[Onthebarricades] Workers' protests, November 2008
global resistance roundup
onthebarricades at lists.resist.ca
Thu Sep 17 09:37:18 PDT 2009
Global South
* BANGLADESH: Unrest at textile factory over food
* BANGLADESH: 10 injured as police attack protesting workers
* MOZAMBIQUE: Seasonal workers protest for owed compensation, fight back
against police
* MALDIVES: Sacked workers fight back against police
* NEPAL: Boss taken hostage in Colgate factory sale dispute
* SOUTH AFRICA: Soldiers arrested after transport protest
* INDONESIA: Bandung - Workers block roads, fight back against police
over minimum wage cut
* INDONESIA: Minimum wage protests in Surabaya, Jakarta, Cimahi, Batam,
Bandung
* INDONESIA: Workers launch election boycott campaign
* DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Drivers' union protest snarls traffic
* TRINIDAD: Yara workers protest over health and safety
* TRINIDAD: Chemical workers protest closure
* MOZAMBIQUE: Workers protest scrapping of inspectorate
* KOREA: Workers protest precarity law
* PHILIPPINES: Workers picket food office over layoffs
* NEPAL: Local govt workers warn of protests
* TAIWAN: HSBC workers planning protest
* INDIA: Mirpur - Workers block roads in protest over attack
* INDIA: Labour newsclippings
Global North
* SPAIN: Protesters storm Nissan HQ over layoffs
* POLAND: Workers occupy PM's office
* BULGARIA: Kremikovtzi steel protests become daily, block roads
* CANADA: Protests on lockout anniversary
* NORTHERN IRELAND: Workers in sit-in over factory closure
* US: Milwaukee - Protest at CEO's home
* CANADA: Customs workers protest mouse infestation
* SCOTLAND - UK: Lloyds workers protest merger
* US: Olympia - Postal pickets protest union president firing
* FRANCE: Pilots strike over retirement age raising
* ITALY: Alitalia strike disrupts flights
* US: Pilots protest slot auctions
* CANADA - QUEBEC - Daycare workers protest for right to unionise
* AUSTRALIA: Unions protest prison privatisation
* NEW ZEALAND: Store workers in "skinny Santa" protest
* IRELAND: Protest over conditions at aluminium company
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DHA395114.htm
Bangladesh textile workers clash over food, 50 hurt
17 Nov 2008 09:21:30 GMT
Source: Reuters
DHAKA, Nov 17 (Reuters) - At least 50 people were injured as clashes
broke out at a garment factory near the Bangladesh capital Dhaka on
Monday, police said.
They said the violence started as the workers alleged food items
supplied to them by the factory authority were stale and of low quality.
Witnesses said hundreds of angry workers joined the protest at the Abani
Knitwear Textile Mill at Hrishipara, and clashed with factory guards and
police called in to restrain them.
At least 50 people including a factory official were injured, witnesses
told reporters.
As the violence spread outside the factory, buses, trucks and other
vehicles were stranded on a highway linking Dhaka to the northern districts.
Police cleared the roadblock after several hours, the witnesses said.
"We rushed to the factory immediately after receiving the information
and managed to calm down the protesters by promising to supply better
food from now," said Mohammad Fazlul Huq, president of the Bangladesh
Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
Garments account for the lion's share of Bangladesh exports, which
totalled a record $14.11 billion in the financial year that ended in
June 2008. (Reporting by Serajul Islam Quadir; Editing by Anis Ahmed and
Jerry Norton)
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=147402
BD textile workers clash over food, 50 hurt Tuesday, November 18, 2008
DHAKA: At least 50 people were injured as clashes broke out at a garment
factory near the Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Monday, police said.
They said the violence started as the workers alleged food items
supplied to them by the factory authority were stale and of low quality.
Witnesses said hundreds of angry workers joined the protest at the Abani
Knitwear Textile Mill at Hrishipara, and clashed with factory guards and
police called in to restrain them. At least 50 people including a
factory official were injured, witnesses told reporters.
As the violence spread outside the factory, buses, trucks and other
vehicles were stranded on a highway linking Dhaka to the northern
districts. Police cleared the roadblock after several hours, the
witnesses said. “We rushed to the factory immediately after receiving
the information and managed to calm down the protesters by promising to
supply better food from now,” said Mohammad Fazlul Huq, president of the
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association. Garments
account for the lion’s share of Bangladesh exports, which totalled a
record $14.11 billion in the financial year that ended in June 2008.
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=63527
Print Friendly Version
Published On: 2008-11-16
Metropolitan
10 injured as garment workers clash with police
Our Correspondent, N'ganj
At least 10 people were hurt in a string of clashes between garment
workers and police at Sonargaon in Narayanganj yesterday.
The one-hour-long clashes occurred when police asked the workers of
Square Garments to lift their seize on Dhaka-Sylhet highway following an
assault of their colleague by the factory officials.
Sources said Production Manager Siraj Mia and Assistant Production
Manager Shah Alam assaulted Didar accusing him of not working properly.
The agitating workers also vandalised around 10 vehicles creating acute
traffic jam on the high way at Kanchpur.
Officer-in-Charge of Sonargaon Police Station Abul Khayer said
additional police have been deployed to avoid further untoward incident.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200811181020.html
Mozambique: Arrests And Injuries in Malema Demonstration
18 November 2008
Maputo — Police arrested at least 20 former seasonal workers of the now
defunct Malema tobacco company (ETAMA), in the northern Mozambican
province of Nampula, on Monday while preparing a demonstration of about
2,000 people, to demand compensation they claim the government still
owes them, reports Tuesday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias".
Another 10 people, including some Malema residents who were not part of
the group, were injured in the incident while trying to find somewhere
safe to hide, after the riot police unit dispatched from the provincial
capital, Nampula city, fired rubber bullets and tear gas at the would-be
demonstrators.
The demonstrators, armed with spears, machetes and clubs, and wearing
clothes made out of sisal sacks, had gathered at the house of Jamal
Francisco, the leader of the protest.
According to the "Noticias" report, when the police approached
Francisco's house, they asked the leaders of the demonstrators to speak
with them. After the fourth such appeal over police megaphones, the
crowd attacked the riot police unit. The police say that, since the
demonstrators outnumbered them, they had no option but to defend
themselves with rubber bullets and tear gas.
After the confrontation, the police started a hunt for Francsico, who
had fled. The police have promised to find him and bring him to court,
where he will face charges of incitement to public disorder.
After this incident, calm was restored in Malema town, with all shops
and public institutions reopening, except for the Malema factory, once
owned by ETAMA, and now operated by a private concern.
The demonstrators had threatened to occupy the factory.
The Nampula provincial government has already stressed that of the about
4,000 former workers of the company, only 701 had contracts signed with
ETAMA, and those have already received their due compensations The
government says the case and closed and no compensation at all is owed
to the casual workers.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL351359.htm
Police, fired workers clash at luxury Maldives resort
30 Nov 2008 17:28:00 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Olivia Lang
MALE, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Police and striking workers clashed on Sunday
at a luxury Maldives resort on an atoll in the Indian Ocean, police and
protesters said.
The strike at the One and Only Reethi Rah resort began on Friday when
the workers demanded better conditions and the transfer of a manager.
Thirteen employees were fired on Saturday but refused to leave and
police arrived on Sunday.
"They were beating me as they arrested me. They tied my hands at the
back and pushed me on the ground," Ahmed Easa, one of about 200 workers
taking part in the protest, told Reuters.
Other workers said they were beaten with batons.
About 200 guests were staying at the resort, where the cheapest room, a
beach villa, costs $780 a night during the low season.
Tourism accounts for 28 percent of the Maldives' $800 million-a-year
economy but many in the nation of 300,000 Sunni Muslims say that only a
few people have grown wealthy from it.
Police Commissioner Ahmed Faseeh said officers briefly arrested some
workers but released them.
"They have exaggerated what happened," he said.
Protesters were still on the atoll on Sunday and the resort said it was
in talks with the government to resolve the strike.
It is the first accusation of heavy-handed action by police since
President Mohamed Nasheed was sworn earlier this month after defeating
30-year incumbent Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who was criticised for setting
police on opponents and protesters. (Writing by Bryson Hull; Editing by
Angus MacSwan)
http://story.torontotelegraph.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/3a8a80d6f705f8cc/id/432698/cs/1/
Colgate-Palmolive riots flare in Nepal
Toronto Telegraph
Thursday 20th November, 2008
There has been a massive upheaval at the factory of Colgate Palmolive in
Nepal, with the company announcing the sale of the company after 20
years of operations.
The sale announcement said that all employees of the Nepal subsidiary
would continue their employment on the existing terms and conditions.
But, after the announcement the company would be sold to Nepali company
Everest Hygiene Products, angry workers seized the subsidiary's general
manager Ramesh Singh Rathore.
The mob handed him over to police, alleging that the company had not
informed them of the sale.
The incident has come at a time that Nepal's government has admitted
that foreign investors were shying away from fresh investment in Nepal
due to the lack of security.
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2433154,00.html
Protesting soldiers arrested
26/11/2008 20:00 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A group of soldiers who marched on the N12 and Golden
Highway on Wednesday morning are being held at the Johannesburg central
prison, police said.
Captain Johan du Toit said the 75 soldiers, who were walking from the
Lenasia to the Doornkop base, would be charged with mutiny and for
violating the traffic act.
"They marched on the highway and that is already an offence because you
can't walk on the highway. They were also in uniform and you cannot
march [on a protest] in uniform so they are going to be charged in
accordance with the gatherings act and mutiny," Du Toit said.
He said the arrested soldiers would be released on warning to appear in
the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court next Wednesday.
But the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) denied claims that the
soldiers were blockading the freeway or gathering illegally.
"It is was not a march but disciplined soldiers going to work because of
the failure of the department (of defence) to provide transport," said
spokesperson Charlton Broer.
Sandu said the department of defence had failed to honour an October
order by the Pretoria High Court, forcing it to provide transport for
soldiers at the Lenasia base since it had been closed and moved to
Doornkop.
Broer said the army was providing only five trucks a day, making it
impossible for all soldiers to get transport.
"We are talking about a battalion with about 1 000 soldiers... those
trucks can only accommodate 35 people at a time and once they reach
Doornkop they are locked up, leaving other soldiers stranded," Broer said.
SA National Defence Force spokesperson, Brigadier General Kwena Mangope,
said it was unacceptable for soldiers to protest.
"It is not in the culture of soldiers to [protest] in uniform... it is
totally unacceptable. If indeed they are soldiers they should have
followed the right channels and aired their grievances in regard to
transport," Mangope said.
Asked why the department had not adhered to the court order, Mangope
said: "I'm sure the defence force is addressing the issue... relevant
divisions are working on it."
- SAPA
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Bandung workers clash with police
Tempo Interactive - November 11, 2008
Ahmad Fikri, Jakarta -- Hundred of workers in
Bandung, West Java clashed with police outside
Gedung Sate in a protest to reject the Joint
Regulation of four ministers which rule the minimum
wage level for local workers in the wake of global
financial crisis.
Workers started to scuffle with police just before
1 PM, about three hours after the first group of
workers arrived at the West Java Governor's office.
Workers demanded to meet with Governor Ahmad
Heryawan.
Several trade unions gathered under the Alliance of
Bandung Workers Union to protest this year's annual
wage level set by the regional administration.
Spokesman for the workers said the wage level
prepared by the regional administration covered a
lesser percentage of 85 percent of the proper basic
needs. Last year the level covered 92 percent of
the proper basic necessities.
Workers also rejected the joint regulation of Labor
and Transmigration Minister, Trade Minister,
Industry Minister, and the Home Affairs Minister
issued late in October which allows employer to
increase wage just below the economic growth rate
of about 6 percent.
Inflation rate according to the Statistics
Indonesia were lower on October setting the year on
year rate at 11,77 percent slightly above the
government limit of 11,5 percent. Workers demanded
an increase on their pay by 18 percent.
The clashed then ended after protesters and the
authorities managed to calm down. However workers
threatened the regional government to return on
Wednesday and the next day after Wednesday with
larger number of protesters and to block toll roads
around the city should their demands would not be
considered.
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Massive rally planned in Bandung
Jakarta Post - November 11, 2008
Yuli Tri Suwarni, Jakarta -- West Java branch
members of the Alliance of Labor and Worker Unions
(ASPSB) have threatened to block access to the
Cipularang tollway during a mass rally planned for
Wednesday.
"We will block the Pasteur and Cipularang tollways
tomorrow if the government ignores our demand to
reject the joint ministerial decree and its limits
on minimum wage increases," ASPSB coordinator Edi
Suherdi said Tuesday.
The labor union, with members from West Bandung and
Cimahi, plan to march 4-5 kilometers along the
Pasteur tollway before rallying in front of Satay
Parliamant House in Bandung on Wednesday.
Edi said more than 50,000 workers from many sectors
were expected to take part in the rally. "We'll
keep rallying until Governor Ahmad Heryawan
receives us to hear our pleas," he said, adding the
union had already been granted permission to hold
rallies three days in a row.
The joint ministerial decree put together by four
ministries -- Trade, Manpower and Transmigration,
Internal Affairs and Industry -- limits increases
in the minimum regional wage to help ensure the
sustainability of companies despite the current
slowdown in the global economy.
