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Articles : Civil LibertiesLabor News Roundup
Welcome to the second edition of GNN’s exclusive Labor News Roundup. Though labor-related news is neglected in both the mainstream and “alternative” news services, important labor stories are breaking all over the world every day. This roundup is but a small sampling. For more international labor news, check out LabourStart.org.
Worldwide: Trade Unionists’ Death Toll On The Rise: In a press release, the 168 million member International Trade Union Confederation has revealed a “catalogue of murder, violence and intimidation against trade unionists.” 144 trade unionists were murdered worldwide during 2006, while more than 800 were beaten or tortured, according to the report. More than 5,000 arrests, 8,000 dismissals for union organizing activity, and 484 cases of detention (imprisonment) were detailed in the 379 page report. (OneWorld.net, 11/19/07)
China: Worker abuse exposed at Disney suppliers: A labor rights group has released a report accusing a mainland factory producing toys for the Disney Corporation of overworking its employees, underpaying them, exposing them to dangerous toxins, & forcing them to live in filthy conditions, AFP reports. The study’s, released on the second anniversary of the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland, says that “factory workers complained they were forced to work 28 days a month and up to 15 hours a day.” (The Standard, 9/13/07)
Bangladesh: 100 hurt as garment workers clash with police: At least 100 people have been injured in clashes with police in the Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) in Savar. Production remained suspended in most areas throughout the day of September 16th. Police repression came as a response to several hundred workers who had gathered at the entrance to the DEPZ Extension, demanding the recovery of a co-workers body, who was allegedly killed Thursday over the theft of a cellular phone. Police charged the workers, and the workers fought back, going on a rampage that left factories and vehicles damaged and vandalized. (LibCom.org, 9/16/07)
Jute workers strike
Jute workers attack union leaders in Bangladesh amid wider unrest: Striking workers at the Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills in the Khalishpur industrial belt in Khulna, south-west Bangladesh, attacked union leaders on Saturday, September 15th, accusing them of conspiring with management against the interests of the workers. The home of one union official was ransacked, and another official was beaten “black and blue.” The workers are demanding permanent contracts. (LibCom.org, 9/17/07)
Shattuck Cinema Union Wins Back Wages for IWW Union Workers: In Unfair Labor Practice charges filed against Landmark, having to do with wage increases and the review process, workers claimed that, because Landmark failed to review its employees for potential wage increase, retroactive pay was in order. In the days following the filing of the charges, Landmark went on a splurge of reviews. The company wanted the workers to sign off on their wage increases and back pay right away, but the workers wisely decided to hold out and wait until they were sure that all employees had received back pay, a raise, or both. Landmark has admitted their mistake and agreed to retroactive pay and/or wage increases. One worker writes that, “one year later with three pay increases plus back pay for missed reviews, we are convinced the Union gives us more power on the job.” (IWW.org, 9/13/07)
China: Mobile phone accessory workers on strike: More than one thousand workers at the Fei-Huang Factory in the Shenzhen industrial district went on strike Monday. The workers are protesting a 100% increase in work load, accompanied by a 50% wage decrease. Witnesses report one worker who sustained a broken leg resulting from a police beating at the protest, and at least three who were taken away. The fate of labor organizers imprisoned by the state of China is a bleak and uncertain one. The Fei-Huang Factory has become one of the top suppliers of mobile phone components and accessories in the world, providing supplies to brands such as Nokia, Motorola, Sony, LGi, and more. (Infoshop News, 9/18/07)
Germany: Staff of occupied bicycle factory take up production: Workers at the Thuringian Nordhausen occupied bicycle factory have taken up production under self-management. The workers have occupied the factory since July 10th of 2007. In order to generate advanced orders for production, they have teamed up with the anarcho-syndicalist union FAU (Freie Arbeiterinnen- und Arbeiter-Union – Free Workers-Union) and created the website www.strike-bike.de. For background informations and the history of the occupation, click here. Contact information to order Strike Bikes can also be found here. (Infoshop News, 9/21/07)
NEW! Labor Lulz!
“This is a rare gem. This was a PSA that the voice-over person decided to record an ‘alternate’ version of for fun. This comes from the archives of a local tv station.”
This week’s labor history spotlight:
United Kingdom: Cradley Heath’s Women Chainmakers Strike: We all still have nothing to lose: “Ninety-seven years ago, seven hundred desperately poor and overworked women workers said enough is enough, stood up and took action to improve their lives. So what lesson is there for us in the 21st Century? Times have changed, and our lives are much better now, aren’t they?” (IWW.org, 9/15/07)
Also See: Rolling On: A Summary of the Bay Area Starbucks Workers Union » » »
LabourStart: Where trade unionists start their day on the net.
This roundup was compiled by GNN contributor and blogger Nathan Coe. Nathan is a guerrilla journalist and activist residing in the mountains of Southwest Colorado, where he is a senior in college working on his Major in Humanities. He can be contacted at free_world_alliance@yahoo.com or via his blog at ShiftShapers.gnn.tv.
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Posted by ShiftShapers on Saturday, September 15th 2007
UPDATE! IWW Extends Legal Fight Against Starbucks Over Anti-Union Operation: Grand Rapids, MI- Still mired in a lengthy labor trial in New York City, Starbucks must contend with a imminent complaint from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over anti-union activity. After an investigation of charges filed by the IWW Starbucks Workers Union, the NLRB is set to accuse the coffee chain of threatening Grand Rapids baristas with termination for joining the union and denying access to the store bulletin board in an effort to interfere with co-worker communications regarding the union. In addition to the forthcoming complaint, the NLRB is continuing to investigate whether Starbucks violated its 2006 settlement obligations by other anti-union conduct in Grand Rapids. (Infoshop News, 9/22/07)
Not sure, I’ll put back into draft, make sure the date is today.
what anthony means is great work nathan!
right anthony?
heh. no, i edited my original comment. it said something else before. i was wondering why it didn’t appear on the front page at first.
UAW Strikes General Motors
United Auto Workers members walked out of General Motors Corp. plants shortly after 10 a.m. Monday as negotiations for a four-year contract reached an impasse 10 days after the previous contact expired.
_ forcing them to live in filthy conditions_
LOL, the shaker strikes again.
Ya shakes, because we all know how good the conditions were in China before it turned to freedom and Capitalism, under Red China. They didn’t eat, but at least they got a free copy of Mao’s Red Book and they sang worker songs.
in case you were unaware, Izzy, Chinese workers are still forced to read the LRB (as are Tibetans in Chinese schools in occupied Tibet) and sing songs that glorify the Maoist “revolution.” but Red China never amounted to more that State Capitalism, which is, after all, what a synthesis of “communism” and the State really amounts to. take the ownership of the means of production out of the hands of the capitalist ruling class, and put it into the hands of the State. nothing changes. everything remains the same. or gets worse. say hello to the new boss, same as the old boss. what we need is NO boss. we can manage ourselves.
It is too bad the UAW’s interests don’t have anything to do with putting GM into bankruptcy. Because I would really like that strike if they did.
Nice roundup.
Stange route. Never swa this posted in the yard or at the top of the front page.
it was at the top of the front page over the weekend. it was in the yard for a few days, with little peer input. i guess i should announce it by blog like i did with the first LNR. and of course, feel free to email me labor-related news as you come across it. shpanks.
Deal brings GM staff back to work
a comment I received by email: