Workers Struggles
GM sends termination notices to 48 TPT workers in Indiana less than two months after UAW signs concessions contract
By Jessica Goldstein, 7 December 2019
The contract makes clear that the so-called “pathway” to regular employment in the contract highlights touted by the UAW is a fraud.
Harvard University retaliates against striking graduate students
By Kate Randall, 7 December 2019
Several academic departments have informed graduate student teaching staff that they are responsible for reporting whether they are working, and that those who are striking should not expect to be paid.
Northern Virginia transit worker strike spreads as 600 Fairfax Connector workers join 130 Metrobus workers on strike against Transdev
By Harvey Simpkins, 7 December 2019
The ATU is seeking to limit the Fairfax Connector strike as much as possible, stating that the strike is over “unfair labor practices” and “bad faith bargaining” committed by the Company. It has offered no official demands.
The way forward for the mass strike in France
By Alex Lantier, 7 December 2019
The working class faces a fight to bring down the Macron government, drawing into struggle ever broader layers of workers and youth in France and internationally.
Vote “no” on the FCA contract! Form rank and file committees to oppose UAW sellout!
By the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter, 7 December 2019
The United Auto Workers is seeking to ram through a sellout contract at Fiat Chrysler which will lay the basis for the expanded use of temporary workers, further attacks on health care and integrate the union even more closely with corporate management.
Indian oil workers strike against privatisation: Auto workers in Haryana protest in solidarity with striking Honda contract workers
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
7 December 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
German Amazon workers walk out; Zimbabwe doctors and public sector continue 13-week stoppage
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
7 December 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
999 MTA cuts deal to avoid strike
7 December 2019
United Teachers Los Angeles and National Nurses Union back Democratic candidate
Union sellouts endorse the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign
By Dan Conway and Matt Rigel, 6 December 2019
The United Teachers Los Angeles and the National Nurses Union have both endorsed Sanders for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Thousands of Sri Lankan estate workers strike over workloads and wages
By M. Thevarajah and K. Kandipan, 5 December 2019
Strikes have erupted already in tea plantations following last month’s presidential election.
Mercedes-Benz to cut more than 10,000 jobs
By K. Nesan, 30 November 2019
The announcement is part of a sweeping assault on jobs in the international auto industry.
Explosions at Texas petrochemical plant force over 40,000 to evacuate their homes
By Jacob Crosse, 30 November 2019
The Port Neches plant, owned by the Houston-based Texas Petroleum Chemical Group, has been out of compliance for years and fined multiple times by the Environmental Protection Agency.
John Deere demands further job cuts through “voluntary separation program”
By George Gallanis, 30 November 2019
The “voluntary separation program” was announced just prior to Deere’s posting of lower net income during its fourth quarterly earnings call.
Indian auto parts workers demand union rights; Bangladesh cargo workers on indefinite strike; French Polynesia hotel workers expand walkout
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
30 November 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Brookings Institution study finds a staggering 44 percent of US workers earn low wages
By Jessica Goldstein, 29 November 2019
The study’s finding that 44 percent of the US workforce earn low wages paints a devastating picture of the realities of capitalism and working class life in the world’s wealthiest country.
Some production resumes as US copper miners’ strike drags on
By Samuel Davidson, 29 November 2019
The USW, which leads the nine different unions that represent workers in the mines, has downplayed the company’s efforts to break the strike.
Croatian teachers’ strikes; healthcare workers’ stoppage in Northern Ireland; Zimbabwe unrest over runaway inflation continues
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
29 November 2019
Thousands of Croatian teachers are continuing strikes over pay while 25,000 health staff in Northern Ireland have taken industrial action and Zimbabwe unions have called a mass demonstration over deteriorating economic conditions.
5,000 Vancouver bus drivers set to strike
Workers Struggles: The Americas
26 November 2019
The Unifor union has authorized a three-day transit strike in Vancouver, the first since 2001.