With the joint decree, companies are expected to
adopt more flexible policies governing wage
increases, tying them to a company's bottom line.
Under the previous scheme, companies were often
required to cope with wage increases set by local
administrations regardless of company performance,
even though firms had to further negotiate wage
levels with the labor unions.
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Workers block toll road in protest over wages
Jakarta Post - November 13, 2008
Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung -- Thousands of workers
blockaded the east gate of the Padalarang toll road
in Bandung on Wednesday in protest against a recent
decision on the minimum wage.
Hundreds of police officers were deployed to
disperse the workers, who arrived by motorcycles
and pickup trucks and tried to enter the toll road
connecting Jakarta and the West Java capital city.
A queue of vehicles stretched back one kilometer as
the protesters, members of the Worker Class
Alliance and the Alliance of Bandung Worker Unions,
quarreled with police for almost two hours.
The workers finally left the scene and joined
fellow protesters at a rally at Sate building, the
West Java governor's office.
Hundreds of police officers stood guard at the
building, preventing the workers from entering the
complex. At one point, officers and workers pushed
and punched each other.
The workers, who are members of various unions,
including the National Workers Union (SPN), the
Indonesian Metalworkers Federation and the All
Indonesia Workers Union (SPSI), from dozens of
factories in the West Bandung area, have rejected
both a joint ministerial decree on the minimum wage
and the amount of the provincial minimum wage.
West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan has drawn
criticism for setting the 2009 minimum monthly wage
at Rp 628,191 (US$55), an increase of 10.5 percent
on this year's wage.
The amount is not in line with the current costs of
living, the workers said during the rally, which
entered its second day.
Bawit Umar of the Bandung SPSI demanded the
recently installed governor step down over his
failure to fulfill his promise to increase workers'
prosperity.
"He (Heryawan) has broken his promise to increase
people's wealth. We should change leadership,"
Bawit said in his speech.
He said the workers had little faith that regencies
and municipalities would increase their minimum
wages by 10.5 percent as the joint decree allowed
companies to increase wages by the same amount as
the current rate of economic growth, or 6 percent.
Sudaryanto from the Working Class Alliance called
on workers to boycott next year's general elections
if the government failed to revoke the joint
decree.
"Politically we have the right to select leaders
who struggle for workers' prosperity, but we see
many opportunistic leaders who have exploited
workers' issues as a political commodity,"
Sudaryanto said.
Asep Jamaludin of the Cimahi SPN said some union
representatives had met the governor at his
official residence on Tuesday night to voice their
demands, but left without satisfaction.
"Heryawan did not have the guts to make a written
statement to reject the joint decree," Jamaludin
said. "He even refused to increase the minimum wage
by more."
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Workers against minister's minimum wage joint
decree
Jakarta Post - November 17, 2008
ID Nugroho, Surabaya -- Workers and activists in
East Java have joined forces with other provinces
in opposition to the joint ministerial decree on
minimum wages, which they say violates the 2003
Labor Law.
Unionists from numerous trade unions and activists
from NGOs providing legal assistance for workers
were preparing for massive labor rallies and
demonstrations to press the provincial government
to reject the joint decree, which, they said, if
passed would bring suffering to workers and their
families.
"Next (this) week, more than 10,000 workers,
unionists and activists from industrial zones in
Surabaya, Gresik, Pasuruan and Sidoarjo will take
to the streets and stage demonstrations at public
offices to warn the government and employers of the
joint decree's negative impacts on workers and to
demand they ignore the decree, which sets minimum
wages in the province and regencies," chairman of
the provincial chapter of the Confederation of All-
Indonesian Workers Union Suprart told The Jakarta
Post in Surabaya over the weekend.
All preparations and financing have been completed
and the labor rallies are scheduled to start on
Nov. 19, he added.
Massive labor rallies and demonstrations protesting
the law have been staged in Jakarta, and provincial
capitals Bandung, Medan and Semarang.
The joint ministerial decree, which was issued by
the minister of manpower and transmigration, the
home minister, the trade minister and the industry
minister on Oct. 22, 2008, stipulates that monthly
minimum wages are set by companies through a
bipartite of employers and workers, and fixed based
on economic growth in the respective regions.
The decree has also sparked strong opposition from
the Malang regency administration, which has said
it would file a lawsuit against the four ministers
with the State Administrative Court if the
provincial government enacts the decree.
The governor was scheduled this week to issue a
decree hiking the minimum wage in the province that
would take effect on Jan. 1, 2009.
Suprart said that it was in line with the labor law
that minimum wages be debated and determined by the
provincial wage council as part of a tripartite
dialog and that it was the government's
responsibility to protect workers' interests and
that any adjustment to minimum wages be based on
consumer prices and national economic growth.
He also said the workers were suspicious of the
government's move to fight for employers' economic
interests in line with the global financial crisis,
which it said recently would not greatly effect
Indonesia's economy.
The workers in Surabaya have proposed an 11 percent
hike in the monthly minimum wage to Rp 905,000 from
the current Rp 805,000.
Chairman of the regency branch of the Indonesian
Workers Union (SPI) in Pasuruan Sukiyat said the
joint ministerial decree was not in line with the
labor law and that minimum wages should be based on
costs of basic human needs and the inflation rate.
He said the government and employers were using the
decree to take advantage of workers' ignorance and
that many employers had taken advantage of the work
force surplus by lowering wages.
The provincial legislative council called on
provincial, regency and municipal governments to
set their monthly minimum wages in accordance with
basic human needs and the inflation rate.
Chairman of Commission E on labor and social
affairs at the provincial legislature Rofi'I
Munawar said the governor had been recommended in a
series of meetings not to lower the minimum wage
below what a person needed to cover their basic
needs.
He said the council would summon the governor if he
did not act on the recommendation. He said the
massive rallies and demonstrations would affect
workers but to a greater extent employers and could
jeopardize the political stability in the province.
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Laborers rally to demand minimum wage
Jakarta Post - November 19, 2008
Jakarta -- Demanding an end to the minimum-wage
talks deadlock between employers and workers,
thousands of workers have rallied at the East Java
governor's office in Surabaya on Wednesday.
"At the moment workers from cities in the province
are heading to Surabaya to pressure the governor to
step in and immediately set the minimum wage for
eight cities and regencies," coordinator of the
Alliance of Laborers against East Java Province,
Jamaluddin, told tempointeraktif.com.
The rallying union members -- congregating in the
provincial capital from Gresik, Malang, Mojokerto,
Pasaruan and Sidoarjo -- are asking the
Remuneration Body to immediate resolve the ongoing
minimum wage discussions between employers and
workers which are at a standstill, Jamaluddin said.
The eight regencies and cities whose minimum wage
has yet to be set are Gresik, Kota, Malang,
Mojokerto, Nganjuk, Pasaruan, Sidoarjo and
Surabaya.
The Remuneration Body has already decided the
minimum wage for 30 other East Java cities and
regencies. "We will pressure the governor to step
in and set the minimum wage to be at least in
accordance with decent living standards,"
Jamaluddin said.
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Workers protest joint wage decree
Antara - November 20, 2008
Jakarta -- Hundreds of workers staged a rally
outside of the Presidential Office in Central
Jakarta on Wednesday to protest a joint ministerial
decree (SKB) that would take power to set
provincial minimum wages (UMPs) out of the hands of
employees.
The protesters -- residents of Jakarta and outlying
towns, including Bekasi and Tangerang -- carried
banners criticizing the decree and calling on the
government to take labor issues more seriously.
The SKB stipulates that UMPs are determined through
negotiations in bipartite forums involving
government representatives and employers.
Previously, Indonesian National Workers Struggle
Front leader Dominggus Oktavianus said the issuance
of the decree would in effect shift companies'
financial burdens onto workers.
The demonstrators also urged the government to sack
company executives whose poor management skills had
caused their firms to suffer financial losses that
further lead to the implementation of policies that
disadvantaged workers.
The workers also demanded that employers not cut
skimp on employee benefits.
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More protests against joint regulation on Wednesday
Tempo Interactive - November 19, 2008
Mabsuti Ibnu Marhas, Jakarta -- Around one thousand
workers in Banten province resonated protests
against new regulation on workers pay on Wednesday
by protesting at Banten Governor office.
Protester met by the Head of Regional Office of
Labor Ministry Eutik Suharta, to discuss the matter
as the governor according to regional officials is
on a trip to Malaysia.
Workers had been protesting on the regulation as
four ministries introduced a joint regulation which
allows regions to raise workers pay below the
country's economic growth rate, to address the
slowing economy after the global financial crisis
hit Indonesia. The regulation was issued in October
by the Labor and Transmigration Ministry, Industry
Ministry, Trade Ministry, and Home Affairs
Ministry.
Workers demanded better pay as inflation rate hit
11.7 percent, way over the 6.1 percent GDP grotwh
reported by the statistic agency on monday (17/11).
Regions however have set higher wage levels during
the annual period to determine wage at the end of
the year starting on October. The new levels are to
be imposed for one year term before the next
regular adjustment in 2009.
Banten set the minimum pay for workers in the
province at Rp 917.500 (US$75,98) per month, hiked
from the previous Rp 837.000 (US$69,29) per month.
The average minimum pay for Jakarta workers in 2008
was approximately at Rp 960.000 (US$79,48) per
month.
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Workers rally against mayor on minimum wage
Jakarta Post - November 22, 2008
Yuli Tri Suwarni, Cimahi -- Thousands of laborers
from various factories in Cimahi, West Java, staged
a rally protesting Cimahi Mayor Itoc Tochija's
decision to set the city's minimum wage lower than
their expectations.
Itoc set the minimum wage at Rp 1,019,000
(US$82.17), some Rp 80,000 lower than workers
demand of Rp 1,101,700.
The workers based their demand on the fair living
needs (KHL) amount, as determined by the local
Wages Board, a consortium of workers, employers and
local administration representatives.
The workers also accused Itoc of deception and
violating the Manpower Law, as he approved the
minimum wage without workers' consent or knowledge.
Staging their rally in front of Cimahi municipal
office on Jl. Cihanjuang, the workers made speeches
before some 900 police officers deployed from not
only Cimahi's Police force but the West Java
Provincial Police and neighboring Bandung and
Sumedang Police forces.
Police officers barricaded the entrance gate, which
had been damaged by workers at another rally on
Thursday. Security was tight, with a water cannon
and two police dogs were on standby.
Robin Sihombing, chairman of Cimahi's branch of the
All-Indonesia Workers Union (SPSI), who coordinated
Friday's rally, said more than five labor unions
had expressed their dissatisfaction with the
mayor's move. They had announced that the minimum
wage had been agreed on by workers' representatives
during a meeting Thursday evening.
The city administration announced that the Wages
Board had recommended the 2009 minimum wage be set
at Rp 1,019,000. "The city administration is trying
to divide the labor force to enforce its proposed
minimum wage," he said.
Workers demanded that the wage equal the KHL's Rp
1,101,700. "What is the use of conducting the KHL
survey or establishing the Wages Board if it is
only a formality?" Robin said to the workers.
Meanwhile, head of Cimahi Manpower, Population and
Registrar Agency, Bambang Adi Nugroho, said that
the amount was fair, as it is an 11.8 percent
increase on this years minimum wage of Rp 934,250.
"The recommendation will be submitted to the
governor to be authorized as soon as it has been
approved by workers representatives at the Wages
Board," he said. "We have ruled out employers' wish
of raising the minimum wage to only Rp 964,005."
Bambang said the decision also disregarded a joint
ministerial decree capping minimum wage increases.
Sabilah Rosyad of the Indonesian Metal Workers'
Union said the minimum wage was only 95 percent of
the KHL level, down from the current level of 97.5.
"So this is a backward step for workers. Do not
look at it for its amount but from the real living
needs that workers have," he said.
Several labor unions in Cimahi have agreed to send
a rejection letter to West Java Governor Ahmad
Heryawan on Cimahi's recommended minimum wage.
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Thousands of workers stage rally against minimum
wage
Jakarta Post - November 25, 2008
Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung -- Thousands of workers
in West Java took to the streets again Monday in
protest over the fixed city and regency minimum
wage schemes.
Workers from the West Bandung industrial area
blockaded the Padalarang highway causing congestion
and back-ups for up to 10 kilometers which lasted
four hours.
Hundreds of police personnel were kept busy
directing the clogged up Padalarang traffic while
other protesters assembled in front of the West
Bandung regency offices.
West Bandung is one of the province's five cities
and regencies which has delayed submitting its
minimum-wage proposal for the governor's approval
by Nov. 20 due to the deadlock at the Remuneration
Council, made up of workers, academics and
government officials with the approval of the
Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo). The
stalemate set in after a difference of Rp 17,500
(US$1.50) in the monthly rate could not be
resolved.
Apindo demanded West Bandung's monthly minimum wage
next year be set at Rp 1,002,500, while members of
the Remuneration Council demanded it be fixed
higher at Rp 1,020,000.
Spokesperson for West Bandung's chapter of the
National Workers Union (SPN) Ahmad Yahya said
workers favored neither option, perferring the
minimum wage be set to match the cost of living as
estimated by the West Bandung Remuneration Council,
Rp 1,166,000.
