Having been inspired by a suggestion by Dhalgren in another thread, I am creating a thread for general discussion for labor organizing around the world, with special attention to be paid to the so-called "developing" world.

To start off, here's an article about solidarity with Bangladeshi workers:


The Bangladeshi labor movement is not “weak” because it does not attempt to build power. Political repression is to blame. While Long claims “workers here are united only in death,” the murdered corpses of Bangladeshi organizers tell a different story: they are united in struggle.

The Accord does not provide workers protection from state police, and the violent repression of unionization will continue with or without it. The movement has, however, won unions the right to access factories, to establish workplace safety committees, and to form garment worker centers to foster safe spaces for organizing and mutual aid. Such organizational measures, while certain to elicit state opposition, have nonetheless been crucial in building Bangladesh’s labor movement post-Rana Plaza.

Kalpona Akter, a former garment worker and currently the director of the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity, noted the positive impact the Accord’s provision for worker safety committees had on shop floor militancy.

“The Accord provision to include workers during factory inspection and going back with follow up report[s] has helped to get workers unionization at [the] factory level,” Akter told me via email. “They get [a] chance [to] give their voice which was totally absent in previous and this way they are organizing among them[selves] and joining [the] union.”

The explosion in unionization rates seems to back up this observation. In the two years before Rana Plaza, only two new unions officially formed in the garment industry. In 2013, after the Bangladeshi government was pushed to open the garment industry to unionization, at least ninety-six new trade unions formed — a direct path to improved day-to-day working conditions, led by workers themselves.

https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/07/what-international-solidarity-looks-like/

Good deal, and what is more about international labor than May Day?

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No Gods, No Masters

MAY DAY 2016
Translated Monday 25 April 2016, by Joseph M. Cachia

No Gods, No Masters
“There is really only one ’non-negotiable’ demand. And that is; ’power to the working class’.
Each year, as we join millions across the world to celebrate the victories of workers, our own Freedom Day remains still fresh in our minds.
On May Day, we remember that the workers’ flag is not red simply by accident or for artistic reasons. As the traditional Labour song goes, “Our life’s blood has dyed its every fold”. Not all those who wave the red flag or claim to speak for the working class actually do so, while entertaining that feeling.
Of course, the workers have made some gains in this century of struggle.
We live in a globally integrated capitalist society in its highest stage of imperialism, fuelling perpetual militarism and warfare. Consequently, we should be aware of the highjacking of our Socialist persuasions by the opportunistic deviation of the ’pseudo-left’ factions, whose tendencies do not even deserve the term ’centrist.’, as these are simply unattested ’anti-Socialist’ parties or groups. The ’pseudo-left’ denotes political parties, organisations and theoretical blocs which utilise populist slogans and democratic phrases to promote the socioeconomic interests of privileged and affluent strata of the middle class. In other words, the "left" lap dogs of the capitalists. Not unlike the Greek Syriza Party, our Maltese ex-Malta Labour Party has been highjacked and all Socialist principles jettisoned. It is understood to have been converted into a ’pseudo-left’ entity under the presumed caption ’Progressive & Liberal Movement’. How would our dear ex-PM Dom Mintoff be turning in his grave!
And is it really the trade unions who shape the future of work? Both the trade unions and the Labour Party have failed the workers miserably! Instead of giving concrete support and calling upon workers to take action, they did absolutely nothing. Our trade unions have become mouthpieces of partisan politics besides the morality crisis reigning in our Maltese politics.
However, the greatest setback for our workers arrived when Malta was tricked into joining the European Union. The European Union does not represent the unity of the European peoples, but rather the dictatorship of the most powerful economic and financial interests over Europe. In reality, the EU is the main instrument for inciting social divisions, fostering national antagonisms and developing authoritarian forms of rule. Since the financial crash of 2008, Brussels has imposed brutal austerity measures, besides enforcing privatisation decrees on Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and other countries, including Malta.. It has condemned millions to unemployment and poverty; destroyed education, health and old-age benefits; and left the young generation without a prospect for their future. We must reject all that EU hypocritical fancy talk which finally is translated into “I dictate”.
The achievement of our rights as citizens and our rights as workers should indeed be celebrated together. Our history has made them inseparable, as well as our destiny. Together we are stronger!
But today, the working class in its millions is not yet in a revolutionary situation. In fact today, it is the capitalists who are on the offensive and the working class that is in the position of the strategic defensive. In striving for our goals we must dispel the idea that change can come from government alone, while our people wait passively for delivery.
“Arise, ye prisoners of starvation.” May Day is the day of the working class, the class that has borne untold sufferings and has nothing, just nothing to lose but its chains.
“When the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century brought a rapid increase in wealth, the demand of workers for a fair share of the wealth they were creating was conceded only after riots and strikes.”
John Boyd