German bus drivers in state of Hesse on strike
By Marianne Arens, 25 November 2019
The strike has once again brought to light the grueling working conditions faced by around 130,000 bus drivers across the country.
“It’s bordering on slavery how they treat us”
Bus drivers in Hesse, Germany, discuss their strike
By Marianne Arens, 25 November 2019
Striking bus drivers employed by private companies in the German state of Hesse are resisting scandalously low wages and exploitative working conditions.
Strike wave in Peru stokes ruling class fears of Chilean “contagion”
By Cesar Uco and Bill Van Auken, 25 November 2019
In the midst of its deepest political crisis, Peru’s economic indicators have dropped sharply and the class struggle is heating up.
GM bribery lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler fueling growing outrage among autoworkers over UAW corruption
By Tom Hall, 23 November 2019
The lawsuit is part of a ruthless struggle over market share in the auto industry, under conditions of an accelerating global downturn and an escalation of the attack on autoworkers.
West Midland Trains workers escalate fight against strike-breaking operation
By Michael Barnes, 23 November 2019
The WMT strike is the latest in an almost four-year battle by workers at the UK’s private rail franchises to forge a unified struggle between drivers and conductors.
Striking Dutch healthcare workers speak about first ever nationwide strike
By Daniel Woreck and Harm Zonderland, 23 November 2019
The WSWS spoke to striking healthcare workers at a rally in Utrecht about their working conditions and strike amid an international resurgence of class struggles.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the South Pacific
23 November 2019
Workers in the Punjab rallied and blocked traffic after a 15-year-old labourer was brutally beaten to death at a plywood factory.
999 Peru strikes
23 November 2019
National strike shakes Colombia’s right-wing government
By Evan Blake, 22 November 2019
In the latest eruption of the global class struggle, hundreds of thousands marched in over 100 cities demanding the ouster of President Duque.
National strike by Finnish postal workers continues; stoppages at UK colleges; South African Airline workers strike
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
22 November 2019
A strike by 9,000 Finnish postal workers is in its second week while instructors have struck several colleges in Britain and workers at state-owned South African Airlines struck last week.
Over 3,000 Canadian National Railway workers strike across Canada
By Roger Jordan, 20 November 2019
Workers, who have been without a contract since July, are protesting against dangerous working conditions and long shifts, which have led to high levels of fatigue.
India: The indefinite strike by 48,000 Telangana transport workers at crossroads
By Kranti Kumara, 19 November 2019
Despite the immense courage displayed by the workers for over six weeks into their indefinite strike, the struggle is in imminent danger because of the rotten strategy adopted by the union.
Strike looms at Canadian National Railway
Workers Struggles: The Americas
19 November 2019
Some 3,000 conductors, trainspersons and yard workers were poised to strike Tuesday as contract talks between the Teamsters and Canadian National Railway reached an impasse over the weekend.
United Auto Workers declares sellout Ford contract ratified amidst widespread opposition
By Tom Hall, 16 November 2019
The vote, in which more workers voted “no” or abstained than voted in favor, is a declaration of no confidence in the UAW.
Political and economic turmoil escalates in Lebanon
By Jean Shaoul, 16 November 2019
According to the World Bank, a further devaluation of the Lebanese pound could push up to half the country’s six million people below the official poverty line.
Strike against Asarco copper enters second month
By Samuel Davidson, 16 November 2019
The strike by 2,000 copper miners in Arizona and Texas against massive concessions demands has entered its second month, while the United Steelworkers seeks to isolate and betray the strike.
School closures threatened as Chicago teachers vote on widely-hated tentative agreement
By George Marlowe, 15 November 2019
The Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey wrote a letter threatening school closures by Mayor Lightfoot as teachers vote on an agreement favored by Wall Street and widely opposed by new and veteran educators.