"If they just want to hit the gavel, why conduct
expensive surveys to determine workers' cost of
living? Just rate our work according to the wishes
of employers and officials," Yahya said.
Separately, hundreds of workers in Bekasi
municipality and regency staged rallies opposing
the minimum wage scheme approved by West Java
Governor Ahmad Heryawan on Friday, calling it
unfair because it failed to categorize workers
according to the industries which employed them.
They rallied before the governor's offices on Jl.
Diponegoro in Bandung, to protest the gubernatorial
decree setting minimum wages in 21 cities and
regencies scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, 2009.
Rahmat, spokesperson for the Indonesian Metal
Workers Federation at the Toshiba factory in
Bekasi, said the governor's decision ignored
existing Group 1 and Group 2 wage categories.
In Bekasi city, Group 1 includes workers involved
in metal, automotive, paper, cooking oil, chemical,
rubber and plastic industries; Group 2 includes
workers involved in electronics, wood and banking
services.
"If the description is unclear, our fate will also
be unclear," Rahmat said.
Worker representatives at the Bekasi Remuneration
Council Mahmud said the gubernatorial decree had
failed to thoroughly consider the minimum wage set
by the previous governor in 2007 who had defined
the worker categories.
"You just have to look at the drafts which set the
minimum wage last year, especially those submitted
by the mayor and regent of Bekasi. Those were
clearly defined and met workers' expectations,"
Mahmud said.
They demanded the governor immediately revise the
decree in order to appease more than 1 million
workers in both areas and prevent social unrest.
The crowd from Bekasi dispersed after Bekasi's
regent Sadudin, attending meetings at the
governor's offices in Bandung, told them he had
sent revision letters to all the workers' unions in
Bekasi on Monday.
"The information was late, but I guarantee there
won't be any protests once they've received and
reviewed the explanations," Sadudin said.
West Bandung Regent Abubakar, who also attended the
meeting, declined to comment on the protests in his
area.
Governor Heryawan said he was still waiting for the
minimum wage proposals from the five regencies and
municipalities so they could be immediately
approved.
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
Pay us what it costs to live: Workers
Jakarta Post - November 29, 2008
Fadli, Batam -- About 200 members of the All-
Indonesia Federation of Workers Union in Batam
demonstrated outside the Batam municipal office
Thursday, demanding the city's minimum wage be
equivalent to the standard costs of living.
The workers, coming from 12 companies operating in
Batam, demanded a tripartite meeting between
government, workers and employers to end the
deadlock in labor talks and find a way for the
mayor to set the minimum wage in line with the cost
of living.
Batam's monthly minimum wage is currently set at Rp
960,000 (US$87). Based on a survey by several
institutions, including the municipality and the
Riau Islands Remuneration Council, an acceptable
wage level would be Rp 1,350,000 a month.
Deputy chief of the union's electronic and metal
division Irham Chairunnas told The Jakarta Post the
rally was held because employers had failed to
offer the wage rise expected by workers.
"The dialogue between workers and employers has
reached a stalemate. We demand the mayor take a
stance in setting the minimum wage to be on par
with the standard costs of living," Irham said.
According to Irham, the minimum wage needs to be at
that level so workers can survive, given the cost
of accommodation, meals and transportation, and a
lesser amount could have an impact on workers'
productivity. "We will continue to protest until
our demands are met," said Irham.
Separately, head of the Batam Manpower Office, Rudy
Syakyakirti, said his office would convey the
workers' demands to employers, but asked for
workers' understanding of the current tough
economic times.
He said the demand for a higher raise was
unrealistic. "We ask workers to understand the
current condition of the employers. However, we
will convey their demands in order to reach a
settlement," said Rudy.
Secretary of the Riau Islands chapter of the
Indonesian Employers Association, Abdullah Gosse,
said employers had limited capacity to raise the
minimum wage next year, and any raise could be no
more than around Rp 20,000.
"The government and businesspeople should pay
attention to the current global situation. Many
orders can't be met, or have been canceled. How can
employers meet workers' demands in this kind of
environment?" Abdullah said.
He has said the governor should decide on the
minimum wage, should talks between workers and
employers fail, because of the governor's wider
perspective.
---------------------------------------------------
Workers say capitalist road has failed to bring
prosperity
Detik.com - November 6, 2008
Henni Marlina, Jakarta -- Hundreds of demonstrators
from the Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM) held a
demonstration against a joint decree (SKB) signed by
four ministers on wages. They were demanding that a
minimum national wage of 3.5 million rupiah per
month be put into effect.
During the action, which started at 10.45am, the
demonstrators demanded that the joint ministerial
decree be revoked. “The four ministers SKB will
oppress workers, revoke it now,†said action
coordinator John Silaban in the lobby of the
Department of Labour and Transmigration building on
Jl. Gatot Subroto, in South Jakarta on Thursday
November 6.
In addition to demanding that the decree be revoked,
the protesters also called for the enactment of a
national minimum wage. According to Silaban, a
reasonable wage would be 3.5 million rupiah a month.
“A reasonable wage for workers nationally is 3.5
million rupiah,†he said.
During the action, they also unfurled banners with
messages such as “The capitalist road has failed to
bring prosperityâ€.
Based on Detik’s observations, the action inside the
building proceeded in a peaceful and orderly manner
and no traffic jams were apparent along the length
of Jl. Gatot Subroto.
As of 12noon, the action, which was watched over by
207 police officers from the Metro Jaya regional
police and the South Jakarta district police, was
still continuing. (mad/iy)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
****************************************************
---------------------------------------------------
Laborers demand withdrawal of decree
Tempo Interactive - November 7, 2008
Dini M., Surabaya -- Around 500 laborers
representing East Java's Indonesian Laborers Union
Alliance Congress (KASBI) has urged the government
to annul the four-ministerial decree limiting
laborers' wage from exceeding the rate of economic
growth.
Their demand was conveyed at a demonstration in
front of the East Java provincial administration
office yesterday. "The joint decree prevents
laborers from getting decent wages," complained
Mahfudz, coordinator of the protests.
According to Mahfudz, businesses will use the
decree as an excuse for not paying the laborers
what they deserve. In fact, he said, it was the
impact of the crisis which led to a drop in the
prices of daily commodities, and resulted in a
decline in people's purchasing power.
---------------------------------------------------
=================^==================================
I N D O L E F T - News service > >
=================^==================================
Workers start election boycott campaign
Kompas - November 9, 2008
Jakarta -- Believing that the government has failed
to side with them, workers have started campaigning
for people not to vote in the 2009 legislative and
presidential elections. The reason, they feel that
it is pointless giving political support to the
government.
“There are no guarantees of job security or
improvements in workers’ welfare. Conversely,
workers have instead been neglectedâ€, said
Khasminah, a member of the Cisadane Workers
Committee Research and Advocacy Team on Saturday
November 8 in Jakarta.
The workers noted that in the case of several
national policies related to labour and investment,
the government has paid more attention to investors
than workers. Most recently, was the appearance of
the Joint Ministerial Decree on Preserving the
Momentum of National Economic Growth and
Anticipating Global Economic Developments(1).
For workers, this decision provides greater latitude
for companies to dismiss workers or refuse to
increase wages. “There has been no attempt to
improve workers’ living standards [which is
justified] because of the global crisis, companies
can refuse to increase workers’ wages on the grounds
of being incapable of doing soâ€, said Khasminah.
The cooperation of several labour organisations with
political parties, said Khasminah, also cannot be
relied upon. The political parties are unable to
guarantee that they will resolve the major problem
facing workers, that is job security and wages.
“It is because of this therefore, that although at
the organisational level not all are yet calling for
a boycott, at the individual level, many workers are
already calling for a boycott of the electionsâ€,
said Khasminah.
Not strategic
Contacted separately, Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P) legislative candidate said that he
can understand the workers’ position. He is of the
view however, that in order to strive for change, it
is better to be part of the institutions of power.
Although the political institutions that exist at
the moment are not entirely perfect, the space for
[people’s participation] if far more open now.
According to Putri, the 30 percent quota for women
legislative candidates should be taken advantage of
by labour activist.
“Golput(2) as a moral force can be accepted because
it reflects the socio-political crisis, but it does
not have a political force to articulate the reform
movementâ€, he said.
In order to address this, strengthening the
political parties will offer far more opportunities
to influence policy and the circulation of power.
“Although it may be in large numbers, the political
articulation by those who golput will in fact be
sidelined and power will continue to roll on,†said
Putri.
It is because of this therefore, that he is saddened
if workers or voters do not use their right to vote.
According to Putri, if it was the old regime of
former President Suharto, golput would be a choice
that makes sense, but not for these times. (JOS)
Notes:
1. The Joint Ministerial Decree (SKB-4) signed by
Labour and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno,
Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Industry Minister
Fahmi Idris and Home Minister Mardiyanto on October
24, limits laborers' wage from exceeding the rate of
economic growth and is expected to discourage local
administrations from raising regional minimum wages
beyond the capabilities of manufacturing firms.
2. Golput - Golongan Putih or White Movement,
meaning not to mark the ballot paper or not to vote.
[Translated by James Balowski.]
****************************************************
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2008/10/29/29900/Drivers-union-protest-snarls-traffic-for-miles
Local - 29 October 2008, 2:37 PM
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Drivers’ union protest snarls traffic for miles
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Juan Hubieres. File photo
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SANTO DOMINGO. - The Police today halted a protest-march the Fenatrano
drivers union had planned to begin some eight kilometers from the city
center on the highway Sanchez.
Numerous police agents still patrol the zone and prevent the union
drivers from carrying out the activity.
Fenatrano president Juan Hubieres said he’ll remain calm in the zone
together with his companions, but affirmed that they abided by legal
requirements to stage the march aimed at reaching the Transport Reform
Office (OPRET) to deliver a document.
Annoyed drivers withstood traffic backed up for several kilometers along
the zone known as Los Kilometros, in the capital’s southwest.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161395306
Yara workers protest over health, safety issues
South Bureau
Saturday, November 1st 2008
HUNDREDS of workers at Yara Trinidad Limited in Point Lisas downed tools
yesterday morning, to protest health and safety issues and the lack of
discussions between the union and company on a bonus plan for workers.
The workers have given the company, which produces ammonia, one week to
respond and meet union officials. The protest, held outside the
company's compound from around 7 a.m. to about 10 a.m., was addressed by
officials of the Oilfields Workers Trade Union.
OWTU president general Ancel Roget said there were serious safety and
health issues, and the union had met the Occupational Safety and Health
Agency on August 15.
"The company was supposed to take certain actions to ensure the health
and safety concerns of workers were taken into consideration, but up to
now those actions have not been taken. Workers are dissatisfied." He
said too the union was not satisfied a safety committee was set up
according to the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
The union was involved in establishing bonus plans in the company's
budget preparations, but Roget said they were also not satisfied with
how the company has been dealing with that issue. Roget said there were
still some 30 grievances to be dealt with at the Ministry of Labour and
the company had not responded positively.
Yara officials had no comment up to late yesterday.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161405574
Workers protest to save company
Ariti Jankie South Bureau
Tuesday, November 25th 2008
State-owned National Agro Chemicals Limited is on the brink of closure.
The company supplied fertilisers and chemicals to Caroni (1975) Limited
in large quantities and also exported from Trinidad, urea and other
products to Guyana.
Set up in 1976, it employs 31 workers, who have been protesting the
decision to close. They want Government to merge NACL with another
fertiliser and chemical supplier, Caribbean Chemicals, which has made a
bid for NACL stocks without success.
The company recently advertised a warehouse clearance sale in which it
said everything must be sold.
Officials yesterday said that since the closure of Caroni, the lands
have been used for housing and not for agriculture.
"There has been a steady decline in agriculture. Too much lands are idle
and unless the lands are put back into food crop production, companies
supplying fertilisers and chemicals would continue to struggle," an
official said.
He called on Government to provide drainage, access roads and irrigation
to encourage farmers.
"Houses must not replace arable lands while the nation suffers for
food," he said, adding that the atmosphere had changed and too many
farmers had already turned their backs on the land.
The clearance sale continues at the National Petroleum Compound, El
Socorro, San Juan.
Items include agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, irrigation
supplies and bee supplies
http://allafrica.com/stories/200811100871.html
Mozambique: Unions Protest Plan to Scrap Labour Inspectorate
7 November 2008
Maputo — Mozambique's largest trade union federation, the OTM, has
protested vigorously against the government's plan to scrap the Labour
Inspectorate, replacing it with a General Inspectorate of Economic
Activities.
Under Labour Minister Helena Taipo, the Labour Inspectorate has been an
activist body in defence of workers' rights, visiting companies across
the country, and fining those who are paying below the minimum statutory
wage, who fail to provide their workers with protective clothing, who
oblige workers to put in illegal amounts of overtime, or who otherwise
break the country's labour laws.
The labour inspections set off howls of protests from the employers, and
demands from the Confederation of Business Associations (CTA) that
inspections should be "educative" rather than "punitive". It was claimed
that fines and other sanctions against employers would discourage
investment.
The OTM's Executive Committee, in a statement received by AIM on Friday,
strongly opposed any attempt to water down the powers of the
Inspectorate, and insisted that Labour Inspectors must have teeth -
their work, the OTM said, cannot be seen as merely didactic, teaching
companies what they should so. Instead they must retain the power "to
apply sanctions against companies that repeatedly violate the Labour Law".