http://www.humaniteinenglish.com/spip.php?article2995

Worker's Memorial Day, April 28

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workers%27_Memorial_Day

After reading the Wiki entry and seeing that this 'holiday' was initiated by the AFL-CIO at the height of the Vietnam War I cannot help but conclude that it's purpose is to draw attention away from, and possibly was meant to replace May Day. I had never heard of it, a good thing, I suppose.

Worker's Memorial Day, April 28

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workers%27_Memorial_Day

After reading the Wiki entry and seeing that this 'holiday' was initiated by the AFL-CIO at the height of the Vietnam War I cannot help but conclude that it's purpose is to draw attention away from, and possibly was meant to replace May Day. I had never heard of it, a good thing, I suppose.

Yeah, this is news to me, as well. I have bought a bunch od red cloth and plan to festoon the house front with it. Have no idea what the wife will say...I guess I will find out.

The government, or the general ruling class, has worked hard in the past (and the present) to circumvent any working class consciousness and to derail any working class solidarity, yet they will adamantly deny the existence of classes - won't even mention the term, if it can be helped. The government has worked hard to kill unions and all talk of unions, and the society at large has either ignored the very idea of unionization or vilified it in movies and on TV. If there is ever a (pseudo) pro-union film, it always ends in disappointment or mob corruption or both. Yet there are movies coming out at a regular clip depicting the "Great Entrepreneurs of Our Times". Now, to be sure, some of these films show the pitfalls awaiting the GEOT, but the GEOT are almost always depicted as "The Good Guys". All books and PBS mini-series are based upon the same pattern. The GEOT are the Good Guys. Union organizers? Why, they are all Jimmy Hoffa wannabes, doncha' know? They're all mobbed-up, they force lowly workers to pay their hard-earned money to them, so they can finance mob-run crime - everybody knows that!

What is to be done? We can't start a "newspaper", because nobody remembers what those things are. The internet has effectively destroyed any chance of a working class voice. All organizers, like Curt (would love to hear from him) are isolated and marginalized, except on a small local level. Small local levels are absolutely necessary and even vital, but there has to be a national and international level as well. Some of the recent union activity, where numerous unions have joined together to support strikers is very encouraging, but it has got to grow. And grow in the teeth of overwhelming opposition.

Ha! This is the scenario in which we cannot lose! The bosses and their government has used everything at their disposal - even murdering workers in the streets, and yet there is still organizing going on. Even if the organizing isn't very well backed by theory or real class consciousness, it is there: The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Cooperation Jackson, and numerous socialist/communist organizations (with no affiliation with the Webbites). So we have work to do...

Yeah, this is news to me, as well. I have bought a bunch od red cloth and plan to festoon the house front with it. Have no idea what the wife will say...I guess I will find out.

Yer axin' for it...))

SWP is having an 'on line rally', for what that's worth....Hard being a Red away from the Big City.

Massive support for striking doctors

by Daphne Liddle

THOUSANDS of people, including a large contingent of teachers, braved hail and snow to rally in central London on Tuesday evening to support the cause of the junior doctors in their latest strike against the imposition of a new working contract which they say is “unfair and unsafe”.

This was the first all-out strike in this dispute — with the junior doctors offering no cover for emergencies between the hours of 8am and 5pm on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was among the protesters as he gave his full support to the doctors’ cause and spoke at the rally in Whitehall, outside the headquarters of the Department for Health.

He told the crowd: “Don’t worry, not all Jeremys are bad.” He told them that the NHS is “under threat from a Government that is more interested in attacking the core of the NHS than supporting the NHS and people that keep us all alive”.

“I have come here today to say thank you to everyone who works in the NHS for all that you do in whatever grade you are.

“Whether you’re a cleaner, a catering worker, a porter, a nurse, an auxiliary, a manager or somebody working in an area of medical records and all the others.

“All of us have benefited from the skill of what are called junior doctors. In reality they shouldn’t be called junior doctors — they are highly skilled people who have sown their commitment to our NHS.”

