bank of America to pressure the bank into using federal bailout 
money it received to help the laid-off workers.
"We hope that this kind of leverage and pressure will encourage Bank of 
America to do the right thing for this business," Blagojevich said 
outside the plant. "Take some of that federal tax money that they've 
received and invest it by providing the necessary credit to this company 
so these workers can keep their jobs."
Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said he wanted to ask his fellow 
senators to remind banks that the bailout wasn't to be used for 
dividends and executive salaries.
"They're for loans and credit to businesses just like Republic," he said.
On Monday, about a dozen protesters, including some former Republic 
workers, rallied outside a Bank of America branch on the city's West 
Side, handing out fliers, carrying signs and banging drums. Several 
tried to enter the bank to deliver their message, but were turned away.
The support generated by the sit-in has surprised some workers.
"We never expected this," said factory employee Melvin Maclin, vice 
president of the union local that represents the workers. "We expected 
to go to jail."






http://newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2008/12/08/cbs-sides-union-chicago-factory-protest

CBS Sides With Union In Chicago Factory Protest

By Kyle Drennen (Bio | Archive)
December 8, 2008 - 18:34 ET
At the top of Monday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith teased an 
upcoming story about a protest by laid off workers at a Chicago factory: 
"Fighting back, workers stage a protest after being laid off, refusing 
to leave their Chicago factory until their demands are met...We'll take 
you there live and hear what they're fighting for." Later, co-host 
Maggie Rodriguez interviewed Leah Fried of the United Electrical Workers 
and liberal Congressman Luis Gutierrez, no spokesman for the management 
of the company, Republic Windows and Doors, was featured.
Rodriguez found the real culprit:
RODRIGUEZ: The company says that it had to close because Bank of America 
canceled their line of credit. I take it you're not buying that?
FRIED: Oh, no. Bank of America definitely is -- is in charge here.
RODRIGUEZ: But I'm saying that you're not satisfied with that explanation?
FRIED: No, no -- well this is the same bank that got $25 billion in 
bailout funds, so I think we definitely need to hold them accountable 
for what they do to our economy and whether or not they're investing in 
jobs, whether or not they're keeping people employed. So we're -- we're 
fighting hard to make sure that Bank of America is held accountable for 
what they're doing and the workers feel very strongly that -- that they 
need to do the right thing here.
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RODRIGUEZ: Bank of America says the company should be held accountable, 
not them, because this was not a good loan.
FRIED: Well, frankly, right now, what matters is that Bank of America 
owns millions of dollars worth of assets of this company and these 
workers are owed their vacation pay and if this factory continues to 
stay closed, then they're owed 60 days pay under the Warren Act, and, 
you know, that's just not right to throw people out on the street with 
nothing.
Rodriguez then turned to Congressman Gutierrez:
RODRIGUEZ: Representative Gutierrez, how will you get involved in this?
LUIS GUTIERREZ: We've organized a meeting today between the union 
representatives, the company, Bank of America, and my office, at 4:00 
this afternoon. We want to end the finger-pointing. Whether it's the 
company or Bank of America, let's open up the books. The company has 
agreed to come and sign a release, a waiver, so that -- a 
confidentiality waiver, so we can look at the books and see where the 
money is at. Look, we -- you guys are reporting on what we did for the 
financial industry. $700 billion another $15 - $20 billion for the 
automobile industry. Who's standing up for workers? We think the federal 
government has to make sure that the Warren Act, which says that these 
workers are due 60 days of pay and health benefits, has to be enforced. 
Let's make sure the federal government does its job with these workers, 
not with just those on Wall Street, but those really, this is main 
street here. Let's make sure that we make sure that in the end, the 
federal government, the laws that are on the books to protect these 
workers, are respected.
—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.






http://us.cnn.com/2008/US/12/08/chicago.labor.protest/index.html

Mon December 8, 2008
Illinois workers' sit-in near resolution, mediator says
• Story Highlights
• Mediator Rep. Luis Gutierrez says settlement could come Tuesday
• Governor says state will temporarily suspend business with Bank of America
• About 200 laid-off workers have occupied Chicago, Illinois, plant 
since Friday
• They say Republic Windows and Doors didn't give proper notice or pay
 From Susan Roesgen
CNN



CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- A resolution could come Tuesday to the sit-in 
by laid-off workers at a Chicago window factory, a mediator in the talks 
said Monday night.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, center, speaks to reporters Monday after 
meeting with workers.

1 of 2


There was a tone of reconciliation and of wanting to find an end to the 
situation in talks between representatives of the factory, the laid-off 
workers and Bank of America, said Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez, who 
has been helping mediate the discussions.
Gutierrez said talks had progressed and he hoped there would be a 
resolution by Tuesday afternoon.
"Tomorrow we hope to have the kind of resolution that allows these 
families to have a good holiday," Gutierrez said.
About 200 workers from the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers 
of America have conducted what they called a "peaceful occupation" of 
the Republic Windows and Doors factory since Friday, the day layoffs 
were supposed to take effect.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich ordered the state government to suspend 
doing business with Bank of America Monday as the weekend protest 
spilled into the workweek. Watch workers explain why they're staging the 
sit-in »
The workers said Republic gave them three days notice that they were 
losing their jobs, telling them Bank of America had cut off credit to 
the company. Federal law requires either 60 days notice or 60 days pay 
for the laid-off workers.
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"We are going to do everything possible here in Illinois to side with 
these workers," Blagojevich said after meeting with them. "And it isn't 
just lending them moral support, but it's putting pressure on financial 
institutions like the Bank of America as well as making sure that we 
have our court system enforce the federal laws so these workers are 
getting what they're entitled to under the law and under what is the 
right thing to do."
The Bank of America "received $25 billion in taxpayer money as part of 
the financial bailout," the governor said. "This is exactly and 
precisely the kind of thing that isn't right when, on the one hand, 
powerful special interests get the help of taxpayer money to bail them 
out, the banks. And yet the purpose of that money was supposed to be to 
provide a line of credit to businesses like this to keep workers working 
and keep people employed."
Republic Windows and Doors has not commented publicly on the layoffs or 
the sit-in.
Bank of America said it is not responsible for action taken by Republic.
"Neither Bank of America nor any other lender to the company has the 
right to control whether the company complies with applicable laws or 
honors its commitments to its employees," the bank said in a written 
statement.
But union representative Leah Fried said Republic had put the blame 
squarely on the bank.
"The company told us very clearly they are shutting down, shutting their 
doors because Bank of America refused to continue their credit and their 
financing," she said. "They also told us very clearly that Bank of 
America did not authorize any expenditures towards people's vacation pay 
or any money they would be owed. Now, that can't be clearer to me that 
Bank of America is calling the shots."
Fried also said that because Bank of America owns the equipment at the 
plant, workers are concerned that it might liquidate the assets.
"We're saying you've got a choice," she said. You can either liquidate 
those assets and take the money for yourselves, or let's talk about 
doing the right thing and finding better management for this company, 
keeping it open, saving 300 jobs. Or at the very least allowing Republic 
to fulfill its obligation to pay its workers what they're owed under law."
Blagojevich told reporters that his office was seeking a temporary 
restraining order to prevent Republic from dissolving before its workers 
have a chance to seek redress. The state is also working with food banks 
to provide food deliveries for the laid-off workers and their families. 
Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson delivered turkeys to the workers Sunday.

Political figures in the Chicago area have turned out to support the 
sit-in -- including the former South Side state senator who was elected 
president last month.
"Number one, I think that these workers, if they have earned these 
benefits and their pay, then these companies need to follow through on 
those commitments," President-elect Barack Obama said during a news 
conference Sunday. "And, number two, I think it is important for us to 
make sure that, moving forward, any economic plan that we put in place 
helps businesses to meet payroll so that we're not seeing these kinds of 
circumstances again."






http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1276535/republic_windows_and_doors_workers.html?cat=62

Republic Windows and Doors Workers Take Over Building to Protest Illegal 
Layoffs, Pay Loss
December 06, 2008 by
Carol Bengle Gilbert

250 former workers at Republic Windows and Doors in Chicago organized a 
rotating sit-in yesterday upon learning that the factory was to abruptly 
close. The workers, members of the United Electrical Union, did not 
receive the Federally mandated 60 days


Republic Windows and Doors Workers Take Over Building to Protest Illegal 
Layoffs, Pay Loss
notice of the layoffs or alternative severance pay, and their ability to 
collect accrued vacation leave is in jeopardy. A Republic Windows and 
Doors representative told union officials that the closing was necessary 
because Bank of America abruptly pulled the company's financing, 
according to AFP. Bank of America was the company's main lender.

According to Associated Press, Chicago police are aware of the sit-in 
and are monitoring the situation. Republic Windows and Doors, a Chicago 
presence for 48 years, has pledged not to eject the workers from the 
building and to attempt to resolve their concerns at a meeting Monday 
between the union, the company and the bank.

Bank of America, which had been lobbying Congress for a Federal bailout 
since January 2008, got a Federal bailout throught the Troubled Asset 
Relief Program (TARP) in recent weeks. In an interview with AFP, union 
representative Leah Fried expressed outrage that Bank of America 
abruptly cut Republic Windows and Doors' lifeline after itself receiving 
relief at the expense of Federal taxpayers.







http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122879049064190563.html?mod=rss_whats_news_us_business

• DECEMBER 9, 2008
Escalation of Layoff Protest Poses Risks for Bank of America
• Article
• Comments (42)
more in Business »
CHICAGO -- Sit-in protests after job layoffs at a local door-and-window 
factory here have escalated into an intense labor-relations fight that 
could have financial ramifications for Bank of America Corp.
On Monday, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, at a news conference in front 
of the Republic Windows & Doors factory, called on state agencies to 
suspend business with Bank of America, based in Charlotte, N.C.
The city of Chicago also threatened to stop doing business with the bank.
Gov. Blagojevich's comments came a day after President-elect Barack 
Obama offered support for the employees, saying at a news conference 
that they are ...






http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/12/10/illinois.labor.protest/

December 10, 2008 -- Updated 0432 GMT (1232 HKT)

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Laid-off workers at a Chicago window factory 
ended a five-day sit-in after banks agreed to lend the failed company 
$1.75 million for outstanding wages and benefits, union officials said 
Wednesday.

Protesters demonstrate in support of the window-factory workers in 
Chicago on Wednesday.

"The occupation is over," said Armando Robles, president of the United 
Electrical Workers local 1110, which led the sit-in.
About 200 workers launched what they called a "peaceful occupation" of 
the Republic Windows and Doors factory Friday after Republic gave its 
employees three days notice of the layoffs. According to the workers, 
Republic told them that Bank of America had cut off credit to the company.
Federal law requires 60 days notice or 60 days paid compensation for 
workers when they close plants.
Bank of America agreed Wednesday to approve $1.35 million in loans to 
pay those obligations. Another $400,000 came from J.P. Morgan Chase, 
union officials said.
Workers approved the deal at a meeting Wednesday night. Union official 
Carl Rosen said the average worker will receive about $6,000 under the 
package.
But he added: "This is about more than just money. It's about what can 
be achieved when workers organize and stand up for justice."
Don't Miss
• Illinois workers' sit-in near resolution, mediator says
Union representative Leah Fried said this week that Republic had put the 
blame squarely on the bank for the layoffs.
"The company told us very clearly they are shutting down, shutting their 
doors because Bank of America refused to continue their credit and their 
financing," she said.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich ordered the state government to suspend 
doing business with Bank of America on Monday as the weekend protest 
spilled into the workweek.
After meeting with the workers on Monday, Blagojevich told reporters 
that "we are going to do everything possible here in Illinois to side 
with these workers."
His meeting with the workers came a day before he was arrested on 
federal corruption charges related in part to the selection of a 
successor to President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat.






http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/united-states/illinois-governor-blagojevich-8283.html

State of Illinois Boycotts Bank of America amid Protests
By Joshua Philipp
Epoch Times Staff Dec 9, 2008

ILLINOIS: Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama (C) talks 
with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (R) and Illinois Governor Rod 
Blagojevich (L) April 16, 2007 during a rally for support of the 2016 
Olympic Games at Daley Plaza in Chicago. (JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images)
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich said Dec.8 that the state would 
suspend business with Bank of America.

On Friday, Dec. 5, Republic Windows and Doors, a Chicago business, was 
forced to close after Bank of America canceled the company’s line of 
credit. Members of United Electrical, Radio, and Machinery Workers of 
America (UE), an independent union, have held an ongoing sit-in at the 
plant to protest its closing.

The company, which had been in business since 1965, announced that it 
would be going out of business, giving its near 200 employees just three 
days notice. In addition, protesters have said that they were not given 
the 60 days notice that is required in a mass layoff, nor were they 
given their vacation and severance pay.

In response, 15 members of the Chicago city council have called for the 
city to end all financial ties with Bank of America. Illinois Governor 
also said on Dec. 8 that the state will not do business with Bank of 
America until the situation is resolved.

President-elect Barack Obama was quoted Sunday by the Chicago Sun-Times, 
offering his support to the laid-off workers. "When it comes to the 
situation here in Chicago with the workers who are asking for their 
benefits and payments they have earned, I think they are absolutely 
right," Obama is quoted saying.

"So, number one, I think that these workers, if they have earned their 
benefits and their pay, then these companies need to follow through on 
those commitments. Number two, I think it is important for us to make 
sure that, moving forward, any economic plan we put in place helps 
businesses to meet payroll so we are not seeing these kinds of 
circumstances again,” Obama said.

A statement released by Bank of America on Dec. 8 has dodged the blame, 
saying that Republic Windows and Doors should be responsible to “honor 
its obligations to its employees and minimize the impact of failure on 
those employees.”

“When a company faces such a dire situation, its lender is not empowered 
to direct the company’s management how to manage its affairs and what 
obligations should be paid. Such decisions belong to the management and 
owners of the company,” the statement says.

The UE, on the other hand, has pointed the blame to Bank of America. Al 
Hart, editor of the UE news, said in a phone interview that Bank of 
America is the responsible party. “When your credit is cut off, unless 
you've got some internal financing, you're forced to close up,” said Hart.