National strike of postal workers in Finland; mass strikes in Algeria; struggles continue in Lebanon and Zimbabwe
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
15 November 2019
About 9,000 Finnish postal workers at the state-owned Posti walked out Monday while mass protests continue in Algeria and Lebanon and the strike by Zimbabwe doctors has spread following sackings.
UK High Court bans strike by 110,000 Royal Mail postal workers
By Robert Stevens, 14 November 2019
In response to the ruling, unofficial walkouts by postal workers must be organised and linked up with other workers throughout the delivery and communication industry and other sectors coming into struggle.
Union-backed Chicago Sun-Times attacks Chicago teachers
By Michael Walters and George Gallanis, 14 November 2019
The Sun-Times, co-owned by the Chicago Federation of Labor, published several articles smearing and attacking Chicago teachers for fighting for improved schools and wages.
100 UC strike
14 November 2019
Dominican health workers strike, Chilean copper miners protest subcontracting
Workers Struggles: The Americas
12 November 2019
Healthcare workers in the Domincan Republic held a one day strike November 7 to press wage demands while Chilean copper miners are set to strike against the abuse of subcontract workers.
Chicago Ford workers denounce UAW contract: “They want to monitor you every minute, every second”
By Marcus Day, 11 November 2019
Anger is growing since workers have learned that the deal would allow Ford to deploy the high-tech surveillance methods increasingly perfected by Amazon.
Amidst growing opposition
UAW-Ford contract gives green light for video monitoring of workers
By Shannon Jones, 9 November 2019
The contract gives management the right to carry out video recording and motion tracking to drive up productivity and discipline workers.
Defying their unions, Dutch teachers stage countrywide one-day strike
By Harm Zonderland and Parwini Zora, 9 November 2019
The teachers’ action was the latest in a series of mass protests across the country, which has been dubbed an “autumn of discontent.”
Massive vote in favour of strike by Ontario elementary school teachers
By Jake Silver and Roger Jordan, 9 November 2019
The virtually unanimous strike vote by teachers reflects the depth of opposition to the government’s austerity agenda and is part of a growing upsurge of the class struggle internationally.
UK’s Royal Mail seeks legal action to prevent postal strike
By Robert Stevens, 9 November 2019
Royal Mail intends to impose conditions now widespread throughout the “gig economy.” The Communication Workers Union have done everything possible to avert industrial action.
Honda motorcycle and Kerala state transport workers strike in India; Pakistan health workers oppose privatisation
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
9 November 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
An appeal from Pani Wijesiriwardena, SEP (Sri Lanka) presidential candidate
Defend the striking transport workers in Telengana, India
8 November 2019
“Workers in India, Sri Lanka, throughout South Asia and internationally must not allow capitalist governments to unleash these reactionary social attacks on any section of the working class.”
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
Zimbabwe nurses join doctors’ stoppage; One-day nationwide strike by Dutch teachers
8 November 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Chicago Ford workers reject UAW agreement
By Jerry White, 7 November 2019
In the first major Ford assembly plant to vote, 1,497 workers (62 percent) voted “no” on the deal and 913 (38 percent) voted “yes,” according to figures released by UAW Local 551.
Vote “no” on the tentative teachers' contract! Form rank-and-file committees to defend public education in Chicago!
By Alexander Fangmann, 7 November 2019
With voting set to begin on the tentative agreement, teachers and other educators in Chicago are approaching a critical juncture in the fight to defend public education.
UAW pushes through concessions for 3,600 workers at Mack-Volvo Truck
By Samuel Davidson, 6 November 2019
The United Auto Workers forced through a concessions contract for 3,600 workers at Volvo-Mack Truck plants in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida after calling off a 12-day strike a week earlier.
India’s Telangana state government gives fresh ultimatum to 48,000 fired strikers
By Kranti Kumara, 5 November 2019
A call to make the defence of the victimized TSRTC workers the spearhead of a working class counter-offensive against privatization and the casualization of work would resonate across India.