Corbyn pointed out that the British Medical Association, which represents the striking doctors, had made every effort to negotiate an agreement — even suggesting that the new contract should be tested in a pilot study and evaluated properly before being imposed throughout the NHS in August.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt rejected across - party plan for a new work contract to be piloted before a national roll-out and MPs had called for the contract to be “independently evaluated in operation and a study made of its impact on mortality rates at weekends”.

Since the last junior doctor ’s strike in March the BMA has maintained a negotiating table outside the NHS headquarters in Richmond House, Whitehall with a chair with Hunt’s name on it to urge him to enter into talks with BMA representatives who have kept a vigil there.

Instead of taking up the opportunity Hunt used a chauffeur-driven limousine to travel the few hundred yards between Downing Street and the House of Commons to avoid having to walk past the vigil or speak to the doctors there.

But Hunt remained intransigent and appeared quite gleeful at the prospect of the first all-out strike. If he was hoping that such measures would destroy public support for the doctors he was wrong — it remains high at 57 per cent according to opinion polls.

Hunt’s real agenda is the destruction and privatisation of the NHS. He wants to sow ill will between the patients and their NHS doctors and to see large numbers of doctors demoralised and leaving the service. And he is being backed by David Cameron and the rest of the Tory Cabinet.

The doctors have been put into an impossible situation. They must fight this new contract which will force them to work at weekends for the same pay and doing the same sort of work as on weekdays. But the Government is providing no extra money to pay the numbers of extra staff who will be needed for this.

Doctors will be forced to work for lower weekend pay and for hours that are so long they will be dangerous for patients’ safety.

This is why public support for the doctors and against the Tories’ ulterior privatisation strategy is so important.

Corbyn also told the rally that Jeremy Hunt had “had every opportunity to negotiate an agreement for the junior doctors”.

“They are the ones who have behaved in a responsible manner, to say they are here to defend the NHS. His response is to try and impose a contract on them. That is no way for a Secretary of State to behave towards one of the most crucial elements of the NHS workforce,” Corbyn added.

“Today we are here to show our support for them and our National Health Service and say to Jeremy Hunt, the NHS is absolutely safe in the hands of those who work in it — the junior doctors who work day in, day out to keep us all safe and healthy.

“It’s not safe in the hands of a government that is more interested in attacking those who work in the NHS, selling off its assets and destroying the very principles of our National Health Service.”

http://www.newworker.org/archive2016/nw20160429/massive_support_for_striking_doctors.html

Man, they never take a break from pushing austerity. They attack a portion of workers support here, then there, then over there. They space out the attacks so that it is easier for them to "say" they are unrelated issues. The issues are all the same thing: take away from workers and give to the owners. They never quit until made to quit by force...they seem to be begging for it.

France labour law protests turn violent
Two dozen police injured and more than 120 arrests during night of demonstrations nationwide against watering-down of worker rights

Two dozen French police officers have been injured, three of them seriously, as violence flared in mass protests across the country against a hotly contested labour reform bill.


‘End of term’ protests threaten François Hollande’s labour legacy
Read more
Security forces in Paris responded with tear gas as masked youths threw bottles and cobblestones, leaving three policemen with serious injuries, said the interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, adding that 24 police were injured overall.

Clashes between police and protesters also erupted in the cities of Nantes, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse, with 124 people arrested nationwide, Cazeneuve said.

The French prime minister, Manuel Valls, said the “irresponsible minority” resolved would be “brought to justice”.

In Paris, security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades early on Friday to disperse hundreds of people who had refused to leave Place de la Republique after a night-time rally.

Police gradually pushed the protesters back into adjacent streets, with several arrested.

Two buses and two scooters were torched a few hundreds metres from the site.

The clashes came as at least 170,000 workers and students took to streets nationwide on Thursday in a new push for the withdrawal of the proposed labour law.

“We have always condemned violence,” said Jean-Claude Mailly of the Force Ouvriere trade union, arguing that the violence occurred “outside of the protests”.

William Martinet, leader of the biggest student union, the UNEF, condemned the rioters but also denounced a “disproportionate use of force by the police”.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/29/france-labour-law-protests-turn-violent#img-1
People demonstrate in Lyon against the French government’s proposed labour reforms. Photograph: Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images
The demonstrations as well as work stoppages, notably in the aviation and public transport sectors, were the latest actions in a wave of protests that began two months ago and has proved a major headache for the government.

Advertisement

Opponents of the labour reform, billed as an effort to reduce chronic unemployment, which stands at 10%, say it will threaten cherished rights and deepen job insecurity for young people.