“This, of course, flies in the face of what we were told when the 
government approved the financial bail-out for the banks. ‘If they don't 
give $700 billion to the financial industry, credit will dry up, 
factories will be forced to close, and people will lose their jobs,’” 
said Hart. “Well, we had the bail-out, Bank of America got $25 billion 
from taxpayers, and yet they're cutting off credit to a company like 
this and forcing them to close down.”

“If you look over the past year, and some of this was before the 
bailout, they bought Countrywide, they bought Meryl Lynch around the 
time of the bailout. They're buying up other banks and other financial 
institutions instead of doing the things that they're supposed to do as 
a bank—which is providing credit to keep the economy functioning.”
Last Updated
Dec 12, 2008







http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=2024

Burmese migrants deported from Malaysia after protest
Dec 18, 2008 (DVB)–Around 40 Burmese migrant workers in Malaysia were 
deported to Burma yesterday morning after a protest, causing uncertainty 
among Burmese migrant communities in the country.
A Burmese employee at an electronic company in Johor state said the 
workers were deported because they had protested against tightening 
regulations on migrant workers.
The employee said the workers had sought help from the Burmese embassy 
in Malaysia but officials there had given them no support.
Some of those who were involved in the protests, mainly Nepalese 
nationals, were allowed to return to work.
Reporting by Aye Nai







http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/finance/10596945.asp

Turkish tire factory workers occupy plant after unexpected job cuts

Some 1,000 workers at Brisa, the Turkish subsidiary of Japanese tire 
maker Bridgestone, barricaded themselves inside the factory to protest 
the unexpected announcement of more than 30 job cuts, Dogan News Agency 
reported on Thursday. (UPDATE)


The workers occupied the factory of Brisa Bridgestone Sabanci Tire 
Industries in the city of Izmit, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of 
Istanbul after the factory laid off around 30 workers.

Turkey's leading industrial conglomerate Sabanci Group, owns 43 percent 
of Brisa, country's leading tire producer, as does the Bridgestone 
Corporation, with the remainder of the company held in public shares.

Brisa announced Thursday that it had terminated contracts of 32 workers 
at the plant due to falling sales figures stemming from declining 
demand. The workers have halted production at the plant, the company 
also announced

Executives of the Tire Labor Union joined the protest, the DHA said.






http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/ViewNews.aspx?article=/DJ/200812180328DOWJONESDJONLINE000426_univ.xml

Malaysian Protesters Defy Police Ban; Cycle To Parliament12-18-08 3:28 
AM EST | E-mail Article | Print Article
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP)--Malaysian activists escorted by opposition lawmakers 
defied a police ban to cycle to parliament Thursday in an attempt to 
press for the repeal of a tough security law and enforce minimum wage.
The activists, who have spent 16 days pedaling across the country, were 
blocked by police who deployed scores of officers, threw up barricades 
at the entrance of parliament and warned organizers their action was 
illegal.
But a band of 10 cyclists crossed the police line after opposition 
lawmakers intervened and said it was their democratic right to demand 
social and political reforms.
Scores of supporters wearing red T-shirts and carrying banners reading " 
Cyclists for Change" shouted "Long live the people" as the activists 
rode into the grounds of parliament.
Among their demands are the scrapping of security laws that allow for 
detention without trial, the introduction of a minimum monthly wage of 
MYR1,500 ($429), lower food prices, and housing for the poor.
Some 130 activists, including schoolchildren, launched the cross-nation 
biking campaign on December 3, led by the so-called "Coalition of 
Oppressed People" which champions equality and human rights.
Two groups of protesters converged in the capital Kuala Lumpur, one 
which had traveled from northern Penang state, and another from southern 
Johor state which borders Singapore.
Police on Monday detained 57 participants including 28 children and 
teenagers in an attempt to end the cycling protest. They were later freed.
During the campaign, organizers said their bicycles were set on fire by 
unknown individuals and stones thrown at the vehicle accompanying them.
"The aim of this campaign is important. People are suffering. The 
government must address the problems which are real," said A. 
Kalishwaran, a 16-year-old participant who said he was held overnight by 
police.
Malaysia's coalition government has faced unprecedented opposition over 
the past year, culminating in March general elections that produced its 
worst results in half a century.








http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45141

POLITICS-MALAYSIA: Protestors Pedal to Parliament, Brave Police
By Anil Netto

Cyclist protestors on their way to Parliament.

Credit:Anil Netto/IPS


PENANG, Dec 17 (IPS) - Dozens of cyclists promoting workers' rights are 
on an extraordinary odyssey across the country, scheduled to climax with 
the handing over of memorandums in Parliament on Thursday.

It has been a rough ride, so far, with arrests and police harassment 
constantly threatening to bring their journey to a premature end.

Two cycling teams - four dozen from the north of the peninsula and three 
dozen from the south - each accompanied by a dozen or so activists have 
been pedalling their way to Kuala Lumpur since early December. Along the 
way, they have met with almost daily police action including road 
blocks, detentions and arrests.

Organisers, cyclists and those distributing leaflets have been hauled 
up, bicycles have been carted to police stations, and dozens of arrests 
made as police continue to look for possible violations of the law.

In one mysterious incident on mainland Penang, eight bicycles were 
torched - three of them badly damaged - by arsonists at dawn.

The "People, the Force of Change" cycling campaign is organised by the 
Oppressed People's Network, known by its Malay acronym ‘Jerit’. The 
Jerit network brings together factory workers, plantation workers, 
students and youths, urban settlers and civil society groups.

The memos to be presented to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and 
parliamentary opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim contain economic demands 
such as calls for the enactment of a Minimum Wage Act, adequate housing 
for all, price controls for essential goods, and an end to the 
privatisation of water supply, health care, education and other basic 
services.

There are also pro-democracy demands such as the repeal of oppressive 
laws and the re-introduction of local town council elections, which were 
suspended in the 1960s and 70s.

The bicycle campaign has been endorsed by 47 civil society groups, 
federal-level opposition political parties belonging to the People's 
Alliance and some of their parliamentarians and state assembly members.

On Monday, the teams encountered police action typical of the sort they 
experienced since the start of their journey. Both cycling teams were 
confronted by police as they approached Kuala Lumpur from the north and 
south.

Of the 59-member northern team, about 30, including organisers, were 
arrested for illegal assembly. Another 27 cyclists below 18 years of age 
were held by police for their parents to collect them. Police are also 
holding on to their bicycles, says one of the Jerit organisers.

The police chief of Selangor state Khalid Abu Bakar said the arrests 
were made to stop children from being exploited or misused by 
irresponsible groups. "When giving their statements, these children said 
they did not know why they were asked to participate in the cycling 
event," he was quoted as saying by the national news agency Bernama.

Organisers disagree. ''Many of those below 18 are children from areas 
where there have been struggles - land struggles, plantation workers 
fighting eviction from their homes or other similar struggles,'' says 
Rani Rasiah, a Jerit coordinator. ''Others are children of activists, 
like my son who is taking part, and there are also cyclists from the 
public who have joined in.''

By Tuesday afternoon the 27 teenage riders but only after their parents 
turned up to vouch for them. Nearly all of them said they wanted to 
continue cycling, but the last leg of the journey could be scaled down 
to avoid further delay.

''The children are saying they won't leave until all the organisers and 
their colleagues are released,'' said Rani. ''They are very spirited and 
angry with the harassment.''

Over in the south, some 20 organisers and 37 cyclists, about 20 of them 
below 18, were threatened with arrests after a convoy of a dozen police 
vehicles had tailed them in the morning. After a five-hour stand-off in 
the afternoon near the town of Bangi, the cyclists were 'released'. "All 
the youths have consent letters from the parents," Kohila Yanasekaran, 
national coordinator of Jerit told IPS. Organisers lodged a police 
report against the police on Tuesday, while the parents are expected to 
make a similar complaint.

One text message, making the rounds, jokes that all these arrests are a 
bit late: they should have been made 67 years ago, when Japanese forces 
on bicycles were invading Malaya on their way to Singapore during World 
War Two!

Along their way to Parliament, the Jerit teams have already submitted 
memorandums to the state governments in Kedah, Penang and Perak - all 
ruled by the People's Alliance - as well as Negeri Sembilan and Johor, 
both of which come under the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) 
coalition.

So far, chief ministers of three PA-ruled states - Penang, Perak and 
Selangor - have personally endorsed the campaign.

The onset of the global economic stagflation has added to the workers 
worries in this export-oriented economy. Neo-liberal economic policies 
since the 1980s had already taken their toll among workers, especially 
marginalised communities who are finding it hard to make ends meet. 
Privatisation of essential services has added to the burden of ordinary 
workers.

Urban-rural income disparities remain high and despite its relatively 
high human development, Malaysia has the widest income disparity in 
South-east Asia with the top 10 percent earning 22 times what the bottom 
10 percent earn.

Many plantation workers and urban settlers have been dispossessed of 
their homes with minimal compensation as landowners turn to property 
development.

Although the official benchmark for measuring poverty is a household 
income of around 700 ringgit per month (200 US dollars), many believe 
the real poverty line should be closer to 2,000 ringgit (571 dollars). 
If that benchmark is used, 38 percent of Malaysian families could be 
classified as low-income and struggling.

Activists were due to submit a memorandum to the Selangor chief minister 
before delivering their memorandums to Abdullah and Anwar on Thursday.

How they will get there, in the face of police action, is another 
matter, says Kohila. "The Thursday appointment in Parliament is 
definitely on; how we are going to reach there - walking, cycling or 
taking a bus - we will discuss.’’

Whether they succeed or not, their campaign message has already received 
publicity beyond anything the cyclists could have expected.

(END/2008)






http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/malaysia/2008/12/17/188019/Protesters-on.htm

December 17, 2008 10:23 am TWN, By Sean Yoong, AP
Protesters on bicycles defy Malaysian police
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Police have detained more than two dozen 
teenagers taking part in a protest over low wages that involves a mass 
bicycle trek across Malaysia to deliver a petition to the prime 
minister, a labor rights group said Tuesday.
The riders are mainly ethnic Indian farmers, factory workers and their 
children. The minority Indian community, among Malaysia’s poorest, has 
been hit hard by rising inflation that recently reached its highest 
level in nearly 30 years.
Two groups began pedaling on Dec. 3, one setting out from the north and 
the other from the south, said Y. Kohila, a coordinator for protest 
organizer, the Oppressed People’s Movement. They will each cover about 
250 miles (400 kilometers) before they meet in Parliament on Thursday to 
hand a petition to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and other 
lawmakers.
Twenty eight teenage riders were detained Monday at a police roadblock 
in central Selangor state, said Kohila. They remained in police custody 
Tuesday because authorities were only willing to release them to their 
parents, most of whom are in northern Malaysia.
“Police made this move to save these children from exploitation by 
irresponsible parties,” Selangor Police Chief Khalid Abu Bakar told the 
national news agency, Bernama.
Kohila denied the teenagers were coerced into the campaign, which she 
said is meant to “make the government take action to alleviate the 
problems of plantation and factory workers.”
Over the past two weeks, police have arrested the riders at separate 
locations for conducting a public protest without permission, but later 
freed them without charges. The riders have continued their journey 
after being released.
The group’s wide-ranging demands include a minimum wage law, tighter 
government control of consumer prices, better public housing and a halt 
to privatization of public services including water, health care and 
education.







http://www.greenleft.org.au/2008/777/40111

Malaysia: Bicycle protesters for workers’ rights defy police intimidation

Oppressed People’s Movement
12 December 2008

The Oppressed People’s Movement (Jaring Rakyat Tertindas, Jerit) is 
conducting a cycling campaign throughout Malaysia to highlight demands 
for workers’ rights, which will be presented to the prime minister of 
Malaysia.
The campaign officially began on December 3 at Wisma Darul Aman Kedah, 
where 50 cyclists were flagged off. They will cycle for 16 days through 
Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor.

On December 18, they will hand a memorandum to Prime Minister Abdullah 
Ahmad Badawi and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, at the national 
parliament in Kuala Lumpur.

The six demands are: 1. Legislate a Minimum Wage Act; 2. Abolish 
draconian laws; 3. Adequate housing for the people; 4. Control prices; 
5. Stop the privatisation of public services; 6. Revive local municipal 
council elections.

The cyclists are riding a unique route to advocate change. The “People 
the force of change” campaign is one of the Jerit’s ways of raising 
awareness about issues like domestic food shortages, the global food 
shortage, environmental problems, draconian laws and the financial 
crisis — in an eco-friendly way to boot.

The cycling campaign is inspired by the class struggles of the Bukit 
Asahan estate workers in Malacca in the 1970s, who marched to Kuala 
Lumpur to meet the prime minister to resolve their problems.

On December 5, police stopped the Jerit cyclists from leafleting in 
Teluk Kumbar, Penang. The whole team was asked to go to Teluk Kumbar 
police station.

Inspector Lokman (the police officer on duty) stopped the cyclists and 
warned them not to continue and threatened them to arrest them if they 
ignored the order. A bus and lorry containing the riders’ bicycles was 
also brought to Teluk Kumbar police station.

The police have continuously intimidated and threatened the cyclists 
since the campaign started on December 3. On December 4, Ruben al 
Loganathan was arrested by the police in Merbau Pulas, Kedah, for 
handing out leaflets containing the demands of Jerit’s bicycle campaign.

The most serious police attack came on December 6, in the vicinity of 
Skudai in Johor. The area turned into an emergency zone, when the police 
units mobilised, from the Light Strike Force, the Federal Reserve Unit 
for traffic police, erecting road blocks which caused a massive traffic 
jam and massive public nuisance. This was to prevent the young and 
energetic from cyclists entering the area.

When the riders attempted to negotiate with the police, they were 
threated with arrest for illegal assembly.

At least 12 people were arrested, including Socialist Party of Malaysia 
(PSM) secretary general S.Arutchelvan, PSM treasurer A.Sivarajan, Jerit 
coordinator K.Simon and a 13-year-old boy. Another four Jerit and Suara 
Rakyat Malaysia (the human rights group Suaram) coordinators, including 
Ngo Jian Yee and Nyam Yee Han.