Chicago teachers denounce union’s sellout agreement as Bernie Sanders, Democrats claim “victory”
By George Marlowe, 5 November 2019
Despite the official celebration, the CTU’s tentative agreement for a five-year contract entirely accepts the terms set by Chicago Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Ontario elementary teachers return big majority for strike authorization
Workers Struggles: The Americas
5 November 2019
Some 83,000 members of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario have given a 98 percent strike authorization vote as talks continue with the provincial government.
045 Asarco news update
4 November 2019
UAW sanctions plant closing, expansion of temps in deal with Ford
By Shannon Jones, 2 November 2019
The tentative agreement announced with Ford will further advance the restructuring of the auto industry into a low wage sector employing large numbers of contingent workers.
Breaking: UAW President Gary Jones takes paid leave as feds move closer to indictment
By Tom Hall, 2 November 2019
The rise and fall of Gary Jones demonstrates the United Auto Workers is a criminal syndicate that is no less hostile to the interest of autoworkers than the auto companies themselves.
Corruption scandal moves in on UAW President Gary Jones
By Joseph Kishore, 2 November 2019
The latest allegations, involving the embezzlement of $1.5 million in dues money, follow the shutdown of the GM strike as the UAW attempts to ram through a pro-company agreement with Ford.
Chicago Mayor Lightfoot’s budget: Increased policing and austerity on behalf of the financial aristocracy
By Alexander Fangmann, 2 November 2019
Lightfoot’s first budget, containing large increases to the police department and higher fees affecting workers, is a continuation of the Democratic Party’s right-wing assault on the working class.
Thousands of doctors strike in Tamil Nadu, India
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
2 November 2019
While 16,000 Tamil Nadu doctors walked-out to demand salary increases and promotions, thousands of the state’s railway workers struck against privatisation measures.
Croatian education workers strike continues, Zimbabwe doctors on strike for two months
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
1 November 2019
Seven hundred Croation educators have walked out in a program of rotating strikes while Zimbabwe doctors are continuing an action over the erosion of pay due to inflation.
Chicago Teachers Union attempting to ram through tentative agreement over widespread opposition
By Kristina Betinis, 31 October 2019
The tentative agreement announced by the CTU Wednesday night betrays all the aspirations of the 24,000 teachers who have been on strike for ten days.
New York City transit workers and the fight for social equality
By Allen Whyte and Daniel de Vries, 30 October 2019
Working without a contract since May, transit workers are facing unprecedented attacks on working conditions being demanded by Wall Street.
GM fires Flint workers over social media posts during strike
By Jerry White, 29 October 2019
Flint Assembly workers, including a 19-year veteran of GM, have been targeted in a campaign of retaliation aimed at silencing opposition to the corporations and the UAW.
Teamsters warn of possible strike at CN Rail
Workers Struggles: The Americas
29 October 2019
Conductors and other railroad personnel gave a 99 percent strike mandate after months of negotiations have not resulted in an agreement.
“I really don’t believe it… It was so shady”
Workers question legitimacy of UAW’s claims on GM contract ratification
By Shannon Jones, 26 October 2019
Bitterness and anger are brewing after the UAW shut down the 40-day strike by 48,000 General Motors workers and announced the ratification of a concessions contract.
Chicago Teachers Union and Democratic Party conspire to end Chicago teachers strike
By George Gallanis and George Marlowe, 26 October 2019
The powerful strike by 32,000 Chicago teachers is in danger of being isolated and betrayed by the Chicago Teachers Union.
The way forward in the Chicago teachers strike
The defense of public education and the fight for socialism
By the Socialist Equality Party, 26 October 2019
The strike by 32,000 Chicago teachers and support staff, now in its second week, is at a crossroads.
400,000 bank workers strike across India
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
26 October 2019
While almost half a million Indian bank employees walked off the job, tens of thousands of teachers and healthcare workers across the sub-continent have engaged in strikes and protests.