As for the employers' new strategy of merging the Labour Inspectorate
into a more general economic inspectorate, the OTM warned "this will
make inspections very complex and could result in the new institution
becoming ineffective".
In any case, the 2007 Labour Law, born out of a consensus between
employers, unions and government, grants specific powers to the Labour
Inspectorate to monitor compliance with the law. Abolishing the Labour
Inspectorate would thus be clearly illegal.
Labour Inspectorates are not peculiar to Mozambique. The OTM points out
that such bodies are internationally accepted, and that a convention of
the International Labour Organisation (ILO) urges all ILO member states
to set up inspection systems.
The OTM also noted that Labour Inspectorate regulations have already
been discussed and adopted by consensus in the Labour Consultative
Commission (CCT), the tripartite negotiating forum between the
government, the unions and the employers' associations. Instead of
toying with the illegal proposal to merge the labour inspectorate into
another body, the government should simply approve the regulations
already discussed by the CCT.
The OTM demanded that any changes in the powers of the Labour
Inspectorate should first be analysed in the CCT. It warned that any
weakening of the Inspectorate was likely to lead to a deterioration in
labour relations.
(Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique)
http://www.topnews.in/s-korean-union-protests-change-law-294119
S. Korean union protests change in law
Submitted by HARESH SHETH on Sun, 11/30/2008 - 06:10.
SEOUL, Nov. 30 -- Thousands of people rallied Saturday to protest a
South Korean plan to double the time irregular employees must work
before they must be made full-time workers.
Under current law, employers are required to offer full-time employment
to part-time and temporary workers after two years on the payroll. The
proposed change would increase the period to four years.
About 33,000 demonstrators turned out for the rally in a Seoul park, the
Yonhap news agency reported. About 2,500 riot police were deployed, but
there were no reports of violence.
"The government and employers are forcing laborers to stand on the edge
of a cliff," the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which organized
the rally, said in a statement.
About 5.5 million South Koreans have part-time or temporary jobs, the
government reports. (UPI)
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/11/113_35286.html
11-29-2008 21:27
Workers Rally to Protest Labor Law Revamp
Thousands of workers took to the street in Seoul Saturday to protest the
government’s move to extend the required period for a part-time worker
to be upgraded as a regular worker, Yonhap News reported Saturday.
Under the current law, employers are required to hire a temporary worker
as a regular when he completes an initial two-year contract.
The protest organizer, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the
police, estimate the number of protesters to be 3,000.
The Ministry of Labor and the ruling Grand National Party plan to extend
the required period of employment to four years, inviting outcries from
opposition parties and labor unions.
KCTU said it will launch “major efforts” to stop the government’s
planned move.
South Korea has some 5.5 million part-time and temporary workers, about
three times higher than the average of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development countries, a group of leading economies.
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/134419/Employees-picket-NFA-office-to-protest-looming-mass-layoff
Employees picket NFA office to protest looming mass layoff
11/19/2008 | 12:50 PM
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(Updated 1:15 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - Around 100 employees of the
National Food Authority (NFA) on Wednesday gathered outside the agency's
administration building in Quezon City to denounce a looming mass layoff.
Roman Sanchez, president of the NFA-Employees Association, said they
staged the protest movement to urge the government to stop the
implementation of the Executive Order 366, which would trigger the
abolition of hundred of rank and file positions in the NFA.
“Hindi namin sinasang-ayunan ito dahil ang nakalagay sa EO 366 ay
mapaganda ang services ng NFA. Pero paano mo mapapaganda ang service
kung tatanggalin mo ang mga nasa front line service," Sanchez said in a
radio interview.
Under the said order, the NFA is expected to implement a “cost-cutting"
measure by laying off around 300 laborers, 100 drivers, and around 80
radio operators.
Radio dzBB’s Mao dela Cruz quoted Sanchez as saying that the number of
employees expected to lose their jobs comprise about 35 percent of the
agency's total workforce.
Sanchez said that the rationalization plan would not improve the
agency’s delivery service for the public and support for farmers in the
province, as claimed by NFA officials. Instead, the brunt of the
rationalization plan is expected to be felt not only by the employees
but by their families as well.
The protesting employees, who gathered at the NFA’s building along North
Avenue in Diliman, said they doubted if slashing the agency’s manpower
was really a solution to the mounting expenses of the NFA.
Sanchez said that a look at the NFA’s expenses for the last three
decades would show that the money shelled out for employees’ salaries
and for the operating expenses has generally been unchanged.
“Hindi po kami naniniwala dahil pinag-aralan po namin iyong data since
1973 to 2007… (na cost for) personal services and maintenance and
operating expenses ay halos parehas for the last 35 years," Sanchez said.
In fact, Sanchez added that the NFA may actually be losing more money
from the operational expenses incurred during importation and from the
government’s subsidy program, than from paying its employees.
“Actually, sa ngayon umaabot na sa P70 billion ang losses sa operational
expenses dahil sa dami ng ini-import at sa subsidy," he said.
Sanchez said the layoff is expected to be implemented before the year
ends, pending final approvals from the NFA council and administrators. -
Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/videos/2008/nov/nov25/video03.php
NGEO warns of protests
Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu Tuesday, Nepal Government
Employees' Organization (NGEO) has warned of protests if the government
does not fulfill their 17-point demand.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/11/19/2003428989
Trade federation, HSBC union planning protest
LAYOFFS? : Trade unionists and union members say the bank has disguised
its layoffs of 500 people as transfers, hoping to prod the relevant
staff members into quitting
By Shelley Huang
STAFF REPORTER
Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008, Page 2
Companies have developed several different ways of disguising mass
layoffs, such as demotions, transfers or forcing employees to sign
long-term contracts, and the National Federation of Independent Trade
Unions and the HSBC Union plan to take to the streets to protest what
they said was such a move by HSBC.
The protest is planned for tomorrow, but whether it will take place
depends on ongoing negotiations between the company and its union.
“We have talked with the company and reached some consensus on the
issue,” said Lonely Chiu (邱榮利), president of the bank’s union.
“However, because they have yet to issue a memo in writing [on the
agreement], we still have to wait and see,” he said.
The trade federation and the union accuse HSBC of “disguised layoffs” of
500 employees by shutting down 11 outlets and transferring employees to
different departments or branch offices in an effort to get the
employees to quit voluntarily.
“After HSBC acquired Chinese Bank, HSBC went back on its promise not to
lay off employees,” the statement said.
Deputy Minister of the Council of Labor Affairs Pan Shih-wei (潘世偉)
said yesterday that demotions or transfers without negotiations with
workers are against the law, but that mass layoffs were signs of
“serious changes in the economic environment.”
Council statistics show the number of unemployed people has risen to
460,000, and the number of people laid off from January to July alone
almost matched last year’s total. In the last month, 110,000 people
registered to seek jobs, but only 60,000 job openings were available,
the council said.
While the council has come up with plans to lower the jobless rate, such
as the “get to work immediately” program, it has also predicted even
higher unemployment rates for last month.
“This is an economic problem that we can’t do anything about … The labor
market is reliant on the international market,” Pan said.
Taiwan relies heavily on exports, and if demand is down internationally,
Taiwanese companies suffer, he said.
“This is a tough time that we must all get through together,” he said.
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=63027
Published On: 2008-11-12
Metropolitan
Bus workers block Mirpur roads to protest attack
Staff Correspondent
Bus workers put up barricades on streets in Mirpur area yesterday to
protest the attack on a fellow worker by students, creating severe
traffic congestion for almost three hours.
One of the employees also filed a case with Mirpur police accusing 50 to
60 unidentified students of beating up Sohel Rana, the supervisor of
Dishari Paribahan, and slitting his tongue at around 10:00am.
However, neither the police nor the bus workers could identify the
institution the students belonged to.
Sources said at least 40 students went to Mirpur Section-1 bus stand by
a BRTC bus and swooped on Rana.
Following the incident, bus workers observed work abstention from
10:30am to 1:00pm and put up the barricades.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/07/stories/2008110751180300.htm
Karnataka - Madikeri
Anganwadi workers to stage protest
Staff Correspondent
They seek assistance for retiring staff
________________________________________
One-time payment of Rs. 2 lakh sought for workers
‘Rs. 1 lakh should be paid to an assistant’
________________________________________
Madikeri: Kodagu District Anganwadi Workers and Assistants Joint Action
Committee will hold a protest demonstration and satyagraha at the Fort
here on November 10, to press for its demands, including a one-time
financial assistance to workers and assistants retiring from service
during 2008-09.
Speaking to presspersons, vice-president of the State Anganwadi Workers
and Assistants Association T.P. Ramesh said that 475 workers and 2,254
assistants would retire by March 2009 and the State Government should
provide to them a one-time consolidated amount of Rs. 2 lakh to a worker
and Rs. 1 lakh to an assistant as retirement benefits.
In Kodagu, 55 workers and 75 assistants would retire, Mr. Ramesh said.
The Government had utilised their services in every area of
administration and it ought to consider their demand to help them eke
out a living after their retirement, he said.
The Union Government had announced that honorarium of the workers and
assistants would be doubled, but to no avail. The BJP leaders too had
stated before the elections that if it came to power in the State, it
would enhance their honoraria. The Yeddyurappa Government should honour
its commitment, Mr. Ramesh demanded.
If the demands were met by the Government, various associations of
anganwadi workers and assistants would stage a dharna in Bangalore for
187 days, starting from December 12, 2008, he announced. At present, a
worker got Rs. 1,750 while an assistant Rs. 850.
The other demand was that the Government should introduce pension
schemes for the workers and assistants on the lines of those in
Maharashtra and Goa, he said. A small sum from the honoraria of workers
and assistants were deducted every month and after their retirement,
they were given pensions. A worker would get Rs. 1,000 and an assistant
Rs. 500, if they retired after a minimum of 20 years of service. This
would benefit the workers and assistants, Mr. Ramesh said.
He said that invitations were sent to the elected representatives
hailing from Kodagu, an MP, two MLAs, four MLCs, president of the Kodagu
Zilla Panchayat, Deputy Commissioner, Chief Executive Officer of the
Zilla Panchayat, on Thursday requesting them to attend and address the
rally here on November 10.
Office-bearers of the Kodagu association, including its president, K.A.
Kasturi, presidents of the Virajpet, Madikeri and Somwarpet taluks, were
present.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/05/stories/2008110557450300.htm
Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad
Protest
DHARWAD: Many former wrestlers and members of Jayakarnataka formed a
human chain and took out a protest march and staged a demonstration here
on Tuesday to press for their demands. They formed a human chain at
Jubilee Circle disrupting the movement of vehicles for sometime and took
out a protest march from there to DC’s office. — Staff Correspondent
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/30/stories/2008103055390600.htm
30 Oct 2008
National
State Bank of India officers stage protest in Berhampur
Staff Reporter
BERHAMPUR: Members of the officers association of the Berhampur zone of
the State Bank of India (SBI) demonstrated in front of the zonal office
of the bank on Wednesday afternoon.
They were protesting against the alleged apathy of the bank management
towards the problems of the bank officers posted in this region of
Orissa. This zone of the bank manages10 southern districts of Orissa
which includes KBK districts. These officers were holding token
demonstrations in front of their branches every afternoon since past one
week. Their non-cooperation movement had also affected the functioning
of several SBI ATM counters in the city during past one week as the
officers had refused to load money on holidays. The zonal president of
the officers’ association, P.K.Sahu said they were too understaffed in
south Orissa although they had to cater to the needs of this
underdeveloped region.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/19/stories/2008111953900300.htm
Kerala - Kollam
FSETO to observe November 20 as ‘protest day’
Staff Reporter
KOLLAM: As part of a nation-wide exercise, teachers and government
employees of the State under the banner of the Federation of State
Employees and Teachers Organisations (FSETO) will observe November 20 as
a protest day.
In a statement, FSETO district secretary Basil Joseph said that the
timely interventions of the left parties had stumped the United
Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from fully implementing the neo
liberal policies.
This had resulted in especially the banking and the insurance sectors
from getting fully privatised.
Mr. Joseph said that taking advantage of the left withdrawal of support
to it, the UPA government now intends to go ahead full steam with the
allegedly anti-people liberalisation policies.
He said steps were being taken to privatise the provident fund and do
away with the pension commutation.
He said these circumstances compelled the employees and teachers to
observe November 20 as a protest day. They would report for duty wearing
badges that will highlight their demands.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/17/stories/2008111754980600.htm
Tamil Nadu
CITU stages protest
Staff Reporter
TUTICORIN: Workers of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) staged a
protest against non functioning of SPIC here on Sunday.
They expressed their anguish over stoppage of production of urea and
urged the government to intervene and take immediate steps to amicably
settle the issue.
Agriculture produce are subjected to heavy loss and the production got
affected due to non production of urea, the key to cultivation of
fertile soil, M. Murugan, Town Convener, CITU, said.
The unit remained closed for a long period paving way for economic
slowdown. A large number of workers in urea industry, heavy water plant
and other industries were affected and struggling to earn their daily
bread, he said.
A.V. Bellarmine, Member of Parliament, inaugurated the protest.