While the 16 people were held in Skudai police station, the police put 
the others under “house arrest” at the Suaram office.

After negotiations between police and S.Arutchelvan, the police allowed 
everyone to leave with the condition that no cycling would continue in 
Skudai. Police said they would arrest any person found cycling, even 
after assurances that the cyclists would travel in a single line. The 
only assurance the police gave was that the cyclists and their lorries 
would be allowed to leave the district without problems.

However, police then intimidated one of the lorries and plainclothes 
police harassed the cyclists by snapping photographs. With fewer 
bicycles after the bullying by the police, the Jerit southern team 
decided to cycle one by one, even if it meant arrest.

The team was met by the Kulai police, who allowed the cyclists to 
continue but warned them that they would be arrested if they committed 
any traffic offences. Braving the intimidation, the Jerit team cycled on 
but after less than 2 kilometres the police once again diverted all the 
cyclists to the police station. This time they said that they had been 
stopped because they didn’t have reflectors. This further delayed the 
journey. The lorry carrying the remaining cyclists was again harassed.

After this, since it was getting dark, the organisers decided to move on 
to their next destination, Simpang Renggam. On arrival, the police were 
once again harassing the team. The cyclists were met by some supporters 
from the opposition People’s Justice Party, and the team stayed in its 
local office.
It was a day when the police from three districts in Johor had nothing 
to do except monitor a group of cyclists, a day when it seems no other 
issues mattered to them in Johor.

For the cyclists, it was a frustrating day, yet their spirits remained 
high. By midnight, the young cyclists were putting on their reflectors 
again and were ready to pedal the next day.

Suaram has strongly condemned the police for their ongoing intimidation 
and attacks on the freedom of expression, a fundamental right which is 
guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 
federal constitution of Malaysia. Suaram demands that Malaysian 
government allow the cyclists to continue their ride and respect their 
freedom of expression as stated in the constitution.

Despite constant police harassment, the cyclists are determined to reach 
parliament house as scheduled.






http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/6/nation/20081206134456&sec=nation

Saturday December 6, 2008 MYT 8:10:40 PM
16 cyclists detained before protest campaign

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 16 cyclists taking part in a protest tour in 
Johor Baru were detained just before they were about to take part in a 
protest campaign.
The 16, who were part of the Oppressed People’s Movement (Jerit), were 
arrested at 9am Saturday in front of the Suaram office just as they were 
starting their cycling campaign for the southern region.
Suaram coordinator Wong Chai Yi said in a statement that 30 other 
cyclists were stopped and questioned by the police.
Jerit had organised a nationwide cycling campaign for 16 days to make 
demands on the Government on several issues.
The campaign began Dec 3 at Wisma Darul Aman, Kedah, in which 50 
cyclists were supposed to cycle for 16 days through several states 
before handing a memorandum to the Prime Minister in Parliament on Dec 18.







http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=11257

800 workers clash with Taipei police over 'unpaid vacations'
(12-23 15:39)
About 800 people demonstrated outside Taiwan's labour department, 
occasionally clashing with police, in protest against unpaid leave 
forced by firms seeking to cut costs during the economic downturn.

Waving signs with the characters for ''illegal,'' workers surrounded the 
Council of Labour Affairs in Taipei and shoved riot police, challenging 
laws allowing companies to require workers to take leave amid rising 
unemployment.

The trend of forcing workers to take leave without pay, euphemistically 
called ''unpaid vacation'' in Chinese, began in the memory chip sector 
which experienced its worst-ever slump this year.

 From there it has quietly spread to other key sectors such as LCD 
manufacturing and other chips.

Taiwan's jobless rate rose to 4.62 percent last month, its highest le







http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/economicnews/view/395384/1/.html

Industrial protests spread to China's commercial capital
By Channel NewsAsia's China Correspondent Glenda Chong | Posted: 10 
December 2008 1751 hrs

Security guard stands as workers sit outside the factory gates of 
Shanghai Yihsin Industry in a western suburb of Shanghai.

SHANGHAI: Recession-related worker unrest in China has spread to the 
country's commercial capital.

Workers at a factory of Taiwan-owned, Singapore-listed Huan Hsin 
Holdings have refused to work since Monday due to salary issues.

Shanghai Yihsin Industry Company, which has six plants in Shanghai, is a 
wholly-owned unit of Huan Hsin Holdings.

Hundreds of factory workers maintained a peaceful protest outside the 
Yihsin factory in Shanghai's south-western suburb of Minhang for the 
third straight day.

A worker said: "We rarely have any orders now. The workshops are all 
closed. We were told that we would be transferred to other factories. 
Our factory will be closed soon."

The factory reportedly employs about 2,000 workers who are demanding for 
compensation, severance pay and legal benefits due to them.

Under labour laws enacted last year, employers in China have to pay 
workers a whole host of compensation allowances.

These include a so-called "high temperature" fee of no less than US$1.50 
a day if they work in indoor temperatures of higher than 33 degrees 
Celsius. Those working the graveyard shift for 12 hours must also get an 
extra 60 US cents allowance.

The protesting workers said they have only been paid their basic salary 
of about US$140.

"We want our high temperature fees and night shift compensation. If they 
give us, we will go wherever they post us. It is just this simple," one 
said.

Another added: "We will continue doing this. They should give us what is 
due. We don't ask for extra."

According to some workers, they were told in September that they would 
be paid, but have yet to see the money. They also said they have been 
threatened since they began their protest.

One of the factory workers showed footage recorded on her mobile phone, 
showing a scuffle with police. She also told Channel NewsAsia that some 
of her colleagues had been beaten up by gangsters on Monday.

The company's secretary said they are dealing with the situation. A 
company spokesman also said production at the factory has not been 
suspended.

The electronics component company manufactures for Siemens, Sony and 
Lucent Technologies. Parent company Huan Hsin reported that net profits 
fell 86 per cent in the third quarter of this year to about US$500,000.

- CNA/so






http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/national_local/293338347131038.php

Sandals workers protest manner in which terminations were handled
By K. NANCOO-RUSSELL
Freeport News Reporter
krystal at nasguard.com
Employees of the Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort who were laid off in a 
mass termination exercise on Friday took to the streets of downtown 
Nassau yesterday morning to protest against what they consider to be the 
deliberate firing of members of the Bahamas Hotel Maintenance and 
Workers Union (BHMWU).
The protest took place in front of the Post Office building, where the 
Ministry of Labour is located.
BHMWU President Lynden Taylor told The Freeport News that nearly 75 of 
the 150 employees who were terminated on Friday morning showed up, 
including the eight executive Union members who were let go despite 
labour laws which provide protection to Union executives.
Taylor said among the main issues the Union is taking the Resort to task 
for is the manner in which they handled the terminations.
"They had two pregnant ladies who were also let go. There's another lady 
who was on maternity leave who they called in. There was another lady 
who was on sick leave who they called in as well," he claimed.
"And the majority of the rest of the line staff that were terminated 
were union members. We're arguing all that stuff with them, because they 
were cherry-picked. Every one of them were cherry-picked."
Taylor said the Union was trying to have as many of the terminated 
employees as possible reinstated to their positions.
"There are different ave-nues the company could have took. This was the 
perfect opportunity to get rid of a union because the company never 
wanted a union, but this is our right," he said.
When asked about his response to statements made by Sandals consultant 
John Cook about the terminated employees being chosen based on 
production, attitude and behaviour, Taylor said the management was not 
unified in the reasons given since general manager Michael James claimed 
the lay-offs were as a result of the world financial crisis which is 
affecting the tourism industry.
"They concoct whatever kind of story they want to concoct. This is what 
they did just to try and make themselves seem good in the public 
eyesight but the truth of the matter is that they picked the people out, 
they singled them out. Those that were outspoken and those that were a 
part of the union."
Minister of Labour Dion Foulkes issued a statement on Saturday 
indicating that his Ministry was unaware of the termination of 
employment of executive members of the BHMAWU and that he was in 
discussions with management of the Sandals Hotel and the Bahamas Hotel 
Employers Association in an effort to bring about a quick resolution to 
the matter.
When The Freeport News spoke with Foulkes shortly before 3 p.m. 
yesterday, he indicated that he had met with Union leadership after the 
demonstration.
"I met with the employees who demonstrated this morning and I explained 
to their leadership what the current position is and in terms of what 
initiatives I have undertaken and that is where the matter now stands," 
he said.
"I've made representation to the hotel and also the Bahamas Hotel 
Employers Association with respect to the eight executives who were 
terminated and I am hopeful that we can get that particular matter 
resolved very shortly. To terminate executives of the Union is 
tantamount to union busting and that is illegal."
Pointing out that the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union 
(BHCAWU) is the only recognized bargaining agent for the workers at 
Sandals and that a case challenging that is currently before the courts, 
Foulkes said he will await the ruling on that matter before he makes the 
decision to hold a poll to determine which union the employees want to 
represent them.









Hospital staff strike over wages, right to unionise



Jakarta -- On December 9, around 200 employees from

the Christian University of Indonesia Hospital in

Cawang, East Jakarta could be seen lying around on

in front of the hospitalÂ’s lobby while others danced

around cheerfully. They werenÂ’t being lazy, but were

on strike in protest against unjust actions by

hospital management.



During the strike, which was joined by nurses,

administration staff and radiologists, they also

brought a banner with the message, “We want our

normative rights”. “They (who are demonstrating) are

from all elements in the hospital. This demo isnÂ’t

disturbing the patients. Because those demonstrating

include the night shift staff, those treating

patients on the afternoon shift are still working”,

said action coordinator Anton Temaluruh.



The employees had 10 demands: the freedom to form a

union, equal rights for women and men, regular wage

rises and promotions, unrestricted health insurance

for employees, the reinstatement of transport

allowances, an end to contract labour, that

transfers and dismissal be conducted transparently

and according regulations, overtime payments, leave

on the second day of the Easter holiday, and the

reinstatement of a sacked employee and an apology

from the management. (Detik.com, 9/12/2008)









Seven protests to enliven the capital today, beware

of traffic jams



Detik.com - December 16, 2008



Aprizal Rahmatullah, Jakarta -- It is as if Jakarta

is never free from the bustle of protest actions.

Today, seven groups of demonstrators are ready to

enliven the capital with the potential to create

traffic congestion.



Based on data compiled by the Metro Jaya regional

police Traffic Management Centre (TMC) website, for

Tuesday December 16, at 8.30am the Indonesian Metal

Workers Federation (FPMI) will be holding a

demonstration at the Central Jakarta Court of

Commerce.



Following on from this, for those of you who often

pass through the National Monument area in Central

Jakarta, it would be better to find and alternative

route, because between 9am and 12noon, four protest

actions will be held in the vicinity of the State

Palace.



The first group of protesters from the Block M

Melawai Market Traders Association, accompanied by

the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta), will

be demonstrating at the city hall and the Jakarta

Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) on Jl.

Merdeka Selatan at 9am.



At 11am demonstrators from the Indonesian Forum for

the Environment (Walhi) will also hold a protest

action at the Jakarta city hall. Protesters from the

Indonesian Poor PeopleÂ’s Union (SRMI) National

Leadership Board meanwhile plan to visit the

Department of Home Affairs on Jl. Merdeka Utara at

9am.



Later in the afternoon, demonstrators from the

Student Alliance of Legal Concern (AMPH) will hold

an action at the Vice Presidential Palace, also on

Jl.

Merdeka Utara.



Then at 10am, the offices of the Finance Ministry's

Capital Markets Supervisory Agency (Bapepam-LK) on

Jl. Wahidin Raya will be visited by the Indonesian

General Insurance Association (AAUI) while the

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building

will be visited by a group calling themselves the

Corruptor Eradication PeopleÂ’s Front (BRSK).

(ape/mad)



[Translated by James Balowski.]



****************************************************

---------------------------------------------------



Workers in Medan reject four-minister decree



Tempo Interactive - December 2, 2008



Sahat Simatupang, Medan -- Thousands of workers in

Medan yesterday (1/12) hit the streets to reject

the four-minister decree that restricts wage rises

in an effort to anticipate the impacts of the

global economic crisis.



"The restriction for wage rises not to exceed six

percent proves that the government is not serious

in improving the lives of workers," Indonesian

Prosperous Workers Union head, Tohonan Tampubolon,

said in a speech.



This is the fourth action during the past month

rejecting the decree.



North Sumatra Regional Legislative Council (DPRD)

member, Harman Manurung, who received the statement

letter rejecting the decree, said he would convey

the workers' aspirations to the central government

in Jakarta.



---------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------



Police detain activists burning pictures of

president



Tempo Interactive - December 4, 2008



Muh Syaifullah, Yogyakarta -- The police have

detained two activists from the Unified People

Coalition (KRB) for allegedly burning flyers with

pictures of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and

Vice President Jusuf Kalla at the State Palace

yesterday.



The two, Andi Permana and Asibun Aliya, were

accused of waving anti-government banners. "We are

still questioning them," said Yogyakarta Police

Commissioner Pitoyo Agung Yuwono, adding that the

police also confiscated flyers and banners

condemning the government.



KRB coordinator Arif Brahman explained that the

demonstration carried out by 50 students, NGOs, and

workers are demanding that the President withdraw

the ratified four-ministerial decree. "We want the

police to release our friends," Arif said.



---------------------------------------------------

Workers protest joint ministerial decree, call for

decent wages



Jakarta -- The atmosphere in front of the State

Palace became increasingly boisterous as around 600

member of the Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM) held

a protest action on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara in

Central Jakarta on December 3.



The protesters were demanding that the government

revoke a joint ministerial decree (SKB-4) limiting

wage rises to economic growth which they said would

bring further suffering to workers. The workers held

the demonstration behind another protest by victims

of the Lapindo Brantas mud disaster who had arrived

at the Palace earlier.



During the demonstration they took turns in giving

speeches from an open pickup truck. “We are calling

on the government to provide a decent national

wage”, said ABM coordinator Anwar Sastro Maruf

during a break in the action.