From Chile to Lebanon: Working class offensive sweeps the globe
By Bill Van Auken, 25 October 2019
The past week has seen a new stage in the eruption of the global class struggle, with mass protests bringing two seemingly disparate countries to a halt over what are undeniably similar grievances that are rooted in the historic and systemic crisis of the global capitalist system.
“The UAW officials can’t be trusted, they’re greedy just like the company”
GM workers denounce UAW moves to end strike on management’s terms
By Jerry White, 25 October 2019
Given the widespread hostility to the contract, workers expressed shock and disbelief at the large “yes” vote reported by the UAW at several locals.
UAW rams through sellout, shuts down strike at General Motors
By Tom Hall, 25 October 2019
The shutdown of the strike, the longest strike in the American auto industry in 50 years, exposes the UAW as an agent of corporate management, organically hostile to the interests of autoworkers.
As Asarco copper workers continue their fight, unions isolate their struggle
By Jessica Goldstein, 25 October 2019
The unions are attempting to put maximum pressure on workers by providing totally inadequate strike pay and other support, forcing many to seek public assistance.
National strike of Croatian educators; Zimbabwe doctors’ stoppage into seventh week
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
25 October 2019
Lecturers and non-teaching staff have called weekly walkouts to press for pay increases in Croatia, while doctors in Zimbabwe are locked in an increasingly bitter battle with the government.
Tens of thousands of Chicago teachers and staff rally as Lightfoot administration announces austerity budget
By George Marlowe, 24 October 2019
The powerful strike by 32,000 teachers and school workers in Chicago is completing its third week today, as the city makes clear it will not agree to any of the teachers’ demands.
Chicago Public Schools teachers, staff and students oppose concessions
By a WSWS reporting team, 24 October 2019
Teachers, staff, parents and students spoke on their demands, the conditions in schools and their opposition to the Democratic Party’s decades of attacks on public education.
Buenos Aires metro workers strike over asbestos in trains
Workers Struggles: The Americas
22 October 2019
Workers are set to carry out a series of strikes and protests over the refusal of management to take any serious steps toward the removal of asbestos from trains.
As UAW-company talks restart
Striking Mack Truck-Volvo workers struggle enters second week
By Nick Barrickman, 21 October 2019
Mack-Volvo workers face a conspiracy between the company and the United Auto Workers trade union, which is seeking to isolate them under conditions of growing class struggle.
050 Asarco Copper Strike
21 October 2019
The GM strike and the global class struggle
By Marcus Day, 21 October 2019
The strike by 48,000 US General Motors is part of an eruption of social struggle throughout the United States and the world.
Form rank-and-file strike committees to expand the struggle!
Chicago teachers’ strike in danger as CTU maneuvers to shut it down
By Kristina Betinis, 21 October 2019
The success of this struggle depends on a clear understanding of what teachers are up against—who are their friends and who are their enemies.
Vote no! Reject UAW misinformation! Elect rank-and-file committees to expand the strike!
By the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter, 20 October 2019
With this tentative agreement, the suspicions of many workers have been confirmed: the UAW is a bribed tool of corporate management.
General strike paralyzes Catalonia as over half-a-million demonstrate in Barcelona
By Alejandro López, 19 October 2019
Broad sections of youth and workers mobilized to protest the police state that is emerging in Spain, and more broadly across Europe.
What autoworkers need to know about the sellout UAW-GM contract
By Tom Hall, 19 October 2019
The contract creates the conditions for a vast expansion in the use of temporary employees, while the supposed “pathway” to regular employment is worthless.
“They sold us out again!”
Autoworkers denounce UAW-GM tentative agreement
By our reporters, 19 October 2019
The contract maintains the hated multi-tier wage and benefit system; creates the conditions for expanding the use of temporary workers; and sanctions the closure of four facilities.
As Chicago teachers strike completes second day, union and Democratic Party working together to shut it down
By George Gallanis, 19 October 2019
What is happening behind the scenes is not a genuine fight between the Lightfoot administration and the CTU and SEIU, but a discussion of tactics and plans to best ram through another sellout contract.