K. Ponraj, district secretary, and R. Rusell, State committee member,
were present. They took out a rally from the old bus stand to Muthiahpuram.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/14/stories/2008111461801100.htm
Kerala - Kochi
Gas agency employees plan protest
Staff Reporter
________________________________________
Employees threaten to disrupt supply of cooking gas by Indian Oil
Corporation
‘IOC indiscriminately cancelling licences of
gas agencies’
________________________________________
KOCHI: The CITU-affiliated All Kerala Gas Agencies Thozhilali Union
(AKGATU) has warned of a State-wide protest disrupting the supply of the
cooking gas of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) unless the company
management took steps to resolve, what the union alleged as, its
anti-worker policy towards those employed by gas agencies.
The union took out a march and staged a dharna in front of the office of
IOC at Panampilly Nagar on Wednesday raising a number of demands. V.S.
Mani, State president of the union, inaugurated the dharna. T.
Reghuvaran, district president, presided.
Mr. Reghuvaran said that IOC was indiscriminately cancelling the
licences of gas agencies accusing incapability in proper distribution of
LPG cylinders thus throwing a large number of employees out of job. “In
the recent past, the company has cancelled three agency licences in
Vaduthala, Kakkanad and Paravur,” he alleged.
Mr. Reghuvaran accused that this was part of a ploy on the part of IOC
to pass the buck for consumer ire resulting from its failure to ensure
adequate production of LPG cylinders and their prompt supply for
distribution. He said that if some agents were diverting domestic gas
cylinders for commercial purposes, as alleged by IOC, the corporation
could employ its mechanism to detect it and take punitive measures.
Mr. Reghuvaran was also critical of what he regarded as the
“inefficient” functioning of the squad of the district supply officer to
detect illegal diversions. He said that the inspections by the squad
were infrequent and were carried out only when complaints were raised.
He said that gas agencies and IOC spoke in the same voice when it came
to the affairs of the employees of gas agencies. Mr. Reghuvaran pointed
out that majority of the employees in the sector were forced to work
without even minimum wages. “IOC is washing its hands off the matter
stating that it has nothing to do with the issues regarding the
employees hired by the gas agent,” he said.
A senior IOC official said that the company only had the responsibility
to ensure proper distribution of gas cylinders. The employees hired by
the gas agent for the process are obliged to perform by the rules set by
the agent and IOC has no role in it, he said. The official said that the
employees could raise their grievances in appropriate platforms like
labour courts. He said that in majority cases employees were thrown out
of job for indulging in malpractices. “We cannot advocate for the
reinstatement of such employees,” he said.
He denied accusation that IOC was indiscriminately cancelling agency
licences, but was forced to do so when the agent expresses his inability
to continue the operation. “We cancel licence on our own only when we
detect some malpractices by the agent or by the delivery boys employed
by him,” the official said.
Asked about the scope for any discussion with AKGATU in the event of its
threat to disrupt the gas supply, he said that IOC could not do anything
about issues beyond its purview. He said that in the event of disruption
of distribution it would be forced to seek the assistance of the
district administration and law enforcing agencies.
Later the union leaders submitted a memorandum to the IOC authorities
seeking speedy resolution of the issues raised by them.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111151790300.htm
Andhra Pradesh - Nizamabad
Village servants stage protests
Staff Reporter
Nizamabad: Work at Pragathi Bhavan, which houses several Government
offices, including the Collector Office, was paralysed till afternoon on
Monday following the picketing by village servants to press for the
implementation of their charter of nine demands, including promotions
for eligible members among them.
A large number of village servants arriving from all parts of the
district gathered on the Collectorate premises from early morning and
blocked main gates preventing employees from entering the offices. As a
result, movement of vehicular traffic on the roads was affected.
They withdrew the agitation when Collector B. Ramanjaneyulu told them
that the Government was willing to solve six of the nine demands and
that a decision had to be taken at the higher level on the rest of
three. He also said that the eligible village servants would get
promotions once the guidelines were framed.
Association leaders Kondaiah, Daya Sagar and Posetty took part.
Sangareddy Staff Reporter adds: Hundreds of grama sevaks (village
assistants) held a procession in Sangareddy and staged a dharna before
the Collectorate.
Raising slogans against the government and Chief Minister Y.S.
Rajasekhara Reddy, they warned that they would bring down the government
during the elections. Due to the large number protestors, the police
were forced to divert traffic. The police observed maximum restraint and
let the agitators exhaust.
District Collector Peeyush Kumar and Joint Collector Ram Shankar Naik,
who were in the office at the time of agitation, preferred an alternate
route to come out of the office there by not provoking the agitators.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/25/stories/2008112561070300.htm
Kerala - Kochi
MACTA to protest
Staff Reporter
KOCHI: Members of the MACTA (Malayalam Cine Technicians’ Association)
Federation will stage a protest fast in front of the residences of
actors Mammotty and Dileep in protest against the alleged move by
leading actors to deny them employment, said Vinayan, filmmaker and
general secretary of the Federation. The date of the rally will be
decided at the general council meeting to be convened on December 10.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/24/stories/2008112458780500.htm
Tamil Nadu
Workers protest at EMU Car Shed
Special Correspondent
TAMBARAM: Work at the Electric Multiple Unit Car Shed in Tambaram was
affected for a few hours on Friday when several employees resorted to a
demonstration, protesting against the alleged high handedness of senior
officials of Southern Railway. The workers resorted to the spontaneous
protest once they reported to work on Friday morning after they came to
know about the death of R. Kariyampudi, a 50-year-old technician at the
Car Shed, at his house in Villivakkam. They alleged that Kariyampudi had
died as he was unable to bear the treatment meted out by senior
engineers of Southern Railway in charge of the Car Shed.
They said that Car Shed was an ISO 9000 facility and in order to improve
performance and increase productivity, the management was harassing its
workers in the name of better work output.
They stayed away from work and also surrounded senior engineers who
visited the Car Shed on Friday morning.
Only after senior officials of Southern Railway arrived from the
headquarters did the workers relent and resume work after lunch.
When contacted, Southern Railway officials said that it was a policy
decision to initiate action against those who indulged in long periods
of unauthorised absence.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/21/stories/2008112161360600.htm
Karnataka
Government employees stage protest
Staff Reporter
BANGALORE: Members of the Akhila Karnataka State Government Employees’
Federation staged a protest here on Thursday demanding the Centre check
rise in prices of essential commodities and withdraw the decision to
privatise the pension scheme of government employees.
Over 100 employees of the State Government took part in the protest.
Addressing the protesters, federation president U.D. Narasimhaiah urged
the Centre to control and bring down rise in the prices of essential
commodities and petroleum products and to withdraw the decision to
privatise pension scheme, banking reforms and increase FDI in insurance
industry.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/22/stories/2008112251730300.htm
Kerala - Kochi
Trade union to hold protest
Staff Reporter
KOCHI: Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) will hold a protest
in front of welfare offices for labourers demanding steps to resolve the
anomalies in implementation of welfare programmes for those working in
the construction sector.
R. Chandrasekhar, State president of INTUC, said here on Friday that the
government move to bring the existing pension programme for the workers
under the common pension scheme would affect the prospects of the
workers. He said that the existing pension programme should continue, as
it is more beneficial to the workers.
Welfare policies
Mr.Chandrasekhar alleged that the welfare policies for the construction
workers have not been implemented properly in the State.
INTUC welcomed the Centre’s decision to hike the pay for officers in the
Central public sector units. It requested the government to implement a
similar pay hike for other employees in public sector units.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/23/stories/2008112352200300.htm
Karnataka
Staff protest, demand that suspensions be revoked
Staff Correspondent
Telling: People waiting outside the closed tahsildar’s office in
Davangere on Saturday.
DAVANGERE: Four officials including tahsildar of Davangere G.H.
Nagahanumaiah were suspended following irregularities detected by
Revenue Minister G. Karunakar Reddy during his visit here recently.
Several petitions relating to different schemes such as Sandhya
Suraksha, widow pension and pension for the disabled were found to be
pending owing to ‘official inaction’.
The other three officials who have been suspended are Revenue Inspector
Ajagolla, village accountant Dhananjay and survey supervisor Barikera.
Protesting against their suspension, staff at the tahsildar’s office
abstained from work on Saturday. They took out a procession and
submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner demanding that the
suspension be revoked. The staff applied for mass leave on Saturday.
When Mr. Karunakar Reddy visited the tahsildar’s office, he found that a
few applicants had been sanctioned benefits while several others had
been denied them. When he questioned the officials, he did not get a
convincing answer. He was furious when Halamma, an elderly woman from
Shamanur village who lost her husband four years ago and had no
children, was running from pillar to post seeking widow pension. The
Minister took strong objection to the tahsildar’s decision not to hold
meetings to solve the people’s problems. He also summoned Assistant
Commissioner of Davangere Janaki and asked her to bring her tour
programme diary. Later, he instructed her to hold meetings frequently
and review whether the staff at the office had been discharging their
duties sincerely.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/01/stories/2008120158240300.htm
Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada
Grameena dak sevaks plan protest on December 10
Staff Reporter
On the warpath: Rural postal employees taking out a procession on
Mahatma Gandhi (Bandar) Road in Vijayawada on Sunday
VIJAYAWADA: Leaders of Grameena Dak Sevaks Ikya Vedika on Sunday gave a
call to postal employees working in rural sector to participate in large
numbers in the proposed ‘Chalo Delhi’ protest programme on December 10
and make it a grand success.
Addressing a gathering of 4,000-odd ‘grameena dak sevaks’ (rural postal
workers) at the Grameena Dak Sevaks’ Garjana held at the Railway
Institute hall, the leaders took objection to the recommendations made
by the one-man Natarajan Murthy Committee, which was constituted to look
into the woes of grameena dak sevaks. They said the recommendations made
by the panel were against the interests of the fraternity and,
therefore, the Government must scrap the committee.
They said it was ironical that the committee constituted to look into
the basic needs of the postal employees working in villages had put
forth proposals that were detrimental to their interests.
Demanding departmental status for grameena dak sevaks, they also urged
trade union leaders to take up their cause and declare an indefinite
strike call on behalf of the neglected community.
State general secretary of the Ikya Vedika, K. Venkatswamy, said as part
of intensification of the protest, the ‘Chalo Delhi’ protest would see
grameena dak sevaks demonstrating before Jantar Mantar for four days in
a row to bring pressure on the Centre. Following the conclusion of the
Garjana, the leaders submitted a memorandum to Krishna district
Collector N. Sridhar. The organisation’s national convener N.V.
Raghavendra, Ikya Vedika founder D. S. Nageswara Rao, advisors Kameswara
Rao, Nagendra Babu, Ghosh, Ramaiah and others participated.
GUNTUR: The Natarajan Murthy Commission Report would spell doom for the
strongest public sector organisation bringing it on the verge of
privatisation, said former MP Nilotpal Basu here on Sunday.
Addressing 3,000 members of All India Postal Employees Union Group-C on
the Acharya Nagarjuna University Campus, he said about 140
recommendations made by the panel would close down all the rural post
offices numbering 1.27 lakh out of a total of 1.55 lakh in the country.
"This was indirectly closing down all the post offices and privatising
the postal services, which will directly affect postal employees’
future," Mr. Basu opined.
Seeking immediate rise in minimum wages for the postal employees from
current Rs.7,200 to Rs.10,000 per month, he said that all the posts
falling vacant due to retirement were not being filled and existing
employees were being burdened with extra work like NREGS, LIC and all
new schemes being launched by Government. The three-day conference began
on Sunday and would conclude on Tuesday on the campus at which the
employees have taken a decision to go ahead with an agitation from
January first week if their demands were not met by the year-end.
The Postal Savings Accounts had Rs.30-crore accounts also and in the
rural areas the savings was Rs.12 crore in post offices, while the
entire value of assets with the department was Rs.55,000 crore, said KNN
Kutty All India General Secretary.
State Postal Employees Union General Secretary M. Krishnan wanted
government to desist from corporatising the posts department and
reminded all the members that it was the strong trade union in the
department that had slowed down privatisation and FDI proposals.
http://www.rediff.com/money/2008/nov/27rbi-staff-defer-protest.htm
RBI staff defer protest
November 27, 2008 18:16 IST
The United Forum of Reserve Bank Officers and Employees said on Thursday
it has deferred its mass casual leave programme scheduled for December 1
and 2.
The programme has been deferred following the terrorist attacks in
Mumbai which the forum described as a 'great human tragedy and attack on
the sovereignty of our country,'.
The protest programme was against the Reserve Bank of India's [Get
Quote] unilateral action in reducing pension and the rigidity in not
even holding a discussion on the issue and other superannuation issues,
the forum said.
"We have taken this decision (to defer the protest) with a conscious
mind to urge our people to help in every way to the civic authorities
for immediate restoration of normalcy in Mumbai city, especially by way
of donating blood to hospitals, in this hour of need," it said.
The future course of action would be intimated soon, the forum said.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/consumerproducts-SP/idUKLB39736020081111?feedType=RSS&feedName=consumerproducts-SP
Protesters attack Nissan's Spanish HQ over layoffs
Tue Nov 11, 2008 11:05pm GMT
MADRID (Reuters) - Several hundred people protesting against Nissan's
(7201.T) plans to lay off staff at its plant in Spain threw bottles,
fireworks and fencing at the Japanese company's offices in Barcelona on
Tuesday.