In addition to giving speeches, the workers also

erected red ABM flags and unfurled a variety of

banners containing demands that the decree be

revoked. (Detik.com, 3/12/2008)
Two students arrested after burning pictures of

president



Yogyakarta -- Two students in the Central Java city

of Yogyakarta were arrested on December 3 after they

tried to set fire to posters of President Yudhoyono

and Vice President Jusuf Kalla (SBY-JK).



The arrests occurred during a protest action in

front of the Gedung Agung Yogyakarta Presidential

Palace by students from the United Student Coalition

(KMB). During the action, the students took turns in

giving lively speeches while other held up posters

and photocopies of the president and vice president.



In the middle of one of the speeches, a number of

students suddenly started trampling on the posters.

The police moved in and tried to seize the pictures

but failed. A short time later, two students -- Andi

Permana and Aslihul Fahmialya -- tried to set fire

posters of SBY-JK and again the police took action.

This time they were successful and after the posters

were confiscated the students were placed in a

truck.



The arrest enraged the other students who threatened

to go to the Yogyakarta regional police

headquarters. “We will not return home until our

comrades are released”, threatened one of the

students. (Detik.com, 3/12/2008)
Workers say joint ministerial decree only benefits

capitalists



Medan -- Around 800 workers from a number of

different trade unions in Medan demonstrated at the

North Sumatra Regional House of Representatives

(DPRD) on December 1 demanding that a joint

ministerial decree (SKB-4) be revoked. The workers

said that the decree will only be use to protect the

interests of the capitalist class.



In a speech, action coordinator Saragih explained

that the joint decree, which restricts wage

increases to 6 percent, will not just harm workers,

but all elements of society, including farmers,

fisherpeople and the urban poor.



“Not matter what their reasons are, the SKB-4 must

he revoked immediately. The agreement will only

bring suffering to the ordinary people”, said

Saragih. In addition to opposing the joint decree,

the workers also urged the government to reduce the

price of fuel by 40 percent.



After holding the action at the DPRD, the workers

plan to demonstrate at the North Sumatra governorÂ’s

office and the offices of the state-owned oil

company Pertamina in Medan. (Detik.com, 1/12/2008)








http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20081223-179611/Hundreds-protest-forced-leave-in-Taiwan

Hundreds protest forced leave in Taiwan

Reuters
First Posted 16:37:00 12/23/2008

Filed Under: Labor, Unemployment, Overseas Employment, World Financial 
Crisis
TAIPEI--About 800 people demonstrated outside Taiwan's labor department 
on Tuesday, occasionally clashing with police, in protest against unpaid 
leave forced by firms seeking to cut costs during the economic downturn .
Waving signs with the characters for "illegal," workers surrounded the 
Council of Labor Affairs and shoved shield-bearing riot police, 
challenging laws allowing companies to require leave amid rising 
unemployment.
"The economic crisis hurts, unemployment is rising, companies are 
hurting employees with wage cuts and even forcing unpaid leave, and the 
Council of Labor Affairs hasn't done a thing to protect workers," the 
protesters said in a statement.
In Taiwan, the trend of forcing workers to take leave without pay, 
euphemistically called "unpaid vacation" in Chinese, began in the memory 
chip sector which experienced its worst-ever slump throughout most of 2008.
 From there this cost-saving measure has quietly spread to other key 
sectors such as LCD manufacturing and other chips.
Taiwan's jobless rate rose to 4.62 percent in November to its highest 
level in nearly five years, while GDP growth posted its biggest drop in 
seven years on reduced demand for exports.
The labour department had no comment on the demonstration, which 
dispersed at around noon local time.






http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/23/worldupdates/2008-12-23T133715Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-371560-1&sec=Worldupdates

Tuesday December 23, 2008
Hundreds angrily protest forced leave in Taiwan
TAIPEI (Reuters) - About 800 people demonstrated outside Taiwan's labour 
department on Tuesday, occasionally clashing with police, in protest 
against unpaid leave forced by firms seeking to cut costs during the 
economic downturn.
Waving signs with the characters for "illegal", workers surrounded the 
Council of Labour Affairs and shoved shield-bearing riot police, 
challenging laws allowing companies to require leave amid rising 
unemployment.
"The economic crisis hurts, unemployment is rising, companies are 
hurting employees with wage cuts and even forcing unpaid leave, and the 
Council of Labour Affairs hasn't done a thing to protect workers," the 
protesters said in a statement.
In Taiwan, the trend of forcing workers to take leave without pay, 
euphemistically called "unpaid vacation" in Chinese, began in the memory 
chip sector which experienced its worst-ever slump throughout most of 2008.
 From there this cost-saving measure has quietly spread to other key 
sectors such as LCD manufacturing and other chips.
Taiwan's jobless rate rose to 4.62 percent in November to its highest 
level in nearly five years, while GDP growth posted its biggest drop in 
seven years on reduced demand for exports.
The labour department had no comment on the demonstration, which 
dispersed at around noon local time.





http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/12/24/2003431937

Union members protest over unpaid leave
POINTING FINGERS: About 100 protesters attempted to break the line of 
police guarding the entrance to the CLA building, but backed down 
shortly afterwards
By Shelley Huang
STAFF REPORTER
Wednesday, Dec 24, 2008, Page 1

A man smashes sheets of glass bearing protest demands as hundreds of 
workers mobilized by various organizations protest against compulsory 
unpaid leave outside the Council of Labor Affairs in Taipei yesterday.
PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
Several hundred angry union members gathered in front of the Council of 
Labor Affairs (CLA) building yesterday to urge the council to penalize 
businesses that force employees to take unpaid leave.
Labor associations from all over Taiwan participated in the protest, 
including the National Federation of Independent Trade Unions (NAFITU), 
Tainan County’s Federation of Trade Unions, the Confederation of Taipei 
Trade Unions and the Youth Labor Unions, shouting slogans and holding 
placards reading: “Stop unpaid leave,” “Government, help businesses, 
Workers are losing their jobs,” “Help workers, stop unemployment,” 
“Bail-out fund should put workers first” and “Protect nationals, stop 
using foreign labor.”

The protesters demanded the council act against businesses that 
illegally force workers to take unpaid leave.

The consent of workers and unions must be required, the groups said. 
They also demanded that unpaid leave not be allowed to affect a worker’s 
labor insurance and other benefits

They also urged the council to subsidize individual workers, not 
businesses, when the workers’ unpaid leave resulted in salaries dipping 
below the minimum monthly wage of NT$17,280.

The council came under fire after it said that a worker may be paid 
below the minimum wage when on unpaid leave.

The council reversed that decision a day later, but so far has failed to 
provide satisfactory answers to union representatives, the group said.

On Friday, CLA Minister Jennifer Wang (王如玄) said that the council had 
been mulling whether and how to subsidize employees or businesses to 
ensure that workers who are on unpaid leave are not laid off because the 
company could not afford to pay even the minimum wage.

The council met with union representatives at the Legislative Yuan on 
Monday, but the meeting failed to reach any consensus.

The council has not made any official announcements on the issues 
raised, including providing subsidies during unpaid leave or making 
adjustments to quotas for foreign laborers.

One employee from Wintek Corporation (勝華科技) accused the company of 
violating the Labor Standards Law (勞工基準法) by laying off pregnant 
women. The employee said the company had also forced workers to sign a 
contract agreeing to take unpaid leave while still being required to work.

“Workers are vulnerable against businesses,” shouted Chu Wei-li (朱維 
立), president of NAFITU. “When a company tells its workers to sign a 
contract agreeing to unpaid leave, how can a worker refuse to sign?”

They demanded Wang come out and listen to them, but the council told 
them that Wang was at the legislature, and that CLA deputy minister Pan 
Shih-wei (潘世偉) was at a meeting in Beitou.

At one point, about 100 of the protesters attempted to break the line of 
police guarding the entrance to the CLA building and force their way in.

About 200 police officers were standing guard outside the building.

The angry protesters managed to push the police line against the glass 
doors, but the protesters backed down shortly afterwards.

Mao Chen-fei (毛振飛), chairman of the Confederation of Taoyuan Trade 
Unions and one of the people directing the protest, urged protesters not 
to use violence because “people from the Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] 
would call us ‘violent’ ... Let’s not do anything that would give them a 
chance to make us look bad.

After more than an hour, the council’s senior counselor, Lin Jenn-yeu 
(林振裕), came out to address the protesters.

“The council will call a meeting with local government officials to 
discuss the establishment of a system for businesses to report unpaid 
leave,” Lin said.

The council would also hold meetings soon to discuss how to make 
adjustments to businesses quotas for foreign labor, he said.

The protesters were not satisfied with this response and smashed glass 
panels on the ground to symbolize the council crushing their hopes.

Before they left, the protesters vowed to demonstrate again at the 
Presidential Office during the Lunar New Year if their demands were not met.

Meanwhile, official statistics released on Monday showed that more 
workers — especially those in the photonic, semiconductor and computer 
manufacturing industries — had been forced by their employers to take 
unpaid leave last month.

The statistics, compiled by the Directorate-General of Budget, 
Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS), showed that as a result of the 
practice, 741,000 people worked less than 35 hours per week last month, 
an increase of 205,000 over October’s total.

DGBAS official Huang Chien-chung (黃建中) said that the mandatory unpaid 
leave plans being implemented by the high-tech sector were expected to 
increase and lead to a further decline in the nation’s already 
contracting wages.

Previous statistics from the DGBAS showed that Taiwan recorded nominal 
wage growth of minus 0.27 in October — the third negative monthly growth 
rate in a row.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA






http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/28/business/20081228072358&sec=business

December 28, 2008 MYT 7:24:00 AM
Bolivia miners protest firing by Swiss co.

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) - Bolivian miners are threatening to take over 
several mines to protest their firing.
Union leader Roberto Chavez says mining companies made huge profits as 
metal prices soared, and shouldn't punish workers as prices now sink.
Chavez says 700 miners at Sinchi Wayra, a subsidiary of Swiss miner 
Glencore International, may occupy and work its mines in cooperation 
with Bolivia's government.
Chavez says Sinchi Wayra warned of firings and wage cuts next year.
Sinchi Wayra officials did not respond to calls.
Some 57,000 Bolivians worked in mining last year, 84 percent in small 
cooperatives.
In 2007, $1.4 billion, or 31 percent, of exports were minerals, 
Bolivia's second biggest product after natural gas. - AP










http://allafrica.com/stories/200812230766.html

Leadership (Abuja)
Nigeria: Retrenched Nitel Staff Protest in Kaduna
 From Samuel Aruwan
23 December 2008

Kaduna — Angry retrenched staff and some serving staff of the Nigerian 
Telecommunications Limited NITEL/MTEL, yesterday held a peaceful 
demonstration over non-payment of over eight months benefits and 
gratuity by the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE).
The aggrieved retrenched staff also apportioned blamed on the Federal 
Government over its negligence in meeting up with their legitimate 
demands, and the lackadaisical attitude of the BPE in settling their 
entitlement of several months aside the benefits supposed to be payable 
to the retrenched personnel.
The angry protesters arrived the NITEL/M-TEL North-West Zonal Office, 
along Bima Road at around 8:00 am chanting solidarity songs and also 
demanding for the removal of the BPE's Director General, Mrs. Irene Chigbue.
Expressing their displeasure, the protesters coordinator, Christopher 
D.Okoro said: "We, the entire NITEL/MTEL staff, North West Zone, Kaduna 
wish to bring to the knowledge of the Nigerian public and the 
international community, the inhuman treatment being meted out to us, 
our families and dependants by the Federal Government of Nigeria through 
her agency, the Bureau of Public Enterprises. Two years after the 
purported privatization of NITEL/MTEL our severance packages are yet to 
be paid. Furthermore, the salaries and allowances of the few retained 
staff have been in arrears for the past seven months.
"The consequences of this government inaction include high death profile 
amongst staff, frequent break-up of homes and families, inability of 
parents to meet up with the payment of the school fees of their children 
and other requirements, malnourishment of families, inability of staff 
to meet up with their rent obligation, hence becoming homeless and 
uncertainty and hopelessness pervading the lives of the entire NITEL staff".
Appealing for intervention towards saving them from excruciating 
situation they presently face, Okoro further stressed: "We therefore 
call on the generality of the Nigerian public, the National Assembly, 
state houses of assembly, the Federal and State Executive Councils, 
religious leaders and royal fathers to help us compel the Federal 
Government of Nigeria through her agency the BPE to quickly pay up the 
entire staff of NITEL/MTEL their severance packages and salaries. The 
early resolution of this matter indeed would avert staff restiveness."






http://allafrica.com/stories/200812230353.html

Nigeria: Nitel/Mtel Staff Protest Over Unpaid Salaries
Abdulraheem Aodu
23 December 2008
The serving and disengaged workers of the Nigerian Telecommunications 
Limited and Mobile Telecommunication yesterday staged a peaceful protest 
in Kaduna over the non-payment of their seven-month salary arrears and 
unpaid severance benefits by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
The workers, who came out in their hundreds carrying placards at the 
NITEL/MTEL North West Zonal office around 8am, accused Federal 
Government of violating the rights of the current and former staff of 
NITEL/MTEL by BPE's refusal to fully settle their salary arrears and 
severance benefits, respectively. They therefore demanded the removal of 
the BPE Director General, Dr Irene Chigbue, over the matter.
The protesting workers' placards displayed different messages like, "BPE 
is deadlier than HIV/AIDS", "Yar'adua, why do you hate NITEL?", "BPE pay 
us, we are jobless, homeless," "BPE/FGN pay us now! Our children are out 
of school" and "Remove Irene Chigbue for misleading government on 
privatization." They however appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to 
prevail on President Umaru Yar'adua to order the BPE to immediately pay 
them their severance packages and the salary arrears being owed the 
remaining staff.
Chairman and Secretary of the NITEL/MTEL Staff in the North West Zone, 
Christopher Okoro and Habeeb Bello, respectively, told Daily Trust that 
BPE's failure to pay the retrenched workers their remaining pension 
pay-off since February 2007 and the seven-month salary arrears being 
owed the current staff had resulted in untold hardships for members and 
their families.
The NITEL/MTEL staff therefore urged President Yar'adua to come to their 
aid immediately in collecting their salary arrears and remainder of 
their negotiated severance benefits from the BPE and the 
telecommunication companies, as all efforts, including holding meetings 
and dialoguing with the relevant government officials, ministries and 
agencies on the matter have come to nil.
(Daily Trust – Nigeria)






http://allafrica.com/stories/200812190068.html

Nigeria: Bayelsa Decries Protest Over Contract Jobs
Samuel Oyadongha
19 December 2008