Mack-Volvo Truck strike to idle 3,000 at Volvo’s New River Valley factory in Virginia
By Steve Filips, 19 October 2019
The strike by over 3,500 Mack-Volvo workers at production facilities in Pennsylvania and Maryland will force the layoff of 3,000 employees at the New River Valley Volvo Truck Assembly factory in Dublin, Virginia.
Tens of thousands of Indian transport and aircraft manufacturing workers strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
19 October 2019
Some 49,000 transport workers in the state of Telangana walked-out in defiance of government threats to their jobs, while more than 20,000 employees of a state-owned defence company took strike action.
Zimbabwe doctors’ six-week strike continues in defiance of courts; German airline cabin crew to walk out Saturday
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
19 October 2019
Doctors in Zimbabwe are demanding their wages be pegged to the US dollar in the face of runaway inflation while Lufthansa cabin crew plan to strike Saturday over wages.
UAW announces tentative agreement with GM, keeping strikers in the dark on contract terms
By Jerry White, 16 October 2019
A major factor in the UAW’s move to shut down the month-long walkout is the growing strike wave nationally, which threatens to break the union’s isolation of the GM workers.
As strike wave grows, UAW scrambles to shut down GM walkout and impose sellout contract
By Jerry White, 16 October 2019
With the walkouts by Mack-Volvo truck workers and copper miners in Arizona and Texas, and the announcement of an impending strike by 30,000 Chicago teachers and support staff, the UAW is anxious to shut down the GM strike as soon as possible.
Mack Truck, copper strikes show potential to spread GM walkout to Ford, Fiat Chrysler
By Jerry White, 15 October 2019
The United Auto Workers’ isolation of the month-long strike by GM workers can be broken if workers take the conduct of the struggle into their own hands, call out Ford and Fiat Chrysler and unify with Mack Truck strikers, copper miners and other workers.
Chilean railway workers walk out; strike vote by Vancouver BC transit workers
Workers Struggles: The Americas
15 October 2019
Workers at Ferroarriles del Pacífico struck eight cities in Chile over wages while 3,200 transit workers in Vancouver have voted to authorize strike action after months of futile negotiations.
Auto strike in peril: UAW, GM prepare to end strike and impose contract betrayal
By Tom Hall, 12 October 2019
Having isolated the strikers for four weeks, the UAW is moving to end the walkout on GM’s terms.
Five dead and almost 1,000 arrested as repression mounts in Ecuador
By Andrea Lobo, 12 October 2019
The Ombudsman Office of Ecuador confirmed that the repression has left 5 demonstrators killed, 554 injured, and 929 arrested. These numbers, however, conceal the brutality of the repression.
India: Thousands of Telangana transport workers strike; Darjeeling tea estate workers demand higher pay; New Zealand medical laboratory workers strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and New Zealand
12 October 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Official cover-up continues of Australian paramedic’s suicide
By Cheryl Crisp, 12 October 2019
Undisclosed disciplinary action against senior managers over the death of Tony Jenkins is at odds with a NSW Ambulance report that identified systemic deficiencies.
Iranian Haft Tappeh sugar workers’ strike resumes; Zimbabwe’s doctors’ five-week strike continues
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
11 October 2019
Workers at the Haft Tappeh sugar cane operation are continuing a struggle over job losses and pay while doctors in Zimbabwe are fighting over pay and overall conditions in the health system.
UAW keeps GM contract proposal secret from workers at company’s request
By Eric London, 9 October 2019
The UAW is keeping workers in the dark as the strike has forced furloughs or layoffs of at least 150,000 workers across the auto industry.
India: Motherson autoworkers strike at cross roads
By Arun Kumar, 9 October 2019
Motherson workers should break the isolation imposed upon them by All India Central Council of Trade Unions and fight for the broadest mobilization of workers in India and internationally behind their struggle.
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