Reuters pictures showed the demonstrators gathering in central Barcelona
to protest at Nissan's decision to cut 1,680 jobs at its factory in the
city because of weak demand.
The protests coincided with demonstrations against the closure of a
shipyard in Gijon, northern Spain, where protesters barricaded streets
with burning tyres and set off fireworks.
When Nissan announced the layoffs in October, it said the global
economic crisis had caused a dramatic drop in vehicle sales, and new
environment laws had cut demand for all-terrain vehicles made at the
plant in eastern Spain.
Volkswagen (VOWG.DE) and Ford (F.N) have also announced layoffs at their
factories in Spain in recent weeks because of falling demand.
Car sales in the European Union fell 4.4 percent in the first nine
months of the year from a year earlier, according to the manufacturers
association ACEA.
Spain's Socialist government had hoped that improvements in productivity
would help the car manufacturing sector, but Spain has borne the brunt
of the sector-wide production cuts seen in Europe because of the
economic slowdown.
(Reporting by Jonathan Gleave, Albert Gea in Barcelona and Eloy Alonso
in Gijon; editing by Tim Pearce)
http://www.thinkspain.com/news-spain/15780/nissan-protest-turns-ugly
Nissan protest turns ugly
By: thinkSPAIN , Wednesday, November 12, 2008
A demonstration march against the recent layoffs announced by Nissan
descended into a riot yesterday as protesters hurled a variety of
missiles - including eggs, tomatoes, beer cans, glass bottles, stones,
flares and metal barriers - at the company's headquarters in the Plaça
Cerdà.
They are protesting at the company's plan to lay off 1,288 workers
before the end of this year, and a further 392 before September next year.
During the march, insults were aimed mainly at the general director of
Nissan Motor Ibérica, Fumiaki Matsumoto, though Spanish president José
Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and regional president, José Montilla, also
came in for some abuse.
Further demonstrations are planned to coincide with strikes each Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday until the dispute is resolved.
Today's march will end in front of the regional parliament building.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jLnJq1gEcsSSHggrtrOFnSBNj-DA
Hundreds in Spain protest Nissan job cuts
Nov 11, 2008
BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) — Hundreds of people demonstrated in front of the
offices of Japanese automaker Nissan in the northeastern city of
Barcelona on Tuesday to protest its plan to cut 1,680 jobs in Spain.
Some threw eggs, publicity hoardings and other objects at the building
as the demonstrators blocked the city's Gran Via avenue for about one hour.
Nissan plans to cut 1,288 jobs in 2008 and a further 392 next year in
two factories in Barcelona, according to a details of the plan presented
to a works committee on Monday.
In announcing the cuts in October, Nissan blamed "the global economic
crisis that has caused a dramatic decline in industrial output."
Nissan, in which France's Renault holds a controlling stake, is Japan's
third-largest automaker and currently employs 6,100 people in Spain.
US automaker General Motors and Spain's Seat have also announced job
cuts in Spain due to the crisis.
Sales of new cars in Spain plunged by 40 percent in October from the
same month last year, as the country's once-booming economy is pummelled
by a property slump and the global financial crisis.
The country is now on the brink of recession after its economy shrank
0.2 percent in the third quarter.
The number of unemployed also rose by 7.3 percent in October from the
previous month, the biggest-ever monthly increase since records began.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/12/europe/EU-Poland-Workers-Protest.php
Polish workers occupy PM's parliamentary office
The Associated Press
Published: November 12, 2008
WARSAW, Poland: A union member says some 200 miners, fishermen and truck
drivers have occupied an office of the Polish prime minister's party to
protest his proposed pension reforms.
Przemyslaw Kupin says the workers are refusing to leave until Prime
Minister Donald Tusk agrees to meet with them.
Tusk was in Frankfurt, Germany, for a meeting at the European Central
Bank at the time the group stormed an office Wednesday he uses in his
capacity as a lawmaker.
Poland's lower house of parliament approved a bill earlier this month
that would sharply cut the number of workers entitled to early
retirement, part of a plan to reduce state spending. The bill still
needs approval from the Senate and from the president.
http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_393738978
The protests of "Kremikovtzi" workers to become daily
Updated on: 10.11.2008, 16:34
Published on: 10.11.2008, 15:58
Author: Stefan Nikolov
Font size: a a a
"Kremikovtzi" metallurgists submitted a protest declaration to Premier
Sergey Stanishev and this ended their meeting in front of the building
of the Ministerial council.
Earlier today workers demanded the resignation of the Economy Minister
Petar Dimitrov.
The metallurgists went out on another protest, because they still have
not received their salaries for August and September, while minister
Dimitrov had promised them the disbursement to become reality last Friday.
The protesters handed their demands to the deputy minister Nina Radeva.
The leaders of the two syndicates KNSB and KT "Podkrepa" Zhelyazko
Hristov and Konstantin Trenchev headed the protest today.
Zhelyazko Hristov defined the policy of the government as cynic, while
Konstantin Trenchev announced to the workers that he has handed
contracts for over 90 million levs abuses in the factory.
After the problems of "Kremikovtzi" remain unheard by the government,
metallurgists announced that starting today their protests will be daily.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=98769
Continuous Protests Cause Traffic Chaos in Sofia
Author: Alexander Markov
Society | November 11, 2008, Tuesday
The number of alternative vehicles on Sofia's streets is on the rise as
continuous protest cause traffic chaos. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia
Photo Agency)
Everyday rallies downtown Sofia block further the congested traffic in
the Bulgarian capital, frenzied drivers complain, hoping the government
would soon fulfill the demands of the protesters.
On Tuesday, many of the citizens in Sofia have been desperately trying
to find an alternative way to reach their work places, as more than 2000
workers of the troubled steel-maker Kremikovtzi blocked the city traffic
once again.
The workers have been protesting continuously over the past year,
causing headaches to drivers, who have not experienced lately a
protest-free day in the city, blocked also by the rallies of milk
producers, grain producers, disabled people, environmentalists, etc.
It seems the number of motorbikes and other alternative vehicles capable
of avoiding traffic jams is on the rise in Sofia as the government say
protesters' demands are not easily fulfilled.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=98875
Kremikovtzi Workers Protest in Downtown Sofia Again
Business | November 14, 2008, Friday
The workers of the steel plant Kremikovtzi are going to continue their
protests in downtown Sofia until the future of the factory is
guaranteed. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
More than a thousand workers from Bulgaria's largest steel-maker are
holding a protest rally in downtown Sofia Friday morning.
The workers' daily protests are continuing despite yesterday's promise
of the Deputy Economy Minister Nina Radeva that they were going to
receive their August salaries by Tuesday.
Kremikovtzi's trade unions have made it clear they were not going to
terminate the daily protests before the building of the Economy Ministry
until they were guaranteed the funds for their salaries for September,
October, and November, and until they received a clear answer by the
government about the future of the troubled factory.
The protest of the Kremikovzi workers will be supported by the members
of the "Podkrepa" Syndicate of the Administration Employees, who work in
the National Health Insurance Fund.
In solidarity with the steel workers, the administrators are going to
stop their work between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Friday.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=98424
Kremikovtzi Protest in Downtown Sofia, Meeting with New Investor Put off
Business | October 31, 2008, Friday
The protesting workers of the troubled steel mill Kremikovtzi were faced
by hundreds of policemen guarding the government buildings in downtown
Sofia. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
The workers of Bulgaria's largest steel-maker Kremikovtzi are staging
another protest rally in downtown Sofia Friday morning after they
blockaded some of the central boulevards of the Bulgarian capital for
seven hours on Thursday.
Almost 1000 workers are already in front of the building of the Ministry
of Energy and Economy repeating their demands for the stabilization of
the factory, and for selling it to a new responsible investor.
However, the talks scheduled for Friday between the Bulgarian Economy
Minister Dimitrov, and the new investor which has expressed interest in
running and potentially buying Kremikovtzi - the Ukrainian company Smart
Group - have been put off.
The reason for the postponement was that the Smart Group representatives
have had to go back to the Ukraine in order to report on the present
situation of the Bulgarian steell mill so that the management of the
company could consider stepping in as the operator of the factory
earlier than it had planned.
On Thursday Kremikovtzi's trade unions asked the Economy Minister to
make a quick decision on the selection of Smart Group as the operator
and the potential new owner of the steel mill.
Minister Dimitrov announced Thursday that by the end of next week the
sale of the factory products would bring in about BGN 25 M, which would
be used for paying off the August and September salaries of the
Kremikovtzi workers.
The unionist leaders of the steel workers met with the plant management
Thursday night, and were promised that the August salaries would be paid
by Wednesday, and the September salaried would be provided by next Sunday.
The workers' demands, however, are not limited to their delayed salaries
but also include insistence that the plant be rescued and stabilized,
that no workers are dismissed, and that a new owner with a responsible
investment program be instituted.
The present crisis in the troubled Kremikovtzi was brought about two
weeks ago by the decision of the Ukrainian company Vorskla Steel
Bulgaria to discontinue its raw materials supplies to the plant over
allegations that the trade unions manipulated the workers for political
purposes, which caused intermittent strikes.
As a result, the factory suffered a severe coal shortage and had to shut
down one of its blast furnaces.
Bulgaria's Economy Ministry announced Thursday about the interest of the
Smart Group company of running and buying the plant. Smart Group is the
owner of another Bulgarian steel-maker - ProMet, located close to the
Black Sea city of Burgas.
Through a merger in 2007 it was taken over by Metinvest Holding, which
is owned by Ukraine's richest man, Rinat Akhmetov.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=98383
Kremikovtzi Workers Protest Blocks Downtown Sofia Traffic
Society | October 30, 2008, Thursday
About a thousands workers of the Kremikovtzi steel plant have staged a
protest Thursday morning, blocking the traffic downtown Sofia. Photo by
Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
About a thousands workers of the Kremikovtzi steel plant have staged a
protest Thursday morning, blocking the traffic downtown Sofia.
Workers from the troubled plant protest once again in front of the
parliament building over unpaid salaries and call on the government to
take the measures necessary to tackle the issues that make the future of
the factory unclear.
The main demands of the workers are the guaranteed supplies for
Kremikovtzi from the National Electric Company NEK, the natural gas
supplier Bulgargaz, and the state railway company BDZ, and the immediate
finding of reliable new investors who would operate the steel plant.
On Friday the steel-maker declared an emergency situation over a sudden
coal shortage and a few days later it completed the process of shutting
down one of its blast furnaces, which had never been done before in the
plant.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=98342
Kremikovtzi Workers on Protest in Downtown Sofia
Business | October 29, 2008, Wednesday
The workers of Bulgaria's steel plant Kremikovtzi are holding a
large-scale protest in downtown Sofia Wednesday morning. Photo by
Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
The workers of Bulgaria's largest steel-maker Kremikovtzi are holding
Wednesday morning a protest rally in the downtown of the Bulgarian
capital Sofia.
More than a thousand workers transported gathered on the St. Aleksandar
Nevski Square, and then marched to the building of the Economy Ministry,
where they submitted a declaration insisting on immediate measures to
tackle all of the factory's issues.
According to the Bulgarian information agency BTA, the declaration also
asked the Economy Minister Petar Dimitrov to resign if he was unable to
take urgent measures to rescue the troubled factory.
The main demands of the workers are the guaranteed supplies for
Kremikovtzi from the National Electric Company NEK, the natural gas
supplier Bulgargaz, and the state railway company BDZ, and the immediate
finding of reliable new investors who would operate the steel plant
until it was sold as a whole.
The trade unions, the Podkrepa Labor Confederation, and the
Confederation of the Independent Syndicates in Bulgaria, insist that the
government grant the factory a BGN 40 M loan, which would guarantee the
production of the plant for a period of one month until the gravest
aspects are resolved.
The workers also insist that the operative management of the factory,
the syndics, and the syndicates meet in order to craft an urgent program
of measures to save Kremikovtzi, and that the Bulgarian government and
the Economy Ministry in particular come up immediately with a clear
position on the future of the steel-maker and its employees.
The Kremikovtzi workers were supported by the syndicates of Bulgaria's
Danube port of Lom, and of the state railway company BDZ as the both the
port, and the freight carrier would be hit if the supplies to the plant
were discontinued.
On Friday the steel-maker declared an emergency situation over a sudden
coal shortage, and five days, on Tuesday, it completed the process of
shutting down one of its blast furnaces.
The present crisis in Kremikovtzi unfolded as Vorskla Steel Bulgaria
recently decided to terminate unilaterally its contract with the plant
for production with materials supplied by the client.
The company of the Ukrainian tycoon Konstantin Zhevago motivated its
decision by stating that the trade unions manipulated the Kremikovtzi
workers for political reasons urging them to continue with their
intermittent strikes.