“Be Young and Shut Up!” read one banner at a protest in south-western Toulouse, highlighting the frustration of youths facing an unemployment rate of 25%.

The unions and student organisations plan to pile on the pressure with further protests on Sunday to mark the May Day labour holiday, as well as next Tuesday, when parliament begins debating the bill.

People demonstrate in Lyon against the French government’s proposed labour reforms. Photograph: Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty Images
The demonstrations as well as work stoppages, notably in the aviation and public transport sectors, were the latest actions in a wave of protests that began two months ago and has proved a major headache for the government.

Advertisement

Opponents of the labour reform, billed as an effort to reduce chronic unemployment, which stands at 10%, say it will threaten cherished rights and deepen job insecurity for young people.

“Be Young and Shut Up!” read one banner at a protest in south-western Toulouse, highlighting the frustration of youths facing an unemployment rate of 25%.

The unions and student organisations plan to pile on the pressure with further protests on Sunday to mark the May Day labour holiday, as well as next Tuesday, when parliament begins debating the bill.

Another was a proposed surtax on short-term contracts aimed at getting employers to hire more people on permanent contracts, Sirugue told reporters.

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Young people have been at the forefront of the protest movement, with many young workers stuck on short-term contracts or internships while hoping to secure a permanent job.

Protests against the reform kicked off on 9 March, culminating in massive demonstrations on 31 March that brought 390,000 people on to the streets, according to an official count. Organisers put the number at 1.2 million.

The CGT union said Thursday’s marches and rallies drew half a million people.

The protests spawned a new youth-led movement called Nuit Debout (Up All Night), which has seen advocates of a broad spectrum of causes gather in city squares at night for the past four weeks to demand change, though attendance has been dwindling in recent days.

With little more than a year left in his mandate, France’s deeply unpopular President François Hollande has been banking on the labour reform as a standout initiative with which to defend his record.

But in the face of the protests his Socialist government has watered down the labour reforms – only to anger bosses while failing to assuage workers.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/29/france-labour-law-protests-turn-violent

Videos at link.

So, Hollande would burnish his rep by stomping on workers, how socialist of him.

So, Hollande would burnish his rep by stomping on workers, how socialist of him.

Sounds like he and the Bern are the same "type"...

Demonstrations in Paris: Live feed


http://youtu.be/EMO_AfV7S9g

Started streaming 3 hours ago
A unity demonstration against the French labour reform law is scheduled to take place in Paris on Tuesday, May 17, as part of a general strike called by seven trade unions. This demonstration will be the sixth that has been organised by the trade unions against the 'El Khomri law', named after the French Labour Minister Myriam El Khomri. The proposed law look into almost all aspects of France's labour laws. Stipulations on maximum working hours, holidays and breaks are among the areas that will be open to negotiation as the government attempts to liberalise France's labour market.

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Heavy police presence, pretty aggressive. Thank god it's socialist government.

After a night of repression in Oaxaca, the week to come will be a nation-wide mobilization
translated from the Spanish
article originally published on Subversiones.org
on Sunday, June 12th.

On Saturday, June 11th 2016, around 11PM more than 1,000 members of the State police violently evicted the teachers from the 22nd Section of the SNTE (National Union of Education Workers, the more radical section of this teacher’s mov’t). The educators were installed in front of the State Institution of Public Education, Oaxaca (IEEPO) as a means to apply pressure to bring about an opening of negotiations with the Federal government and to discuss the education reform being implemented in Mexico. The teachers in the Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores Especial (CNTE, national teacher’s union) have been on strike since May 15th.

The State police attacked the teachers from numerous vantage points, headed by a frontal attack with tear gas. Meanwhile, the teachers immediately reorganized themselves, along with neighbors, young anarchists whom resisted with rocks and barricades. After the repression, the teachers reorganized themselves in the Zócalo (city center square), where they have been camping out for 20 days now.


https://edicioneschafa.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/represion-oaxaca-11dejunio-1.jpg?w=700

In the historical city center neighbors, heads of families, friends and acquaintances of the teachers gathered themselves. They immediately raised barricades to resist the possible eviction of their encampment in the Zócalo. Solidarity made itself felt immediately with bottles of water, soda, coffee and music.

The second eviction did not take place but the teachers are keeping on high alert, since there is risk of eviction at any time.