THE Bayelsa State government yesterday dismissed as needless the protest 
march by some youths and women in the state over the planned award of 
quick-win jobs to indigenes of the state as means of empowering them 
towards a successful celebration of the yuletide.
No fewer than 500 youths had on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest 
calling on the state government to fulfil the award of the contract jobs 
and ensure that such jobs for the cleaning of streets, drainages and 
other menial duties are not hijacked by politicians in the state.
But in a swift reaction the state government through the office of the 
Commissioner for Information and Communication, Chief Asara .A. Asara 
assured the youths of the commitment of the present administration at 
awarding the contract to deserving youths and not politicians as being 
speculated in some quarters.
The commissioner explained that though the jobs are yet to be awarded, 
the processes that would follow the award of the jobs has been forwarded 
and it will be done through the respective local government areas in the 
state.
Also the state chapter of the Action Congress (AC) in a statement issued 
yesterday signed by its Secretary, Comrade Ebikina Miriki said though 
the proposed quick-win job is a welcome development, the award of such 
jobs should follow due process and ensure it gets to the desired section 
of indigenes of the state.
The party also expressed delight in the fact that the state government 
had through the office of the Due Process Bureau led by Mr. Von Kemedi 
that it had saved over N17.6billion and claimed that the party is 
vindicated by the news due to its persistent clamour for the use of 
single source/secret selective procurement methods.
"The party has been vindicated because finally the state government has 
come out to tell Bayelsans and the world that they have saved some 
unspent money that they now want to share through their proposed 
Christmas contract instead of keeping safe account," the statement 
quoted the party scribe as saying.





http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/24295/42/

Protesting dockworkers ground central Lagos

Written by Victor Ahiuma Young
Wednesday, 17 December 2008

AGGRIEVED members of Dockworkers branch of the Maritime Workers Union of 
Nigeria (MWUN), yesterday, the paralysed activities at the Marina, Lagos 
headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and its environs over 
alleged refusal of the Management of the Ports Authority to implement an 
agreement on their improved welfare benefits seven months after.
The protesting workers also called on President Umaru Yar’Adua and the 
leadership of the National Assembly to direct appropriate agencies to 
investigate the sum of N500 million allegedly paid on cargo surveyors 
that did nothing throughout the period of their contract.
The workers did not only cordon off the NPA headquarters, but also 
barricaded and cut off all vehicular and other activities on the Marina 
for hours, making it impossible for people around the areas to access or 
conduct their businesses.
Carrying a mock coffin and placards of various inscriptions, they warned 
that the management of NPA was pushing them to the wall and urged 
President Yar’Adua and the leadership of the National Assembly to call 
the management of NPA to order in the interest of industrial peace in 
the ports.
Some of the placards read: “NPA, tomorrow is too late, we want our new 
rate now; Dockworkers are paid peanuts in Nigeria compared to others in 
other seaports around the world; NPA stop stealing our money; NPA, today 
na today. You must pay us our new rate; EFCC and ICPC, investigate the 
fraud at NPA; The Bible does not support injustice. NPA pay us our due; 
NPA, what is the work of cargo surveyors?”
The management of NPA, however, said the union leaders and management of 
the authority were meeting yesterday at the time of the protest, under a 
committee set up to address the grievances of the workers.
The protesting workers who arrived the NPA headquarters before 9.00 a.m. 
in five Molue buses barricaded and cut off the Marina from the Catholic 
Mission Church Street for hours before a detachment of policemen 
dispersed them and asked them to limit their protest to the NPA 
headquarters.
Speaking to Vanguard, a leader of the protesting workers and District 
Secretary of Tally Clerk/Security Pool of the union, Comrade Frank 
Akocha, said: “We are here to draw the attention of the Federal 
Government, EFCC, Senate and House of Representatives to ways and 
manners Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is maltreating workers and 
wasting government money.
It is on record that a document was signed on the 31st of May 2008 
stating the payment of the new rate to dockworkers. Up till today, the 
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has not implemented the payment. They 
only pay little percentage to workers.
“The rate which took effect from June 1, 2008 has not been paid to the 
Tally Clerk/Security men who are the eyes of Federal Government in the 
port. We should not forget that the works of these set of dockworkers 
cannot be toyed with in the ports.
It is also on record that onboard security men detected the toxic waste 
at Koko Ports then and Tally Clerks are the instrument used to minimize 
the alarming rate of under declaration of tonnages and illegal 
importation of arms into our ports.
“We want President Yar’Adua and the leadership of the National Assembly 
to order appropriate agencies to investigate the sum of N500 million 
paid on cargo surveyors that did nothing throughout the period of their 
contract and even when the contract expired NPA management still paid 
them till March 31, 2008.
“The issue of cargo surveyors to us was a deliberate method to siphon 
government money by the immediate past management of NPA
“Now that the real workers are asking for the implementation of an 
agreement signed by all stakeholders on workers’ welfare, it has become 
a problem for NPA. The question we are asking is: is it better to waste 
large amount of money on frivolous services than pay the benefits of 
workers? We appeal to NPA to please pay us our money and its accumulated 
arrears now so that ports will be conducive for all workers and business 
operations,” he said.
However, the Management of NPA, through the Assistant General Manager, 
Corporate Affairs, Mr. Musa Iliya, expressed shock over the protest and 
said national leaders of the workers and the management of NPA were 
meeting to address the grievances of the workers.
He said the issue had to do with money and the management was trying to 
deal with matter in the best possible way.






http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/17/national/national_30091163.php

Thainox employees protest over benefit cuts
By The Nation
Published on December 17, 2008

More than 300 employees of Thainox Stainless Plc gathered yesterday to 
protest over changes to their pay and welfare.
One protester, who used the alias "A", said the firm recently asked all 
employees to sign new contracts which substantially cut welfare and 
bonus payments, effective from January 1.
The company also sought to cut their salary by 25 per cent during a 
suspension of work from Dec 15Jan 15.
"Most employees are in trouble, as they have to pay instalments for cars 
and houses," she said.
But employees reportedly agreed to resume work after executives vowed 
not to cut 25 per cent of their salary during the onemonth suspension.
Meanwhile, the proposed cut in welfare benefits would be renegotiated on 
Jan 20.
Steel companies have been hit by a sharp decline in prices, alongside 
other metals. Steel prices have fallen more than 50 per cent from peaks 
earlier this year.
In related news, employees of leading watersports gearmaker Cobra 
(Thailand), in Chon Buri province, called yesterday for the Labour 
Ministry help to negotiate with the firm's executives for a Bt30,000 bonus.
Workers' union president Navil Simaphan led a group of 200 employees to 
rally in front of the ministry in Bangkok yesterday. He said workers had 
requested the Bt30,000 bonus last month but the company shut down from 
December 3. Some 2,400 workers have been camped outside the company ever 
since in protest.
At previous negotiations, the firm insisted it suffered losses and thus 
could only pay each worker an Bt8,000 bonus, he said. However, the 
balance sheets showed the firm had extended business and given out 
nearly Bt100 million in longterm loans, which should have been paid as 
the employees' bonus, he said.
Somchai Wonthong, head of the Labour Protection and Welfare's Labour 
Relations Office, said his officials would call company executives to 
negotiations at Chon Buri's Amata Nakhon Estate at 10am today to try to 
find a solution to the problem.









http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161410029

One month of protest
OWTU workers to continue strike into holidays
Aretha Welch awelch at trinidadexpress.com

Saturday, December 6th 2008

Today marks one month since National Petroleum workers downed their 
tools in protest over the slow pace of wage negotiations between their 
representative union, the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (OWTU), and 
company management.
And yesterday, OWTU president general, Ancel Roget, told the Express the 
workers will carry on the strike through the upcoming holiday season if 
negotiations do not proceed.
He said the workers will also intensify their protest action if the 
negotiations continue at the current pace.
Roget also alleged that NP had employed untrained labourers to carry out 
the jobs of the employees who are on strike. He said this was not safe, 
as these workers do not have the expertise required to work with LPG, 
which is highly volatile.
Workers, he said, will have to move to shut down NP if these unsafe 
practices continue.
However, NP communications officer, Caroline Ravello, yesterday assured 
consumers that "operations at the Sea Lots plants are continuing as they 
have been despite the strike action taken by workers over the past month".
Ravello said despite warnings of possible shut downs, "the company 
anticipates minimal interruption in the supply of LPG (Liquified 
Petroleum Gas/cooking gas) and of transportation fuels".
She added that the workers who have been filling the gaps left by the 
striking workers are trained and always supervised by senior management, 
and therefore do not pose threats to anyone.
With regards to fears surrounding possible gas shortages as a result of 
the strikes, she said, "Regarding LPG production, the daily levels at 
NATPET have continued in excess of 8,000 20-lb cylinders, as compared to 
regular output at the plant which estimates about 6,000 20-lb cylinders 
per day."









http://allafrica.com/stories/200812020977.html

SW Radio Africa (London)
Zimbabwe: ZCTU Bank Protest to Continue as Planned Wednesday
Alex Bell
2 December 2008
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says it will go ahead with 
its planned strike action on Wednesday, despite the central bank's 
announcement that cash withdrawal limits will increase once again.
The labour grouping announced last week it would lead a mass 
demonstration against the Reserve Bank's capping of daily withdrawal 
limits, by leading the public to their banks on Wednesday to demand all 
their money. A procession is then expected to be made to the Reserve 
Bank of Zimbabwe where the ZCTU leadership will deliver a petition to 
the central bank governor, Gideon Gono.
Gono announced that as of Thursday, a day after the ZCTU planned action, 
the withdrawal limit of Z$500 000 will increase to Z$100 million per 
week, but the ZCTU has argued its action will not be deferred, saying it 
wants the central bank to remove the limit in daily cash withdrawals 
completely.
The ZCTU's Secretary General, Wellington Chibhebhe told Newsreel on 
Tuesday that Gono "has been in the habit of preempting out strike action 
by continuously raising the limits."
"We have deferred our action on those occasions hoping things were going 
to improve," Chibhebhe argued. "It is now evident people's problems will 
not be solved by these meaningless adjustments."
Chibhebhe also argued that a weekly rate of Z$100 million was not enough 
to cover the costs of food and medicine. Chibhebhe expressed anger that 
thousands of people are dying despite having money in the bank to pay 
for treatment and food, and explained that the public should not feel 
afraid "demanding what is theirs."
"We are advising all Zimbabweans to join the strike because the cash crisis
does not know any occupation or race and is affecting everyone on a very 
serious level," he said.
Meanwhile, the planned peaceful action by pressure group, the National 
Constitutional Assembly that was set to go ahead on Tuesday, will 
instead take place on Thursday. Group officials announced the 
postponement earlier this week, saying its members would join the ZCTU 
protest on Wednesday.





http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/International/04-Dec-2008/Riot-police-break-up-Zimbabwe-protests

Riot police break up Zimbabwe protests
Published: December 04, 2008
HARARE (AFP) - Baton-wielding riot police broke up protests in Harare 
and detained dozens of unionists as Zimbabwe’s health and economic 
crises worsened with more than 560 people now killed by a cholera epidemic.
Trade unionists who staged a protest against limits on cash withdrawals 
from banks were beaten by security forces in central Harare.
Police also dispersed doctors and nurses who tried to hand in a petition 
complaining at the collapse of the country’s health system. The army 
acknowledged, meanwhile, that unrest involving soldiers this week has 
been more widespread than reported.
Police arrested more than 70 protesters and unionists across the country 
including Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary-General 
Wellington Chibebe who was detained while addressing workers, the union 
said.
“Chibebe, Raymond Majongwe, General Secretary of the Progressive 
Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe, and 38 others in Harare have been picked 
up by the police, while 31 others have been arrested across the 
country,” a ZCTU spokesman said.
Police did not immediately confirm the arrests.
The health workers staged their protest as the World Health Organisation 
said a cholera epidemic - which has led to water supplies being cut off 
in Harare - has now claimed 565 lives, a jump of 81 since Tuesday. The 
number of reported cases has risen to 12,546.
The epidemic has piled pressure on a health system ravaged by shortages 
of even the most basic drugs and equipment and a chronic brain drain as 
the Zimbabwe crisis has worsened.
“We are forced to work without basic health institutional needs like 
drugs, adequate water and sanitation, safe clothing gear, medical 
equipment and basic support services,” they said in a protest letter, 
signed by Amon Siveregi, chairman of Zimbabwe Doctors’ Association.





http://allafrica.com/stories/200812041035.html

SW Radio Africa (London)
Zimbabwe: More Than 40 ZCTU Protestors Still in Custody
Violet Gonda
4 December 2008
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says 45 people remain in 
police custody, a day after the labour union held demonstrations in 
various parts of the country.
The police are holding without charge 32 people in Gweru, seven in 
Bulawayo and five in Kariba.
The workers were arrested on Wednesday when riot police used force to 
break up the peaceful protesters. The ZCTU led mass protests over the 
massive cash crisis in the country.
Meanwhile it is reported the ZCTU leadership held a meeting with the 
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono on Thursday to discuss the 
issue of cash withdrawal limits.
We were not able to reach the union leaders for comment, or to find out 
what they discussed with Gono.





http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=150664

Young doctors hold protest, demand salary increase Likely to get 50% 
raise notification today

Friday, December 05, 2008
Muhammad Qasim

Rawalpindi

The Young Doctors Association (YDA), Rawalpindi Wing, here on Thursday 
staged a sit-in protest in front of Benazir Bhutto Hospital against a 
notification issued by the provincial government that no raise in 
salaries would be given to junior doctors, including house officers 
(HOs) and postgraduate trainees (PGTs).

House officers and PGTs, serving mainly in the provincial set-ups 
including Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), Holy Family Hospital (HFH) and 
District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, organised the protest. Junior 
doctors from Railways Hospital and Islamic International Medical College 
also participated in the protest.