Bulgaria's government is currently trying to attract a foreign investor
who would like to run the plant. The likely new operators of Kremikovtzi
include the older brother of the present owner of the plant Pramod
Mittal, Lakshmi Mittal, and the Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=98809
Protesting Kremikovtzi Workers Now Block Roads
Society | November 12, 2008, Wednesday
Protesting Kremikovtzi workers arrived Wednesday downtown Sofia with 70
buses, causing enourmous traffic jams. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia
Photo Agency)
Protesting workers of Bulgaria's troubled steel-maker Kremikovtzi have
briefly blocked roads outside Sofia, obstructing the traffic going
towards the Hemus motorway.
On Wednesday the workers declared civil disobedience, as according to
them PM Sergey Stanishev failed once again to come out with a clear plan
for solving the problems in the biggest Bulgarian steel mill.
Stanishev met Wednesday with trade union leaders, who announced the
Premier pledged delayed workers' salaries would be paid in the next ten
days.
More than 2000 Kremikovtzi workers protested downtown Sofia before noon
on Wednesday. They arrived with 70 buses causing enormous traffic jams
in the central boulevards of the capital.
Apart from paying of their salaries, the workers also demand that the
government present a plan for the future of the factory, and actual
negotiations with investors are started.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=98795
Kremikovtzi Workers' Bus Protest Causes Apocalyptic Traffic Jams in Sofia
Society | November 12, 2008, Wednesday
Thousands of Kremikotzi workers are expected to arrive with about 70
buses on their protest rally before the Council of Ministers building in
downtown Sofia. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
2000 workers from the insolvent steel-maker Kremikovtzi arrived in
downtown Sofia with about 70 buses Wednesday morning to continue their
protests over the unclear future of the factory causing enormous traffic
jams in the Bulgarian capital.
The bus rally culminated before the building of the Council of
Ministers, where the workers are expecting the government's statement
about the measures it would take for the rescue of Bulgaria's largest
steel factory.
During their protest on Tuesday the workers' representatives declared
Wednesday the deadline, when the government had to announce what it was
going to do for the preservation of Kremikovtzi.
The workers are still expecting their delayed salaries for August and
September. The funds for the salaries are supposed to be provided
through a deal with the Bulgarian government, which is purchasing
Kremikovtzi produce at market prices.
On Tuesday the leaders of the Kremikovtzi trade unions insisted before
representatives of PM Stanishev's cabinet that the money for the
workers' salaries be provided by the end of the week.
The ongoing crisis in the troubled steel giant has recently been
intensified after the Ukrainian company Vorskla Steel terminated
unilaterally in mid October its contract with the factory for production
with materials supplied by the client.
Kremikovtzi was declared insolvent in September, and the Bulgarian
government is presently seeking a new investor for the plant. Among the
likely buyers are the Ukrainian company Smart Group, the Bulgarian
millionaire and former owner of Kremikovtzi Valentin Zahariev, and the
Indian company ArcelorMittal.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/240957,bulgarian-steel-workers-launch-new-protest.html
Bulgarian steel workers launch new protest
Posted : Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:00:39 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Europe (World)
Sofia - Workers at the Kremikovtzi steel mill in Bulgaria launched a
further protest Monday, demanding backlogged salaries and a programme to
save the company from liquidation. Apart from salaries unpaid since
July, labour unions want the state, which holds a 25-per cent stake in
the bankrupt mill and holds most of its liabilities, to step in and save
it from liquidation.
The majority-71-per-cent stake belongs to Pramod Mittal, the brother of
the Indian-born steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.
Pramod acquired the stake in 2005 for 110 million dollars from the the
previous Bulgarian owner, who had bought the debt-ridden giant upon
privatization for just 1 dollar, with all its liabilities.
The workers have accused Mittal of falling short of investment promises
and running the Communist-era mill into ruin.
Lakshmi Mittal's ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel concern,
showed some interest in buying Pramod's stake earlier this year, but as
yet no deal has materialized.
Another investor, the Ukrainian tycoon Konstantin Zhevago's Vorskla
Steel, also seemed interested, but backed out of a deal agreed in August
to help pull Kremikovtzi out of bankruptcy.
Following Zhevago's termination of the deal, which included supplies of
raw materials and fuel, the mill near Sofia was forced to shut down one
of its smelters.
Apart from more than 300 million leva (195 million dollars) in
accumulated debts, Kremikovtzi would require more than 500 million
dollars in investments to make it compliant with environmental standards.
As it is, the mill, constructed in 1963 and now with some 8,000
employees, is far from meeting the standards of the European Union,
which Bulgaria joined in 2007.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2008/17/c9455.html
Demonstrations at 20 Petro-Canada stations in Montreal mark lockout
anniversary
MONTREAL, Nov. 17 /CNW Telbec/ - Workers who have been locked-out by
Petro-Canada for one year demonstrated with their supporters today at
about 20
of the company's gas stations in Montreal. "Since the beginning of the
lockout, we've been targeting individual stations one at a time to
educate the
public about the lockout," says CEP National Representative Daniel Cloutier.
"But today, for the first time, we took action at many stations at the same
time."
Nationally, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada
plans to step up actions to bring pressure on the company to negotiate a
settlement. A few weeks ago, CEP, the Fédération de travailleurs et
travailleuses du Québec (FTQ) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) called
for a national boycott of Petro-Canada gas stations. Since then, local,
national and international unions and labour organizations have been
publicly
pledging their support for the boycott.
CEP has declared November 21 and 22 as National Days of Action Against
Petro-Canada. Activities are being planned across the country to mark the
one-year lockout anniversary.
For the members of CEP Local 175 "it's a sad anniversary," says Mr.
Cloutier. "It is incomprehensible that Petro-Canada management still has not
understood that threats and intimidation will not lead to a settlement
of this
dispute. The only way to settle it is to show some respect for the staff by
accepting to negotiate an agreement."
Petro-Canada refuses to respect the pattern agreement negotiated for the
Canadian petrochemical sector. Locally, the company is requiring major
concessions on union gains and with respect to labour training and
health and
safety. Petro-Canada attempted twice to impose final offers, which the
members
of the Local overwhelmingly rejected.
"It seems to me that management should understand that its strategy is
simply not working. We have been repeating for months that this dispute must
be settled at the bargaining table", concludes Mr. Cloutier.
For further information: Michelle Walsh, CEP Communications Director,
(613) 230-5800, ext. 222
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7747379.stm
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Sit-in 'will continue' - workers
Jobs go as factory closes
Workers at the Calcast factory outside Londonderry have said they are
willing to continue their sit-in for 90 days.
Meetings are continuing to try to resolve the dispute over redundancy
terms for 90 workers.
Employees at the car parts plant have been involved in a sit-in protest
in the factory since Monday.
The company's management announced on Monday that the plant was to close
"as a result of current market difficulties".
Workers are protesting at the offer of one month's statutory redundancy
notice, rather than the expected three.
The Foyle MP Mark Durkan said the workers felt they had no alternative.
"The workers feel this is the only means they have of concentrating
management's minds on their rights," he said.
Shop steward Gerald McClafferty said workers at Calcast were being
supported by colleagues in Belfast who may refuse to ship parts made at
the Derry plant.
"Parts have been shipped out of here and they're sitting in Belfast and
the gentlemen in Belfast are refusing to handle these heads until this
is resolved.
"The legal teams are going to speak together, and we're going to have a
further meeting sometime today to try and progress where we are," said
Mr McClafferty.
A total of 102 people are employed at the plant. Ninety are to lose
their jobs, while 12 will be offered jobs elsewhere.
Donna Lynch worked at Calcast, along with her fiancée: "I have a wedding
planned for next year.
"So the two of us are currently unemployed and both of us have children,
it's not looking very cheerful. Everything's on hold at the minute until
we see what's happening."
Philip Oakes from the trade union Unite said its members decided it
"would be better for them to remain on site".
"Their view is that if they are to leave at this stage, the company
might close the gates behind them and not let them back in, so
individual members have decided to stage a sit-in at the plant until
such times as the issue is resolved," said Mr Oakes.
One of the workers' representatives, Liam Helferty, said workers at the
plant were angry at the redundancy terms.
"If there are 99 people or less, you're entitled to one month's notice,
but if there are 99 or more you're entitled to three months notice," he
said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7749189.stm
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Workers end their sit-in protest
The Calcast factory in Campsie is to shut down
Workers have ended their sit-in protest at the Calcast car parts factory
in Campsie, near Londonderry.
The dispute centred on redundancy terms for 90 workers at the plant. The
French-owned firm announced on Monday that the factory was closing down.
The workers had objected to the offer of one month's statutory
redundancy notice, rather than the expected three.
Under the new deal, they will still leave after 30 days but with an
enhanced redundancy package.
A total of 102 people are employed at the plant. Ninety are to lose
their jobs, while 12 will be offered jobs elsewhere.
Worker Thomas Fleming said he was happy with the deal.
"A lot of it is still ongoing but suffice to say that the membership are
happy enough with what has been negotiated.
"We had a ballot on our proposals to the management, and the ballot
returned very favourably in favour of acceptance," he said.
"We got more or less what we were looking for at the start, and they're
happy that they got what they expected to get."
Philip Oakes of the trade union Unite said the length of statutory
notice was "no longer an issue".
"There is a lot of detail still to be thrashed out, but suffice it to
say we have enhanced the redundancy package," he said.
"We are still on the 30-day consultation, and I expect some employees
may exit before that, but they are happy with what was reached during
negotiations."
http://www.wisn.com/news/17859191/detail.html
Pilots Protest Outside Of CEO's Home
POSTED: 2:13 pm CDT October 31, 2008
UPDATED: 6:26 pm CDT October 31, 2008
MILWAUKEE -- Early Friday morning, more than a dozen of Midwest Airline
pilots protested in a Waukesha County neighborhood.
Midwest Pilots Picket Home Of CEO
“We're not here to house hunt that's for sure,” said Jake Southern, a
Midwest Captain.
The pilots were protesting outside of Tim Huxema’s house, who is the CEO
of the airline.
Friday’s gathering was one of many protests over the past four months
after job cuts. Midwest had 400 pilots, but by December there will only
be 125 because jobs are being outsourced.
Midwest pilots said that the people now flying many planes have only
entry-level experience.
“We're trying to indicate to him this is becoming very personal. Some of
our pilots are in jeopardy of losing their homes,” Southern said.
“They're telling us by next spring if pilots and flight attendants agree
to draconian pay cuts and to work rule changes, some of us will be
allowed back.”
Laid-off flight attendants also held a protest Friday outside of the
Midwest ticket counter at Mitchell International Airport.
They said they are upset about the recent outsourcing of their jobs, and
that they want to inform the public about the changes the airline made.
Mike Brophy, the Midwest spokesperson, said that he empathizes with the
protesters.
“It hasn't been a good situation for us, but right now it's the time to
come together to try to get firm footing so we have a brighter future,”
he said.
Brophy said the airline will continue to negotiate with the pilots union
and that they are making progress. Midwest is asking for wages and work
rules that are competitive for an airline of its size.
“We believe it's fair, equitable and we have the numbers behind it,” he
said.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/29/america/NA-Canada-Border-Mice.php
Canadian customs workers protest mouse infestation
The Associated Press
Published: October 29, 2008
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ontario: Canadian customs officers in Sault Ste. Marie
are protesting what they say is a long-running and severe problem with
mice at their International Bridge headquarters.
About a dozen border guards walked off the job Monday, saying the Canada
Border Services Agency failed to respond to the rodent infestation.
Managers filled in for the missing members of the Customs Excise Union
Local 26.
Union representative Sandy Lucio met with port chief of operations James
Cameron, and the employees then resumed some of their duties at the
Ontario-Michigan border crossing.
An agency representative says a contractor began work cleaning up the
inspection booths Tuesday.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7737123.stm
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Protests at shareholder meeting
Lloyds TSB shareholders are meeting at the SECC in Glasgow to vote on
the bank's controversial planned takeover of Halifax Bank of Scotland
(HBOS).
Union members have protested outside a meeting of Lloyds TSB
shareholders to voice concern over possible job losses.
Shareholders voted in favour of the bank's controversial takeover of
Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) at a meeting at the SECC in Glasgow.
They also voted to accept £5.5bn of government bailout funding.
Leaders of the Unite union said they remained neutral on the deal, but
were determined to prevent any compulsory job losses.
At the meeting, shareholders questioned bosses on a range of issues,
including the role of the government in the proposed deal, the exposure
of HBOS to bad debts, the mechanics of the takeover, redundancies and
the potential value of shares after the deal.
Protesters gathered outside the meeting at the SECC in Glasgow
Lloyds TSB vote on HBOS takeover
Read Douglas Fraser's blog
Brian Peart, Lloyds TSB shareholder and president of Nexus Financial
Group, told the meeting that shareholders had been "blatantly robbed of
their assets".
"I fear at the moment I have robbers breaking into my house, demanding
40-60% of my worldy goods," he said.
Responding, the bank's chairman, Sir Victor Blank, defended the takeover.
"I am excited about the prospect of linking the two," he said.
"Out of adversity comes opportunity."
Another angry shareholder told the BBC: "Clearly our elected board
haven't got a clue, or they wouldn't have adjusted the price already.
"Nobody knows what's lurking in the talks with HBOS.
"The takeover will go through but not with my vote."
Outside the meeting, Unite members wore T-shirts with the slogan, Secure
Jobs = Secure Bank.