Intensification of mobilizations

After this heavy repression, in a press conference this Sunday morning the representatives from the political commission of the 22nd Section of the SNTE reaffirmed that they will not accept any education reform imposed by the State. “We know the education system needs change, but we demand our participation in these changes,” said one of the representatives.

They also affirm that they are on the right path, that they are on the path of defense of public, free and secular education. “From the coast to the sierras we are fighting back. Peña Nieto does not know that we, the original peoples, have a law of fraternity, of unity. You and your nefarious reform shall not reach Oaxaca. We will shut down the city if necessary, we will take determined and overwhelming action to defend our education,” said a member of the commission.

https://edicioneschafa.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/represion-oaxaca-11dejunio-2.jpg?w=700



In accordance with the representatives of the political commission (of the SNTE), heads of families and teachers from all over the state will pour into Oaxaca city to strengthen the movement.

Further, in the whole state including Oaxaca City there has already been mobilizations in support of the movement this Sunday, June 12th.

Coordinated Action

The earlier eviction took place after the detainment of Francisco Villalobos Ricárdez, Saturday afternoon, in the city of Tehuantepec, the Secretary of the 22nd Section of the SNTE, accused of the theft of free text books property of the Public Education Secretariat in 2015. This resulted in the injury of one person. Early Sunday morning, there was also the detainment of Rubén Núñez, General Secretary of the 22nd Section, for supposed money laundering.

In the early hours of June 12th, Sunday, the two leaders were transported to a prison (Centro de Readaptación Social Número 11) located in Hermosillo, Sonora.

https://edicioneschafa.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/3.jpg?w=346&h=231&crop=1

https://edicioneschafa.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/4.jpg?w=346&h=231&crop=1

Upcoming Days

Below are the following declarations by the CNTE, which calls for all education workers to go on a General Strike throughout the country:

Being that the epicenter of this struggle is the capital of the country, we must bring in as many people of our comrades into the national encampment representing the CNTE found in the Citadel Square (la Plaza de la Ciudadela) in Mexico City.
Continuing to demand we be at the main negotiation table with the government.
Strengthen and consolidate the work process of the National Committee of Intermediation [of the CNTE].
The immediate release and unconditional release of the our comrades Francisco Villalobos Ricárdez, Secretary of Organization and of Rubén Núñez Ginés, General Secretary.
The plan of action

Mobile political caravans in the country and a informative rallies in the metropolitan zones.
Sunday, June 12th: press conferences in every state.
Monday, June 13th: Highway blockades in the whole country and in Mexico City a highly-concentrated rally. At 8pm, a National Political Direction meeting.
Tuesday, June 14th: Distribution of information, volunteering and asking of donations in squares and public markets. In Mexico City, starting at noon a human wall in defense of public education and work stability against State repression and demanding a place at the main negotiation table. At 4PM a gathering at the anti-monument for the 43 [disappeared], which will kick off from the Angel of Independence monument.
Wednesday, June 15th: Blockades and rallies at transnational companies.
Friday, June 17th: National popular march in defense of public education at 4PM, starting from the Angel of Independence Monument heading towards the Zócalo in Mexico City. At 8PM, a visiting of the embassies of different countries.
Saturday, June 18th: A democratic National Representative Assembly at 8PM, in the 9th Section, seat of the national CNTE.
Sunday, June 19th: Meeting of greater extension with the workers in the city and the countryside to be held in the seat of the national CNTE, held by the 9th Section.

https://edicioneschafa.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/after-a-night-of-repression-in-oaxaca-the-week-to-come-will-be-a-nation-wide-mobilization/

Video at link.

PCM calls for anti-monopoly, anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist front

http://icp.sol.org.tr/americasa/pcm-calls-anti-monopoly-anti-capitalist-and-anti-imperialist-front

Communist Party of Mexico (PCM) released a statement on the occasion of the recent protests all around the country against the educational reform of Peña Nieto government about the character of the Mexican state and misconceptions of the opposition.

ICP, 10th June 2016

Mexican parliament’s approval of the government’s educational reform in December 2015, resulted in a new wave of protests from April onwards all around the country. Teachers and students massively protested the new law on the ground that the national system of standardized evaluations of teachers brought by the law eliminates teachers’ job security and ultimately will lead to the privatization of whole educational system. Communist Party of Mexico, which actively participated in the protests, released a statement where the character of the Mexican state and government, as well as the weaknesses of the opposition, is highlighted.

