Resistance in Korea

August 16, 2009 by

Public Meeting: Wednesday 19th August 7pm Clubspace, University of Auckland (above the quad)

 In 2008 hundreds of thousands of Koreans joined massive candle light vigils protesting the right-wing government of Lee Myung Bak. A wide cross section of people were angered by Lee’s policies of privatisation, attacks on public education and his decision to allow imports of US beef despite fears over Mad Cow Disease. Following the protests the government launched a heavy crack down on democratic freedoms. Riot police brutally attacked demonstrators. Many protest leaders were imprisoned.

 Recently the occupation of the Ssangyong auto factory by 600 workers, facing off attacks by police helicopters, tear gas and tasers has received media attention around the World.

 Jacob Lee, a member of the Korean socialist group All Together, will give a first hand account of the militant mass movements in Korea.

 All welcome! (Organised by Socialist Aotearoa)

Filed Under: Korea, Workers in Struggle

Telecom lines engineers begin nationwide strike Tuesday 11 August

August 11, 2009 by

Telecom lines engineers will begin a second round of nationwide strike action over their employers’ refusal to offer redundancy protection at a time of uncertainty in the industry.

The nationwide strike action will affect Telecom’s phone, internet and eftpos services from Invercargill to Kerikeri, and will involve 900 workers from Telecom’s Australian-owned contractors Transfield Services and Downer EDI.

The action comes as North Shore lines engineers enter their fifth day of ongoing strike action.

EPMU national industry organiser Joe Gallagher says the lines engineers are striking for redundancy protections in an industry increasingly destabilised by Telecom’s contracting model.

 Join the strikers in Tuesday 11 August, at 9am Hopetoun Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland

Filed Under: Workers in Struggle

European election results – an overview

July 19, 2009 by

Mike Kay
The Spark July 2009

The March edition of The Spark carried a report of some inspiring class struggles by workers across Europe. Regrettably, that resistance has found very little political expression in the recent elections for the European Parliament. Support for far-right parties has surged, against a backdrop of the lowest ever turnout for a Euro-election, with just 43% bothering to vote.

  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Elections, Workers in Struggle

Campaigning for living wage reform – ground reports

July 16, 2009 by

Unite union has launched a campaign in workplaces and communities for a national referendum on the issue of a $15 minimum wage. In this early stage of the campaign, Workers Party activists and other leftists are hitting the streets and public events to help gather the signatures to force the referendum. Here are some interesting comments, reports, and examples from the campaign on the ground.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Industrial Relations Legislation, Uncategorized, Workers in Struggle

Overtime ban pays off

June 23, 2009 by

In April, we reported on vote for industrial action at VT Fitzroy Devonport, Auckland. Workers were adamant that they could do better than the company’s “best offer”, and put in place an overtime ban. (They are members of  the EPMU, PSA and Amalgamated Workers Union). After just two weeks, they recieved an improved offer which was acceptable to the majority of the union membership.

Although there was no change in the pay offer of the first year of the Collective Agreement (3.3%), the second year
offer was increased to 4%. The claim for reinstatement of the historic Confined Space allowance wasn’t won this time,
but there were gains in other areas, such as enhancements to the “Working on ships not along side” allowance.

The lesson is clear: A little bit of militancy gets us a little bit extra!

Filed Under: Workers in Struggle
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