Yearly Archives: 2012

In less than four weeks time, the labour activist and journalist, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk will appear in court again in another attempt to try to get these charges dropped.  The Network of Family Members and Relatives of Section 112 (Lese Majeste) Convicts is continuing to support the detainees and their families […]

The Global Day of Action is gathering support. Since the motion by the International Transport Federation in Kuala Lumpur and the decision on the date of 27 September by PALEA, workers in many countries are discussing and coordinating actions. In September 2011 Philippine Airlines locked out 2600 workers and then sacked them. The workers had refused to accept their jobs being […]

The events of the past week have highlighted once again the ongoing repression in Bahrain. On Thursday the 16 August Nabeel Rajab, a well known human rights activist, was sentenced to three years prison for ‘protesting’. Mr. Rajab was already serving a 3 month sentence for ‘tweeting’. Then on the […]

The Indonesia Confederation Union of Workers (KSPI) aims to lead a million workers in simultaneous strikes in 14 cities this September. The strike will have three demands. Firstly, the government must repeal laws that permit outsourcing. Secondly, the government must increase the minimum wage to bring it closer to a […]

Mr. Alireza Asgari and Mr. Jalil Mohammadi have been put on trial for ‘acting against national security through formation of an illegal group’. Their crime was to attempt to organise a trade union. They were arrested with sixty others in the city of Karaj on the 15 June of this […]

Wages Council chairman Father Kevin Barr resigned last week after the government once again deferred a wage rise for Fijian workers. This move is a continuation of the policy to destroy the workers movement. Last year, Daniel Urai, President of the Fiji Trade Union Congress, was arrested while the government […]

Workers in Bangladesh often face harsh repression as they attempt to organise and demand better wages and conditions. A couple of months ago, tobacco workers were demonstrating outside their factory when security guards opened fire, killing Mintu Hossain and Rokibul Islam, and injuring another 35. It is thought that the […]

In September 2011 Philippine Airlines locked out 2600 workers and then sacked them. The workers had refused to accept their jobs being outsourced leading to a 50% cut in wages, loss of benefits including health insurance, longer working hours and loss of union coverage. QANTAS grounded all of their fleet in […]

Workers in Turkey are facing increasing pressure from both companies and the Turkish government. Workers employed at the Turkish arm of the global logistics firm, DHL, have faced dismissal and continued harassment for having joined Tumtis, their local union. Join the international campaign to support them.   Meanwhile at Turkish […]

Following on from the mid July incidents at the car factory, workers are being arrested in large numbers with over 110 in jail already. The police have released a list of another 160 workers that it wants to arrest. Family members of the workers in this list have been intimidated […]