In the statement, the presidential term of Peña Nieto was defined to be marked by hunger, misery, state terrorism and violation of human rights, labor exploitation and corruption. It was highlighted that the share allocated from the public budget for the repressive state instruments dramatically grew and a series of new laws were passed in the direction to limit the political action of workers and popular sectors. According to the statement, the educational reform as the judicial, tax and labor reforms is part of a policy that emerged in the context of economic crisis of capitalism and that aimed at attacking on labor and union rights that were won in the last 100 years by the proletarian struggle with the fundamental intervention of revolutionaries and the communists. Repressive mechanisms work to protect monopoly rights, by committing outrageous crimes against the people, demobilizing masses, sowing fear and despair.

PCM stated that the intensifying state terror and repression that have come to fore once again with the recent attacks towards the education workers, including their expulsion from Mexico City, caused misconceptions about the character of state as a fascist one. According to the statement, in spite of the persecutions and harassment by the Peña Nieto administration against the PCM members, the Party won’t fall into the error to make disproportionate assessments, since for an efficient and successful struggle a correct strategy and tactic depending on a realistic analysis exempt from exaggerations and alarming is needed. The ideologically confused groups and organizations however, “have been for years saying that fascism comes, fascism has already arrived, that fascism is already here.”

In the statement it was added that with the same lack of seriousness those groups and organizations call for general strike without a minimum effort for halting the production, an act, which requires a real organization effort in every workplace. Contrary to the characterizations of the Mexican state with fascism, Communist Party maintains:

“...the class dictatorship of the bourgeoisie in Mexico seeks to conserve the democratic facade, knowing that in this way profitability would be higher; the democratic facade legitimizes terror, torture, obscurantism, anti-communism, without diluting the bourgeois democratic institutions. Authoritarianism and bourgeois democracy go hand in hand.

Those who insist on characterizing inappropriately the Mexican government as fascist, are seeking a pretext for folding away our flags and goals for the sake of new social democracy, and that in one way or another concentrate forces in reinforcement of bourgeois democracy…”

Instead of the old tactic of the opportunist forces to follow mobilization-bargaining-mobilization scheme, the PCM, trusting the organizational capacity of Mexican workers, claims the necessity of a united anti-monopoly, anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist front with the programmatic objective to overthrow the power of the monopolies.

http://icp.sol.org.tr/americasa/pcm-calls-anti-monopoly-anti-capitalist-and-anti-imperialist-front

Argentine Oil Workers Begin Nationwide Strike Against Austerity

http://www.telesurtv.net/__export/1467121110543/sites/telesur/img/news/2016/06/28/reuters_oil_argentina.jpg_1718483346.jpg
The steep drop in worldwide oil prices has affected Argentina. | Photo: Reuters

Published 28 June 2016 (6 hours 0 minutes ago)

The workers are demanding a raise of at least 42 percent – the rate of inflation the country has reached since President Macri took office.

Oil workers in Argentina began a strike against the government of Mauricio Macri, effectively paralyzing worksites for 48 hours and potentially cutting off the flow of gas to several provinces.

In an attempt to stop the strike, President Macri proposed a 20 to 30 percent wage hike to take place in three increments. The Ministry of Labour on Sunday suggested a salary increase of US$1,000 dollars.

The workers rejected the offer and threatened to ramp up the strike.

"The strike so far has 100 percent compliance, no one is working at the deposits," said Sefanor Caceres, from the country’s oil union.

The strike is currently affecting production of oil and gas in the country, especially in the provinces of Chubut, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Santa Cruz, Tierra del Fuego, La Pampa, Mendoza and Salta.

On the other hand, Juan Pablo Fantini, president of the state-owned oil company YPF, said they are capable of meeting the demands for continued supplies.

The workers are demanding a raise of at least 42 percent – the rate of inflation that the country has reached since conservative President Macri took office.

Guillermo Pereyra, general-secretary of the oil union, said it was a provocation on behalf of the government to suggest a staggered salary increase of only 20 percent. He said the union will continue to protest until they are given an increase that at least meets the rate of inflation.

If the government fails to reach an agreement with the workers, the union said it would not rule out calling for a new 72 hour strike.

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Argentine-Oil-Workers-Begin-Nationwide-Strike-Against-Austerity-20160628-0016.html

Videos at link.

7th World Trade Union Congress: We struggle for Health and Safety in the Workplaces


http://youtu.be/L2CGQewgSak

WFTU Report in Numbers 2011-2016


http://youtu.be/9ODeealC-pc