Junior doctors also arranged a walk from Chandni Chowk to Naz Cinema to 
record their protest against the government decision. “Punjab Chief 
Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif in a meeting with members of Young Doctors 
Association, Pakistan, had promised that their demands would be 
fulfilled, however, he did not keep his word,” said a member of YDA 
while talking to ‘The News’. “Yesterday, we received a notification that 
salaries of HOs and PGTs would not be increased that convinced us to 
hold the protest.”

Junior doctors remained on strike on Thursday, however, they performed 
their duties as per routine in the emergency (ER) and outpatient 
departments (OPD) of the allied hospitals. “We can understand the 
patients’ woes that may be caused by the doctors’ strike, so our members 
have performed their duties in ER and OPD as per routine,” said 
President YDA at BBH Dr Haroon adding that they have decided to hold a 
complete strike on Friday if the government would not revert its decision.

The junior doctors have demanded of the government to raise the salaries 
of HOs and PGTs serving at the provincial set-ups and make permanent the 
jobs of PGTs working on contractual basis. They also demanded that the 
graduates of private medical colleges should be permitted to join 
government hospitals for house jobs and post-graduate training.

Doctors serving in government set-ups on honorary basis should be given 
salary and all doctors should be provided security at the hospitals. 
“Doctors should be provided with sufficient security at government 
hospitals to avoid incidents like that of the Federal Government 
Services Hospital where relatives of an influential government official 
beat a medical staff including other staff,” said a member of the YDA.

The protest that started from BBH at around 10 am lasted for nearly six 
hours and caused severe traffic jams. Mohammad Hanif Abbasi, PML-N MNA 
from Rawalpindi, visited the protest venue and assured the junior 
doctors that their demands would be met. “He then talked to the Punjab 
health secretary and informed that the government has announced 50 per 
cent raise in the salaries of HOs and PGTs,” said Dr Haroon adding that 
the YDA called off the strike in the evening. “However, we will receive 
a copy of the fresh notification issued by the government regarding the 
increase in salary tomorrow (Friday) morning.”






http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=101743

PAKISTAN: Protest held against TV employee's death
Media organizations say publications and broadcasters that neglect to 
implement wage laws commit "economic murder" on journalists
Dawn
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
ISLAMABAD --- A demonstration was held against the tragic death of an 
employee of a private channel, Mohammad Azam Khan, who committed suicide 
after non-payment of salary for five months.
Call for countrywide protests had been given by All Pakistan Newspapers 
Employees Confederation (Apnec) and Pakistan Federal Union of 
Journalists (PFUJ).
The protesters demanded probe into the death and punishment to those 
responsible.
Speaking on the occasion, PFUJ Senior Vice-President Fauzia Shahid, 
Secretary-General Mazhar Abbas, Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of 
Journalists (RIUJ) Mohammad Afzal Butt, Senior Vice-President Shahryar 
Khan, local Apnec chairman Ikram Bukhari, National Workers Organisation 
(NOW) President Kaleem Shamim and C.R. Shamsi termed the tragic death as 
a murder and demanded registration of a case against the management of 
the private TV channel.
They lamented that non-implementation of laws in newspapers and TV 
channels was resulting in economic murder of journalists and workers.
The PFUJ secretary-general, Mazhar Abbas, announced setting up of 
protest camps across the country.
Meanwhile, Apnec and PFUJ, in a statement, urged the Punjab and federal 
governments to take immediate action against those responsible for the 
death of Mohammad Azam and ensure payment of salaries to the workers in 
different newspapers and channels.
"If the working conditions are not improved in the media industry there 
can be more suicide incidents," the two apex bodies of the newspapers 
employees warned.
They demanded of the federal government to link the advertisement of the 
said group with regular payment of salaries and the same standard should 
also be applied on other newspapers as well.
Apnec and PFUJ have given countrywide protest call on Thursday against 
the non-implementation of the 7th Wage Award, sacking of hundreds of 
employees from print and electronic media and action against those 
responsible for Azam's death.
Protest rallies and Ghaibana Namaz-i-Janaza were held in different 
cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar. Central and 
local leadership of PFUJ-Apnec and affiliated unions participated in the 
rallies.
Date Posted: 12/3/2008








http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/12/13/national/national_30090852.php

Autoparts workers protest for bigger bonus and win
By The Nation
Published on December 13, 2008
More than 1,000 factory workers yesterday successfully pressured their 
employer to pay a bigger bonus.

Workers of Yarnnapan Public Co, Ltd block Kingkaew road in Samut Prakarn 
province on Friday to demand for more bonus.//Supakrit Kumkhan
More than 1,000 factory workers yesterday successfully pressured their 
employer to pay a bigger bonus.
They went on strike and blocked traffic out of King Kaew Road onto Bang 
NaTrad Road in the morning. It was only after their employer, autoparts 
manufacturer Yarnapund, agreed to increase the bonus that they ended the 
blockade and dispersed.

"Through negotiations, the employer has promised to award a bonus of two 
months' salary and not to punish anyone involved in the strike," Bang 
Phli district chief Nipon Lertsrisuwattana announced yesterday evening.

Nipon stepped in because of the road blockade.

Initially, autoparts manufacturer Yarnapund planned to pay a Bt5,000 
bonus but its workers wanted one equivalent to four months' salary.

"We also want a pay raise," strikeleader Suchat Kasemsas said during the 
strike.

Over 100 policemen showed up to ensure the situation remained under 
control. Several protesters were clearly drunk. Aside from Nipon, senior 
police officers were also present when company executives met protest 
leaders.

At noon the company offered to pay a bonus of 1.5 months' salary, but 
the protesters insisted on at least three months.

"My wife's just lost her job, and we have two children to support. I've 
had to borrow money from loan sharks. I need the bonus to repay them," a 
41yearold worker said. After working for the company for two decades, 
his salary is Bt9,900.

As the day wore on, the negotiation finally came up with an agreement 
satisfactory to both sides.

The workers did not get all their demands, though. There was no 
agreement on demands for a pay raise, the removal of three company 
executives, the establishment of a company labour union or 
permanentemployee status for all workers with over one year of service.

In a related development, Labour Ministry permanent secretary Somchai 
Chumrat is to convene a meeting on Monday on how to deal with looming 
unemployment. Representatives from the Foreign Trade Department, 
Internal Trade Department and Industrial Works Department will attend.

Pannapong Itattanon, secretary general of the Employers' Confederation 
of Thai Trade and Industry, urged the Labour Ministry to help workers 
facing layoff.

On Monday official records showed 546 enterprises had gone out of 
business with 45,707 workers losing their jobs this year.

Last year 153 firms had to shut down.






http://allafrica.com/stories/200812020168.html

Uganda: Clearing Agents Protest at URA
Jude Kafuuma
1 December 2008

Kampala — CLEARING agents yesterday held a protest at the Uganda Revenue 
Authority's headquarters in Nakawa, Kampala, demanding access to the 
Customs Business Centre (CBC) where imports are cleared.
A public notice of November 28 ordered the agents not to enter the 
customs centre.
"Denying us access to the centre means we cannot clear goods from the 
borders and this paralyses not only our clients' business but also URA 
because we cannot pay taxes without clear documents," said Johnson 
Tabule, the Uganda Clearing and Forwarding Association secretary general.
He also complained of a delay in clearing goods and issuing licences, 
lack of equipment and the failure by the centre officials to listen to 
their pleas.
"Are there no other people to take decisions on such simple issues even 
when the URA commissioner general is out of the country?" Tabule wondered.
"We were told that new licences will be issued effective December 31. 
Even then, we did not have representatives constituting the committee 
that decided on our behalf. This angers agents."
Officials at URA attributed the closure of the centre to a network failure.
"We have been experiencing network problems in our service delivery. We 
use URA-NET platform at the headquarters, which supports our national 
connectivity to lodge entries but this has been on and off and has 
disrupted our work countrywide," said Paul Kyeyune, the public and 
corporate affairs chief.
"We also barred them from accessing the CBC area because we had started 
losing vital documents."
Peter Malinga, the centre commissioner, was not available for comment.
URA officials on Monday had a closed meeting with Amos Baguma, 
representing the clearing agencies, to devise means of ending the strike.
The tax body urged the business community to be patient as they rectify 
the problem.
(New Vision)






http://www.thedailyherald.com/news/daily/l181/protest181.html

100 Chinese workers protest,
visit Chief Minister’s office
ANGUILLA--About 100 Chinese workers from the Flag Project who are 
working with Ashtrom went to Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming’s office to 
protest. The workers requested to see the Chief Minister to express 
their concerns and to share with him their experiences over the past 
four or five months.
Police officers of the Royal Anguilla Police Force went quickly to the 
scene to maintain law and order and informed those present that they did 
not have authorization to hold a gathering at the location in the manner 
in which they had assembled.
Fleming agreed to speak to two of them who claimed to be representatives 
of the remaining Chinese labour force brought to Anguilla by Ashtrom. 
The Chinese workers put forward two main requests: firstly, they wish to 
have their wages owed to them by Ashtrom, paid; secondly, they wish to 
be repatriated to China as soon as possible, with a preference being in 
time for the New Year 2009.
The Chief Minister told the representatives that prior to their meeting 
he was concerned as to the closure of Flag and has been in constant 
contact with the necessary personnel to resolve several issues, 
including the same requests that they were making. Fleming further 
informed the representatives that he will continue to work toward 
fulfilling their requests through dialogue with Ashtrom and Flag Luxury 
Properties.
When the meeting ended, all the workers agreed to return to the campsite.






http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/506234/-/u0ohgj/-/index.html

Council staff to continue pay protest

By ABIUD OCHIENG’ and ELISHA OTIENOPosted Tuesday, December 23 2008 at 21:22
In Summary
• Workers won’t resume duty over Sh165m salary arrears
Workers at Kisumu municipal council have vowed not to go back to work 
until their salary arrears amounting to Sh165 million have been paid.
They accused the mayor and the town clerk of reneging on an agreement 
made with the workers early this month.
According to the Kenya Local Government Workers Union branch chairman, 
Mr William Otiende, the last meeting had resolved that the workers were 
to be paid their arrears in stages beginning with 2007 debt amounting to 
Sh37 million.
This was to be done by December 22. The arrears date between 2002 and 2007.
The workers are also calling for the implementation of two collective 
agreements signed in 2002 and 2005.
Addressing the striking council workers on Tuesday, Mr Otiende said the 
strike would not be called off until the arrears were paid in full.
He said the workers were appealing to Deputy Prime Minister Musalia 
Mudavadi, who is also the Local Government minister, to intervene.
Mr Otiende and the union’s secretary, Mr Rashid Ondu, were arrested by 
the police on Monday for inciting the workers to go on strike. They were 
released later in the day on a cash bail of Sh2,000 each.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who held a meeting with mayor Sam Okello, 
however urged the union and council officials to meet and address the 
workers’ grievances.
At the moment, there is no revenue collection from the bus park, 
markets, town parking and town hall rates office.
Meanwhile, CID officers have interrogated more workers at Migori 
municipal council as they intensified investigations into claims of 
corruption and mismanagement at the local authority.
Senior officers
Attempts by detectives to access the cash office were thwarted after the 
keys “mysteriously went missing” but they broke into the offices in the 
presence of civic leaders and senior council officials.
Employees manning the strongroom had said they did not know who had the 
keys.
This forced the investigations committee chaired by councillor George 
Bonyo to retreat to a meeting to decide on their next move.
Former town clerk Nicholas Okola and cashier Tom Minama recorded 
statements at the Migori CID offices.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/14/stories/2008121452340300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Kadapa

Ryots protest before Dalmia cement unit
KADAPA: Farmers staged dharna before Dalmia Cement factory coming up 
near Chinnakomerla in Mylavaram mandal on Saturday and locked up the 
factory gate demanding employment for locals in the factory. Congress 
leader Sivamohan Reddy and TDP leader Sivasankar Reddy led the protesters.
— Special Correspondent





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/05/stories/2008120552150300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Nizamabad

Anganwadi workers protest at collectorates
Staff Reporter
— Photo: Singam Venkataramana

Tough measures: Police disbursing the anganwadi employees forcibly 
entering the collectorate by spraying water in Nalgonda on Thursday.
NIZAMABAD: Anganwadi workers and helpers under the banner of their 
association affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)here 
on Thursday picketed the Collectorate demanding amendment to GO Ms. No. 
42 which they said would transfer all powers to gram panchayats on the 
angawadis.
They also demanded regular payment of salaries to the workers and 
helpers, prevention of political harassment, promotions to helpers as 
supervisors and recruitment for all vacant posts in anganwadis. Later, 
they burnt the copies of the GO at NTR Chowrasta.
CITU district president Ramesh Babu and secretary Vijayalakshmi, 
Anganwadi Association president Tulasi and secretary Ch. Bharati spoke.
Memorandum given
Sangareddy Staff Reporter adds: Hundreds of anganwadi workers held a 
dharna before the Collectorate for about four hours. Many of them 
participated in the agitation along with children. Later they submitted 
a memorandum to the district officials.
Hyderabad Staff Reporter adds: The State committee of CITU condemned the 
police lathi-charge on protesting ‘anganwadi’ workers at Nalgonda 
district collectorate.
In a statement, R. Sudhabhaskar, general secretary of the State CITU, 
alleged that the police declared war on the poor anganwadi women workers 
using a water cannon first and then resorting to lathi-charge.
Six workers were injured. The district secretary, Sulochana fainted 
after she was kicked by the policemen. Another worker’s hand got fractured.
He said the workers would stage demonstrations at their project offices 
on Friday to protest the police lathi-charge.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/26/stories/2008122651790300.htm

Other States - Punjab

Trade unions to launch protest for wage revision
Chandigarh: A number of trade unions including Centre of Indian Trade 
Union (CITU) and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) on Thursday 
decided to protest against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal from 
January one demanding revision of monthly wages for labourers in the State.
CITU vice-president Raghunath Singh said that the activists of trade 
union have decided to show black flags to Badal wherever he visits from 
January one onwards. “The wage revision must be implemented by the 
government without further delay,” he said adding the Chief Minister had 
announced four months ago that the minimum monthly wages for labour 
would be increased from Rs.2,620 to Rs .,200.
Mr. Singh said that as per the Minimum Wages Act, it needed to be 
amended every five years. --PTI