Wendy Dunsmore, national secretary with Unite, said: "Unite is the voice
of both Lloyds TSB as well as HBOS staff and what we're campaigning for
is no compulsory redundancies and also no off-shoring, which would lead
to more job losses."
Competition rules are being ripped up to allow this to happen
Tavish Scott
Scottish Lib Dem leader
Ms Dunsmore criticised Sir Peter Burt and Sir George Mathewson for
mooting the possibility of a state-owned independent HBOS - even though
proponents argue this would safeguard more jobs.
She said: "They've got no money and no deal on the table - I think it's
quite irresponsible to make that type of statement when they've got
nothing to show for it."
She said the union had called for a meeting with Lloyds TSB bosses.
"They have given the shareholders an idea that they're looking to save
£1.5bn with this takeover," she said.
"We want to meet with the company immediately to explore how they're
going to do that.
"We want them to explore all avenues so there's not going to be
compulsory redundancies and people's livelihoods ending because of this
takeover."
Remain independent
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott also staged a protest
outside the meeting.
The Lib Dems urged shareholders to vote against the planned takeover of
HBOS, claiming it jeopardised jobs, branches and competition in the
banking sector.
Mr Scott said: "This, as the Lloyds TSB chairman says, is a fantastic
arrangement for that particular bank, but it's not a great deal for the
thousands of staff who may lose their jobs.
"It's certainly not a great deal for the account holder or the small
business who need to access better banking services.
"Competition rules are being ripped up to allow this to happen and I
don't think that's in the long-term interests of our economy either."
Meanwhile, the SNP has tabled another motion in the Commons calling for
HBOS to remain independent.
http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Lloyds-staff-in-merger-protest.4703405.jp
Thursday, 26th March 2009
Published Date: 18 November 2008
EMPLOYEES of Lloyds TSB are to hold a demonstration outside the bank's
Extraordinary General Meeting tomorrow over concerns about the proposed
merger with Halifax Bank of Scotland.
The meeting, at the SECC in Glasgow, will see shareholders vote on
whether to press ahead with a proposed merger with HBOS, which has
raised concerns that as many as 17,000 jobs could be lost in Scotland
Unite members will wear T-shirts with slogans reading, "secure jobs >
secure bank" to remind shareholders employees must not be ignored.
http://www.olyblog.net/postal-picket-protests-firing-union-president
Postal picket protests firing of union president
Submitted by dr on Mon, 11/17/2008 - 7:28pm.
Informational picket calls for return of union president and return of
mail operations to Olympia.
Olympia, WA November 17, 2008.
The Olympia local of the American Postal Workers Union held an
informational picket on Monday, November 17, 2008 from 7 AM to 9 AM, 12
to 1 PM, and 4 to 5 PM at the Olympia downtown post office located at
900 Jefferson Street in Olympia, Washington.
The informational picket was to call for the Postal Service to bring
fired union president Clint Burelson back to work and to bring the
outgoing mail operations back to Olympia.
The Postal Service recently fired local union president Clint Burelson
for his union activities and major role as a whistleblower in exposing
the fact that mail consolidations would reduce service and would not
save money. Since then, mail consolidations all across the country have
been stopped once communities have learned the truth about mail
consolidation.
Burelson is a strong advocate for workers in the post office and
management is firing him for performing his duties as a union
representative. Despite many grievance settlements signed by the Postal
Service in which they agreed to cease and desist in discriminating
against Burelson for his union activities, management continues to
discriminate against him.
The Postal Service recently admitted in their review of the
consolidation that they have lost $1.5 million in six months as a result
of the transfer of outgoing mail operations from Olympia to Tacoma. The
Postal Service had previously claimed that the transfer of the mail to
Tacoma would save the Postal Service $1.2 million. The Postal Service
therefore made at least a $2.7 million mistake in judgment.
The Postal Service has not released all the necessary details of the
review of the Olympia consolidation so that the union and other
interested parties can properly audit the information. However, from the
post office’s own data, it is clear that the consolidation was not
cost-effective and the loss of the Olympia postmark and reduction in
mail service was unwarranted. The Post Office previously stated they
would bring the mail back to Olympia if the move was not cost-effective.
Concerned citizens and organizations should contact their government
representatives to advocate for the return of Olympia’s outgoing mail to
Olympia and for the return of Union President Clinton Burelson to his
job with the Postal Service. For more information contact: Louie Mackey
at (360) 357-6231.
The Postal Service is a federal agency and therefore accountable to the
public. Citizens may contact their federal representatives regarding
their concerns.
http://story.philippinetimes.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/3a8a80d6f705f8cc/id/429942/cs/1/
Air France pilots protest age-range change
Philippine Times
Friday 14th November, 2008
Pilots at Air France have started a four-day strike in protest at
Government plans to raise their retirement age.
Air France says the stoppage will cause severe disruption to about half
its flights.
The French Parliament is about to consider a reform bill which could
raise the retirement age for French pilots by five years to 65.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/tnBasicIndustries-SP/idUKL015364020081113?feedType=RSS&feedName=tnBasicIndustries-SP
Alitalia protests continue, govt eyes legal options
Thu Nov 13, 2008 6:07pm GMT
By Deepa Babington
ROME (Reuters) - Protests by Alitalia employees opposed to a takeover by
Italian businessmen stretched into a fourth day on Thursday, cancelling
more than 20 flights and prompting authorities to mull legal options to
end disruptions.
A group of Alitalia AZPIa.MI workers held an impromptu 24-hour strike on
Monday and have since been following a strict "work-to-rule" protest
that has caused delays, cancelled nearly 300 flights and heaped misery
on travellers across Italy.
Alitalia's pilot and cabin crew unions have been up in arms over the
planned introduction of new work contracts after the takeover by the CAI
investor group, but they too have distanced themselves from the latest
protests, blaming them on a small group of renegade workers.
Italy's centre-right government, which backs the CAI takeover, has
struggled to get the protesters back to work, and the labour minister
urged public prosecutors to intervene as Italian television played
images of frustrated travellers.
Local media reports said the dead body of a woman, due to be flown to
Albania, was still languishing in Rome's Fiumicino airport due to the
protests, while Monday's strike cancelled a flight carrying 10 billion
euros for the Bank of Italy.
The precious cargo later took off on a government aircraft.
"At this point it's a question of public order, because from my point of
view there has been illegal behaviour," said Labour Minister Maurizio
Sacconi. "The work-to-rule protest should be looked at carefully by
prosecutors because the law is not to be followed just to the letter."
An Italian commissioner overseeing strikes said the "work-to-rule"
protests were just as illegal as Monday's wildcat strike.
Italy's civil aviation agency Enac also fined Alitalia 250,000 euros
over the lack of assistance provided to passengers during the disruption
this week, and is mulling other penalties against the airline, Enac
spokeswoman Loredana Rosati said.
The CAI group of top Italian businessmen is proceeding with the takeover
-- which foresees it cherry-picking Alitalia's best assets, while
leaving the rest to the Italian state -- despite the resistance, and won
EU approval for the deal on Wednesday.
CAI has offered 275 million euros ($343.5 million) for Alitalia's core
flight operations, 100 million euros in a mix of cash and debt for its
various units, and will take on additional debt of 625 million euros.
Once the deal is wrapped up, CAI is expected to choose either Air
France-KLM (AIRF.PA) or Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) as a foreign partner to
enter the group with a 20 percent stake.
Italian daily MF on Thursday, in an unsourced report, said CAI had
chosen Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA) and already informed the Italian
government, although an official announcement will not be made until
Dec. 2, after Alitalia's relaunch.
Air France-KLM, which faces its own four-day pilot strike from Friday,
declined to comment. A CAI spokesman was not immediately available to
respond. (Editing by Simon Jessop)
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/11/10/daily47.html?ana=from_rss
Friday, November 14, 2008
Continental pilots to protest slot auction
Houston Business Journal
A plan to impose slot auctions at the New York and New Jersey airports
could cost Continental Airlines Inc. some flights to Newark Liberty
Airport, according to the Houston airline’s pilots’ union.
Continental (NYSE: CAL) pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots
Association International, will head to Washington, D.C. next week to
protest the U.S. Department of Transportation’s slot auctions.
The government said last month it will move ahead with plans to auction
off nearly 10 percent of the takeoff and landing slots at New York and
New Jersey’s three large airports in an effort to relieve congestion in
the skies and help reduce ticket prices.
“The auctions will do nothing to help airline passengers or ease
congestion at these airports,” Capt. Jay Pierce, chairman of the
Continental pilots’ union, said in a statement. “ We’re not going to be
silent and watch our airline’s slots and our jobs be auctioned off to
the highest bidder.”
Almost half of Continental’s 5,000 pilots are based in Newark, N.J.,
which is one of the airline’s hubs.
“We could see a loss of up to 10 percent of our flying from Newark,”
said Capt. Al Brandano, leader of the local union council in Newark.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Politics/2008/11/08/7349631-cp.html
Protests, barbs mark day four of Quebec election campaign
By Jessica Murphy, THE CANADIAN PRESS
MONTREAL - Protests and barbs marked day four of Quebec's provincial
election campaign.
Meanwhile, about 100 people gathered in front of the Montreal offices
Christine St-Pierre, provincial minister for the status of women, to ask
the government not to appeal a recent judgment by Quebec's Superior
Court that struck down a law preventing home daycare workers from
unionizing.
And, police were called to another protest in front of PQ candidate
Scott MacKay's nomination meeting.
About 30 people tried to block the entrance to the meeting in a Montreal
suburb to protest the official nomination of MacKay, the former Quebec
Green Party leader.
The protesters supported former PQ member Jean-Claude St-Andre, a
hardline sovereigntist whose candidacy in the same riding was rejected
by the party.
"We had a party convention last March," Marois said.
"We agreed on certain directions and Jean-Claude St-Andre didn't back
them. So the party's executive committee decided they wouldn't accept
his candidacy for this election."
St-Andre, who held the L' Assomption riding from 1996 to 2007, is
appealing the decision.
http://dealbreaker.com/2008/11/protest-at-blackstone-boston.php
Protest At Blackstone Boston
Posted by Bess Levin, Nov 25, 2008, 3:00pm
Apparently a union in Boston takes issue with the fact that Blackstone
isn't doing anything to prevent foreclosures. Plus, it's Thanksgiving on
Thursday. And really, the opportunity was apparently too good to pass
up. Holiday-themed "protest" pics after the jump.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/24/2427723.htm
Unions to protest against prisons privatisation
Posted Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:24am AEDT
Updated Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:23am AEDT
• Map: Cessnock 2325
Union delegates from prisons across New South Wales will meet this week
to plan a campaign of industrial action in protest of the State
Government's decision to privatise Cessnock and Parklea jails.
The plan was outlined in the recent state mini-Budget as a cost cutting
measure, but the Public Service Association says it will lead to job
losses and a downgrading of award conditions for officers who choose to
work for a private operator.
The union's senior industrial officer, Stewart Little, says he expects
any strike action agreed to by delegates, will be supported at all jails.
"Our members are outraged at this and it's not just about Cessnock and
Parklea - this won't stop at those facilities - the Government has
failed to adequately plan for the increase in inmate numbers," he said.
"We suspect this is the thin edge of the wedge and we will absolutely
fight against plans to privatise these jails, that will be done on a
state-wide basis."
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0811/S00375.htm
More Workers Join Skinny Santa Protest
Friday, 21 November 2008, 9:38 am
Press Release: National Distribution Union
More Workers Join Skinny Santa Protest
November 21, 2008
Media Release from the National Distribution Union
Workers from Farmers stores in the Auckland area are walking off the job
and holding a stopwork meeting to discuss their stalled pay negotiations
as part of the Skinny Santa protest in Queen Street today.
Maxine Gay, NDU Retail Sector Secretary says the protest is a chance for
low paid workers in Auckland to show they are fed up with struggling to
make ends meet.
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The Unite union and a Green Party MP will also join the protest.
“Workers from the Unite union have decided to join us. Many Unite
members in the fast food industry are paid the same sort of ridiculously
low wages as our members in the Farmers stores.”
Ms Gay says the Green Party has a policy of raising the minimum wage to
$15 an hour and MP Keith Locke will be speaking to workers about that
policy at the end of the parade.
Skinny Santa Parade
11. 30 am today
Queen Elizabeth Square to Aotea Square
http://www.rte.ie/business/2008/1121/curran.html
Curran employees protest at IBEC
Friday, 21 November 2008 15:59
Around 20 people protested outside employer group IBEC's offices in
Dublin at lunchtime in support of workers at Limerick company Curran
Aluminium.
They say the company has failed to fully implement a Labour Court
recommendation on pay, conditions and union recognition.
SIPTU says 14 of its members have been on strike since October 28
seeking improved terms and condiutions and union recognition.
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It wants IBEC, which acted for Curran Aluminium in the Labour Court, to
put pressure on the company to comply fully with the recommendation.
It claims that if any companies are permitted to operate on lower terms
and conditions for staff, they will undercut compliant firms.
A spokesperson for Curran Aluminium - which does not recognise unions
for collective bargaining purposes - said that only five of its current
28 employees are on strike.
It says that an investigation in October by the National Employment
Rights Authority found no breaches of relevant employment legislation.
It also criticised SIPTU for its campaign against the company, which it
described as 'deeply unreasonable'.
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