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/25/stories/2008122559460300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

KSRTC staff stage protest
Special Correspondent
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Workers of the KSRTC Employees Association (CITU) 
took out demonstrations and held dharnas before KSRTC offices in many 
places in the State today to protest against the management’s failure to 
disburse the salary of the staff in advance on account of Christmas.
General secretary of the organisation T.K. Rajan attributed the 
situation to the failure of financial management in the undertaking. 
Christmas was not a sudden development.
Besides, the Association had asked the management in writing to disburse 
the salary and pension in advance. The management’s failure to do so 
indicated its incompetence, he added.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122461011000.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Insurance employees stage protest
Staff Reporter
BANGALORE: Over 1.5 lakh employees and officers of Life Insurance 
Corporation of India, National Insurance Company, United India Insurance 
Company and Oriental Insurance Company staged a nation-wide strike on 
Tuesday, to protest the two Bills introduced in Parliament to further 
liberalise the insurance sector.
Criticised
A press release from the All Indian Insurance Employees’ Association 
(AIIEA) criticised the government for privatising the most successful 
institutions when governments across the world were nationalising the 
failed banks and insurance companies.
President of the AIIEA Amanulla Khan in a press release said that the 
Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill 2008, if enacted, would seriously harm 
the national interests.
The claim of the Union Government that by increasing the foreign direct 
investment in insurance sector, the Indian infrastructure would get a 
boost, was baseless, the press release said.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122454910500.htm

Karnataka

AI ground-handling staff stage protest
Special Correspondent
CHICKBALLAPUR: Ground-handling staff of Air India staged a demonstration 
at Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) in Devanahalli on Tuesday in 
protest against the Civil Aviation Ministry’s new policy on outsourcing 
ground-handling work, which is likely to come into force in January 2009.
The demonstration was on the airport premises during the lunch break, 
according to sources in the airport.
It is said that earlier in the day some of the Air India ground-handling 
employees even obstructed the staff of Singapore Air Terminal Services 
(SATS), specialised ground-handling agency, from discharging their duties.
However, sources in Air India, who described the incident as a minor 
one, said that none of its airline crew took part in the demonstration 
and the protest did not result in flight delays. All these years, 
airlines themselves were taking care of ground-handling work at many 
airports in the country.
The ground-handling staff fear that if outsourcing takes place in 
accordance with the new policy, many of them will lose their job.
Industry sources said that according to the new policy, only three 
agencies would be allowed to take up ground-handling services at the 
major metro airports in Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and 
Kolkata. These three would be airport operators or a joint venture 
company, subsidiary companies of National Aviation Company of India 
(NACIL) or their joint ventures or any other ground-handling service 
provider selected through competitive bidding on a revenue-sharing 
basis, they said.
The Aviation Ministry is said to be of the view that more players 
joining the race would lead to competitive pricing and better services, 
the sources said. BIAL, which operates BIA, has outsourced the 
ground-handling work to SATS and Global Trade in accordance with a 
Director-General of Civil Aviation circular of September 2007.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122353650300.htm

Other States - Orissa

Novel protest by Konark TV employees
Staff Reporter
BHUBANESWAR: During past few days, passersby in the capital city halt 
for a moment when they see unusual scenes in front of offices of 
political parties. More than 100 people are regularly seen holding mass 
prayer seeking divine intervention to make political parties realise 
their sufferings.
These people belong to Konark Television Limited, a television set 
manufacturing unit, whose products had become household name two decades 
ago. They have been demanding their rehabilitation after their parent 
company lost its sheen as well as existence due to bad managers. "Konark 
TV should be restructured to manufacture and assemble computers to cater 
to the needs of schools, colleges, panchayat institutions and state 
government offices at affordable rates. This is one way to revive the 
manufacturing unit as well as to bring back lost glory," said Shyam 
Sundar Patra, an employee of Konark TV.
He said, "our gesture must have made many officials and leader see red, 
but we are doing it out of our utter desperation. Most of the employees 
have lost everything and don’t have the option to restart a career for 
livelihood." Under the banner of Konark TV Punargathan Abhiyan, they 
have been staging demonstration along the Mahatma Gandhi Marg and other 
parts of the city to draw attentions of government.





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123060000600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Novel protest by village servants
Staff Reporter
NIZAMABAD: As part of their ongoing agitation village servants under the 
banner of the Andhra Pradesh Grama Sevakula Sangham here on Monday took 
out a novel protest rally condemning the government’s alleged 
indifference in solving their long pending demands.
Sangham district president Bandi Posetty, said though they were on a 
hunger strike , the authorities did not take the initiative.Chinna 
Mallareddy village servant Md. Chand Pasha died of a heart attack during 
the agitation which he said was indicative of the government’s apathy.
Mr. Posetty sought Rs. 5 lakh as ex gratia to the bereaved family.
Demands included promotion to eligible village servants as Class IV 
employees





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123051770300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool

Anganwadi workers stage protest
KURNOOL: Angawadi workers led by AITUC staged a protest here on Monday. 
The protesters urged the government to release the arrears due to the 
workers immediately and recognise the workers as government servants. 
They also demanded introducing of pension and provident fund provision 
for Anganwadi workers and streamlining of work by liberating the 
institutions from local bodies. The relay fast would continue on 
December 30 and 31 too. -Special Correspondent





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120252670300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Construction workers stage demonstration with begging bowls
Staff Reporter
Photo. N. Bashkaran

United: Construction Workers Association staging a demonstration in 
front of the Krishnagiri Collectorate on Monday. –
KRISHNAGIRI: Construction workers staged a demonstration in front of the 
District Collectorate here with begging bowls on Monday.
Their demands included a central law to ensure job security for 
unorganised labourers, regulation of wages for various labourers in the 
sector, inclusion of unorganised labourers under the purview of 
Employees State Insurance Corporation, granting of a minimum pension of 
Rs. 2,000 and implementation of Union Government’s various labour 
welfare measures through trade unions.
About 150 members, including 80 women of the Construction Workers 
Association, participated in the demonstration.
The association is planning a demonstration in Chennai on December 9.
A demonstration will be staged before Parliament on December 10, 11 and 12.
The association’s district secretary, K.M. Arumugam, presided. 
Association’s All India Additional Secretary R. Geethammal spoke.
District treasurer G.A. Muthu welcomed the gathering.






http://www.realdeal.hu/20081218/unions-protest-hiring-of-substitute-workers-at-budapest-airport

December 18, 2008, 8:42 CET
Unions protest hiring of substitute workers at Budapest airport
By MTI
Hungary's six largest trade union confederations and two international 
unions issued protests on Wednesday against hires by Budapest Airport 
management to keep passenger services running while employees are out on 
strike.
The six Hungarian confederations charged airport management with 
violating the constitutional right of employees to strike.
They also criticised the airport for seeking to forcefully end the 
strike by employing 38 Greek nationals to handle security and maintain 
services during the ongoing strike.
The confederations demanded that airport management conduct real 
negotiations with striking unions. They have also appealed to Hungarian 
and international authorities for redress.






http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idINLM62095320081222
UPDATE 1-Hungary airport unions to protest at German embassy
Mon Dec 22, 2008 4:28pm IST

BUDAPEST, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Striking unions at Budapest Airport called 
a demonstration outside the German embassy on Monday to push for a deal 
with the German airport operator on a new collective agreement.
The airport unions are trying to push for a deal with the German airport 
operator, Germany's Hochtief AG (HOTG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), on 
a new collective deal, news agency MTI reported.
Two unions at Budapest Airport launched a strike two weeks ago to demand 
a new agreement and a halt to layoffs.
The 13-day-old strike initially caused severe delays and flight 
cancellations at Hungary's biggest international airport.
However, most flights have been running on schedule since last week when 
the airport operator enlisted foreign workers to ensure the smooth 
operation of passenger security controls.
The unions have said Budapest Airport employed foreign blacklegs to 
circumvent striking employees.
Rail traffic was again disrupted on Monday as a workers' strike 
continued into a second week.
The rail workers' union VDSZSZ began a strike on Dec. 14 to demand a 10 
percent wage rise for outsourced employees and a one-off bonus of 
250,000 forints ($1,267) for each worker from the sale of state railway 
firm MAV's freight unit.
The union and MAV's management have failed to reach an agreement in 
several rounds of talks, and have not even managed to agree on a minimum 
level of services to be provided during the strike.
Talks between the union and MAV will resume on Monday, and if the two 
parties do not reach an agreement the strike could disrupt traffic over 
the Christmas holidays.
"The company ... is not able to meet the demands of unions as these are 
unrealistic, legally unfounded and the company does not have the 
financial resources to meet the demands," MAV said in a statement after 
talks broke down again on Sunday.
MAV said about 1,200 to 1,300 trains ran on Sunday out of a scheduled 
3,200 trains. (Reporting by Gergely Szakacs and Krisztina Than; Editing 
by Sami Aboudi)





http://www.b92.net//eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=12&dd=24&nav_id=55966

Trade unions threaten protests 24 December 2008 | 13:48 | Source: Beta 
BELGRADE -- Serbian trade unions have threatened protests should the 
government go ahead with plans to suspend application of the extended 
General Collective Agreement.

Police, health and justice unions protested in front of government HQ 
today, while metal worker unions have announced a protest this afternoon 
in Nikola Pašić Square, from where they will walk to parliament to meet 
with Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović.

After the meeting, they too will head to government HQ.

The Serbian Alliance of Independent Unions will hold a protest in 
Kruševac today as well.

Alliance President Ljubisav Orbović told a press conference that the 
protests would continue until the government honored what it had signed 
and began implementing the expanded agreement, which includes hot meals 
and annual leave.

He said that besides protests, the union would also hold warning and 
general strikes, and that the dynamics of the action would depend on an 
agreement with the remaining unions, primarily the Independence Union, 
which has also signed the collective agreement in question.

Orbović reiterated that the Alliance had submitted amendments to the 
draft budget that would allow funds to be allocated for implementing the 
collective agreement. The amendments are supported by New Serbia and 
PUPS officials.







http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/02/2435506.htm

Workers protest building industry practices
By Maggie Hill
Posted Tue Dec 2, 2008 1:23pm AEDT
Updated Tue Dec 2, 2008 2:25pm AEDT

Union members carry a coffin to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's Brisbane CBD 
office. (AAP: Paul Osborne)
• Map: Brisbane 4000
About 2,000 building workers have rallied in Brisbane's CBD demanding 
changes to the way the industry is run.
They want the Government to abolish the Australian Building and 
Construction Commission (ABCC) and revoke regulations which they say are 
discriminatory and oppressive.
Workers carrying a coffin led the march to the Prime Minister's Brisbane 
office.
There was another death at a Brisbane construction site yesterday when a 
concrete beam fell on scaffolding in Brisbane's south.
It is the 18th death in Queensland this year.
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) state secretary 
Michael Ravbar says workers are frustrated.
"Safety's become a major problem in our industry and a couple of weeks 
ago we lost two in a row in one week and they've just had enough," he said.
The union says the ABCC is treating workers unfairly and needs to be 
abolished.
Mr Ravbar says more people have died since the laws have been put into 
place.
"Queensland's had a bad year ... 18 deaths, which is about 35 per cent 
higher than normal," he said.
"We lose one worker a week in Australia, but the last two years it's 
just gone through the roof.
"A lot of the reason the guys are here, even though they're opposing and 
want the abolition of the laws, they're also sick and tired of too many 
deaths in the industry."
Similar rallies are being held in Sydney and Melbourne.





http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-185495108.html
Calling Notice: Derbyshire Fire Crews To Protest At Fire Authority Plan 
To Sack Fire Crews And Impose Shift Changes.
Article from:
Canadian Corporate News
Article date:
September 24, 2008

DERBY, ENGLAND, Sep 24, 2008 (Marketwire via COMTEX) -- Attn: Derbyshire 
Newsdesks and Planning Desks
Venue: The Fire Authority meeting, Fire service Headquarters, Old Hall, 
Burton Road, Derby. Local fire crews will be available for interview.
Time: 10 am, Thursday 25 September.
Expect: a very well behaved rally involving local fire crews and their 
families from fire stations across Derbyshire.
Fire crews from across Derbyshire will be protesting against a plan to 
force through shift changes from 1st January. The plan being put before 
councillors will mean, for the first time in the UK, sacking all local 
firefighters and forcing them to sign new contracts





http://www.wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=48120

Union Members Protest Representation
Posted Monday, December 8, 2008 ; 05:42 PM | View Comments | Post Comment

Protest took place Monday morning in Jackson County.
RAVENSWOOD -- Union protests typically are held if members are opposed 
to something management is doing.
However, Monday morning's protest at the United Steelworkers Local 5668 
in Ravenswood was held because members are upset with their Union 
Representatives.
They claim they have lost wages and time off because of a lack of good 
representation.
The protesters say they still support unions, just not their current 
representatives.






http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-listam1221,0,3846835.story?track=rss

Rally to protest Wal-Mart worker's stampede death
BY MATTHEW CHAYES | matthew.chayes at newsday.com
3:03 PM EST, December 20, 2008
An immigration activist group plans to rally Sunday at the Green Acres 
Wal-Mart where a seasonal worker was trampled to death by bargain 
hunters who crushed through the doors on Black Friday.

The protest and vigil to honor slain worker Jdimytai Damour, 34, is the 
latest pressure being put on the Bentonville, Ark.-based discount 
retailer for the way it planned -- or didn't adequately plan -- security 
at its Valley Stream store last month, when more than 2,000 people 
pushed their way into the store, breaking down the sliding locked doors 
and stepping on, over and around Damour, a tall, large man who lived in 
Queens.

"Tis the Season to Put Workers' Lives & Health Before Profits," the 
activist group said in a flier advertising the event, to be held at noon 
Sunday at the mall entrance at Sunrise Highway and Green Acres Road.

A spokeswoman for the group said picketers plan to go to the store where 
Damour died Nov. 28. Almost immediately after the death, the state's 
largest supermarket union, United Food and Commercial Workers Union 
Local 1500, called for state, federal and local investigations, saying 
the incident that led to Damour's death was "avoidable and irresponsible."

Wal-Mart has strenuously resisted unionization at its stores.

The Nassau County Police have repeatedly blamed Wal-Mart for the Black 
Friday melee, and the county legislature is considering regulating 
door-buster sales.

Since the death, several lawsuits against the retailer -- as well as the 
police department -- have begun wending their way through the legal 
system. Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice's office has begun 
an investigation into the retailer's potential criminal liability.

Citing an ongoing investigation by authorities, Wal-Mart spokesman John 
Simley said he would have no comment on the rally. He referred to the 
company's previous statements that defended its security practices, and 
noted that it had hired additional security guards and deployed barriers 
at its Valley Stream store.

"Despite all of our precautions," the company said in the statement last 
month, "this unfortunate event occurred."





http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/16/france-art-life-models-protest

Paris life models make nude protest to demand respect ... and better pay

• Strikers brave freezing outdoor temperatures
• Row began over ban on tips in city hall art classes

* Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
* The Guardian, Tuesday 16 December 2008
* Article history

Students in a life drawing class, Paris

Students in a life drawing class, Paris. Photograph: Bernard 
Annebicque/Corbis

 From Rodin and Courbet's naked muses and lovers to Degas's clinical 
study of the female form, the nude has always taken pride of place in 
French art.

But Paris is now being accused of showing such philistine ingratitude to 
its life models that scores went on strike yesterday, taking to the 
streets to pose naked in freezing temperatures to shame the state.

In front of the tastefully decorated Christmas trees outside Paris city 
hall's culture department, the naked and goose-pimpled models demanded a 
pay increase, proper contracts and, most of all, respect for their craft 
as they held trade union banners in the pose of Delacroix's Liberty 
Leading the People.

The disrespect shown to the models was "proof that something is badly 
wrong with French society", shouted one shivering male model through a 
megaphone. Artists, students and art teachers sat sketching them in support.

The row began when Paris city hall, which runs an array of life-drawing 
classes, banned the tradition of the "cornet", a piece of art paper 
rolled into a cone and passed round for tips as a model gets dressed 
after class. Surviving on the minimum wage with no fixed contracts, 
holiday pay, security cover or job security, the crash-strapped models 
said the tips allowed them to survive.

They also wanted to quash the misconception that life-modelling was 
merely something students and retired people did for pocket money. Sean 
Connery may have posed naked in Edinburgh to make ends meet when he was 
a struggling actor and Quentin Crisp may have spent the war years posing 
naked at Derby School of Art, but in France life-modelling is widely 
seen as a serious career choice.

"This is a craft that should be respected, not just anyone can take 
their clothes off and hold a pose," said Deborah, 28, one of the strike 
organisers, who has worked as a full-time life model for four years. "It 
is artistic and physically demanding work."

She had to swim regularly to stay fit enough to hold poses and felt 
models should be given access to subsidised municipal sports facilities 
to keep in shape for their jobs, as well as access to museums to do 
research for their poses.

Leela, 33, a singing teacher and part-time model, said the "cornet" was 
crucial to supplement her pay of €10 an hour.

"Everyone puts in one or two euros, which can add up to €20 to €30. The 
next day I can go to the market and fill my fridge."

Gerard Vilage, an art teacher from Paris's Beaux Arts Ateliers, said: 
"How can we teach drawing without these people, if they are left with 
meagre pay and no protection?"

Christophe Girard, Paris city hall's culture supremo, who also 
moonlighted as a life model in his student days, tried to calm the row, 
urging the ministry of culture to review life models' status. He said: 
"Regarding tips, we can't let people collect money that's not taxed 
while working in a state building.

"But I think this was a lovely protest in the French, gaulois spirit of 
resistance - taking your clothes off outside 10 days before Christmas 
shows real conviction.

"Life modelling is an activity that is fragile and possibly under threat 
and I don't want to see it disappear."
Case study: Christophe Lemée, 52

After 30 years as an actor, I began life modelling to support my own 
theatre projects. It's a beautiful craft and very physically demanding. 
You have to forget yourself and move beyond the contours of your own 
body. It's not my body the artists are trying to capture, but the 
essence of human nature, existence and all the mystery that goes with it.

I will often do nine-hour days - you have to be very athletic to do 
that. Each session is three hours long, divided into 45 minute poses 
followed by 15 minutes' rest. It's no easier holding a sitting pose than 
a standing pose. The weight will always be concentrated on some part of 
your body. I call it dancing without moving. You need a lot of 
psychological concentration to cope. You have to learn what your body 
can and can't do. I try to swim for an hour in the mornings to keep my 
body in condition for the poses.

You are naked and defenceless in front of a room full of people, but 
it's not the same brash nudity you see everywhere in modern society. 
It's more spiritual. I'm exposed but I know that the people looking at 
me are exactly the same as me under their clothes.

Life-modelling has always been crucial for western art, which is all 
about the glorification of the human body.

You have a profound artistic relationship with the people who draw you 
and that is very rewarding.







http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/12/16/financial/f041831S85.DTL&feed=rss.business

Japan workers protest massive wave of job cuts
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, December 16, 2008

________________________________________
(12-16) 04:18 PST TOKYO, Japan (AP) --
Hundreds of unionized workers rallied in Tokyo on Tuesday to protest 
massive job cuts, accusing the country's biggest companies of 
sacrificing jobs to protect profits.
The global financial crisis has forced some of Japan's corporate giants 
to take drastic measures including job cuts, suspending production, 
postponing projects and closing factories. Sony Corp., Toyota Motor 
Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. are among the major employers to trim 
thousands of workers from their payrolls.
About 200 protesters waved banners and shouted slogans through 
loudspeakers outside the headquarters of the Nippon Keidanren — Japan's 
largest business lobby group — in Tokyo's main business district.
"Toyota, stop cutting seasonal workers! We workers are not disposable!" 
they chanted. "Sony, stop massive firing!"
Most of the job cuts have targeted temporary contract workers, but 
lately they have included full-time salaried workers.
Speakers at the protest said some newly unemployed contract workers also 
lost their company-owned housing, leaving them jobless and homeless.
"We do not accept job cuts in the name of the economic crisis," said 
Kazuko Furuta, a representative of New Japan Women's Association, a 
women's rights group that organized the rally with dozens of labor 
unions. "Shame on the Japanese companies that dump their workers like 
objects."
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai told reporters 
Tuesday that the government was doing its "utmost to support small 
businesses and ensure job security."
Fujio Mitarai, head of Keidanren and also chairman of Canon Inc., said 
the influential lobby "will cooperate with the government" to implement 
job security measures.
Japanese exporters have been hit hard by slowing consumer demand from 
abroad and the yen's appreciation, which erodes their overseas earnings.
Sony announced plans to slash 8,000 jobs around the world — about 5 
percent of its work force — and lowered its full-year earnings 
projection 59 percent from the previous year.
Major automakers including Toyota and Nissan have terminated contracts 
with thousands of seasonal workers at their factories and parts makers.
Citing their own tally, union members say more than 18,800 people, 
mostly contract workers, have lost their jobs in recent months.
The government last week announced a 23 trillion yen ($256 billion) 
stimulus package to shore up the economy, including measures to 
encourage employment.





http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=prnw.20081215.DC52488&show_article=1

Associated Press Staffers Withdraw Bylines in Protest

Dec 15 06:42 PM US/Eastern Comments (0)

NEW YORK, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Reporters and photographers 
at Associated Press are withholding bylines and personal equipment in 
protest over the news agency's proposals that would threaten job 
security, dramatically raise medical costs, and freeze wages. The 
protests come as talks continue between AP and the News Media Guild, the 
union that represents 1,400 editorial, technology and support staff at AP.

"Staffers recognize the tough times, but they also understand that 
quality journalism at AP means attracting and retaining the best 
employees," said NMG President Tony Winton. "They're making it clear 
that AP's future success means respecting its workers, not imposing huge 
medical costs and regressing on industry-standard job security terms," 
Winton said.
The Guild and the AP have been bargaining since Oct. 21. There has been 
agreement on a handful of articles, but the sides remain far apart. AP 
proposed a wage freeze in the first year of a two-year agreement, 
followed by a two percent increase a year later. The Guild opened with a 
10% wage increase proposal, but has indicated flexibility at the 
bargaining table.
The protest included other actions besides the withholding of bylines. 
Some planned to withhold use of their personal vehicles, cell phones, 
and other equipment, while others were "working to rule" to express 
displeasure at the company's proposals. The protest began Sunday 
afternoon and is set to end later this week.
AP has publicly reported several years of increasing revenue and 
profits, and managers have stated they expect to end 2008 with more good 
results. However, they have said that 2009 forecasts are bleaker.
The News Media Guild is Local 31222 of The Newspaper 
Guild-Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO. The Guild represents 
editorial, technology, and other workers in all 50 U.S. states and the 
District of Columbia. The current agreement expired Nov. 30.
SOURCE The Newspaper Guild-Communications Workers of America





http://philippinenews.com/article.php?id=3768

Activists continue protests throughout Christmas

Print | Email to friend

Published: December 27, 2008 | Author: Pasckie Pascua
Total Views: 825 | Rating:
LOS ANGELES— Activists here continue their unrelenting advocacy in 
support of various causes and in protest of other issues even as the 
community savors Christmas and the advent of a new year.
The Filipino Veterans Support Bill, or SB 3689, remains as the foremost 
concern of the Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV). Despite 
failing energy, living FilVets stay active on the road, making their 
presence felt in mass actions and community gatherings, and taking the 
opportunity to speak their minds.
On December 8, JFAV announced the formation of a partner organization, 
the Association of Widows, Advocates and Relatives for Equality (Aware) 
at a meeting held at the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (HPMC) here.
In San Francisco, FilVets Gomer Bondad and Reggie Nacua, with activists 
Ago Pedalizo and Violy Reyes, discussed the seemingly unresolved impasse 
on the lump sum clause of SB 36879, now pending in the US Congress, at a 
community meeting held at the ABS-CBN studio in Redwood City last 
December 10.
“The JFAV does not endorse SB 3689. We criticize the fact that it has no 
recognition for Filvets, it comes with a quit claim clause, and there’s 
no provision for widows of the veterans. We will pursue a different 
strategy and tactics on the veterans’ equity struggle,” says a JFAV 
statement furnished Philippine News.
On December 11, JFAV veteran leaders Faustino Baclig and Jack Vergara 
were present at a rally staged by the United Healthcare Workers-West 
(UHW) union local at the Radisson Hotel here against the Service 
Employees International Union (SEIU).
Trouble has been dogging SEIU’s California locals. Last summer, some 
6,000 UHW union members staged a rally in Manhattan Beach to oppose a 
plan by SEIU for “centralize bargaining” and other issues. Local leaders 
charged that Andrew Stern, SEIU president, wants to divide and weaken 
their local union—by pressuring 65,000 of their members to transfer to 
“his favored local”—and punish them for demanding their own voice. 
Filipinos comprise more than 30 percent of the total healthcare 
workforce in California.
Meanwhile, a group of “First Quarter Stormers” here, collectively known 
as Kilusang Dekada 70, issued a statement to local media calling for the 
release by the Philippine government of peasant rights advocate Randall 
Echanis, a known First Quarter Storm activist.
The First Quarter Storm was a period of unrest in the Philippines, 
composed of a series of heavy demonstrations, protests and marches 
against the government from January to March 1970, two years before the 
country was placed under Martial Law.
Kilusang Dekada 70 questions the administration of president Gloria 
Macapagal-Arroyo why Jocelyn Bolante, a former Cabinet person who was 
accused of diverting the 780 million pesos of fertilizer fund for his 
ex-boss’s 2004 presidential campaign, should be freed and not Echanis.
“What is the difference between Bolante and Echanis? Is it because 
Bolante served Arroyo, that is why he is treated royally, and Echanis 
isn’t—and should rot like a common criminal?” queries KD70 spokesperson 
Bonifacio Inkana.
Echanis, deputy secretary general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng 
Pilipinas (KMP, Farmers Movement of the Philippines), was arrested in 
January this year by police agents as he prepared to attend a conference 
of agricultural workers in Bago City, Negros Occidental. Located in the 
western Visayas region of the Philippines, south of Manila, Negros 
Occidental is the second largest province in the country. Most of its 
people are sugarcane workers and farmers.





http://www.newstin.com/tag/us/95519088

Greek unionists protest against Sunday shopping

iht.com
Dec 28, 2008

Labor union activists blockaded some shops in central Athens that were 
trying to open Sunday to make up revenue lost in three weeks of rioting 
that badly damaged the capital's retail district. The shopkeepers' 
association had asked to keep their businesses open for a second 
consecutive Sunday — one more than the customary Christmas exemption to 
the usual opening hours. They wanted to try to recoup some of their 
losses from the economic slowdown that has begun to affect Greece, and 
from the riots that followed the police killing of a 15-year-old boy.





http://www.tobacco.org/news/276394.html

Universities, union clash over smoking ban
Jump to full article: AP, 2008-12-24
Author: MARTHA RAFFAELE, AP Education Writer

Intro:
Grabbing a quick smoke between classes has become impossible for Lock 
Haven University political science professor Robert Storch.
An indoor and outdoor smoking ban imposed at Pennsylvania's state 
university system in September means Storch must walk off campus 
whenever he craves nicotine - a 20-minute roundtrip excursion that he 
cannot cram into a 15-minute break between classes.
``I find it ridiculous,'' Storch told a Pennsylvania Labor Relations 
Board hearing examiner Tuesday. ``You feel like a leper anyway. It's 
really very demeaning.''
Storch was among a handful of professors at the 14 universities who 
testified about the smoking ban during a hearing on an unfair labor 
practice complaint filed by the State System of Higher Education's 
faculty union. A ruling is not expected before February.
The 5,900-member Association of Pennsylvania State College and 
University Faculties wants the ban rescinded. The new policy was imposed 
with virtually no warning, and APSCUF argues that any changes should 
have been negotiated with the union first.