Yearly Archives: 2013

Dutch fascist Geert Wilders is descending on Melbourne on Tues 19 Feb. A protest will be happening to send a clear message that his anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant views are not welcome here.  However, it is not as yet clear where the meeting will be taking place.    Activists in Melbourne are […]

Teachers in Victoria, Australia are in a pay and conditions dispute with the State Government.  The Government is playing hardball and went to court to try and prevent the union from going out on strike.  They didn’t succeed.  If you’re in Victoria, please join striking teachers and support staff on […]

On Wednesday of this week, major worker rallies were held in Indonesia in five major cities. These protests are a continuation of the unprecedented mobilisations that were witnessed in 2012. Workers are looking to consolidate the gains of last year and are seeking better health care provisions, establishment of a […]

There are approximately 2.5 million workers employed in mines in the north western Indian state of Rajasthan, often working in unsafe conditions. A recent study found that 23% of these workers had the presence of silicosis disease along with associated tuberculosis (TB). After intense lobbying, the Rajasthan government has agreed […]

Migrant workers, who comprise a staggering 80% of Qatar’s population, continue to work in a highly repressive and exploitative system. A ban on trade unions, an employment system akin to bonded labour and appalling housing conditions are a feature of the ‘Qatar economic miracle’. Unfortunately the situation for workers in […]

Joe’s Fashion, a garment factory in the Korangi Industrial Area of Karachi, earlier this year locked out its workforce of about a thousand employees. The owner then transferred all the machinery to a sister company located in an export processing zone guarded by private security. The same owner had recently […]

As reported in previous news, South Korean workers are taking ever more desperate measures to counter the pressures they are under. Unfortunately, four trade unionists killed themselves late last year out of hopelessness. One of these, Mr. Choe Gang-seo, the organising director of the KMWU Hanjin local union, took his […]

With the coming of the Chinese New Year this year on the 10th of February, industrial disputes increase as workers fight to receive their end of year bonuses. Last week, around a thousand workers employed by the Tokai Rubber Industries staged a protest to complain that their end of year […]

Bangkok, Thailand. On 23 January Somyot Prueksakasemsuk was sentenced to 11 years in jail under Article 112.  Article 112 is a law that provides for long prison sentences for "defaming the Thai royal family". In actual fact Article 112 is simply used to repress political opposition in Thailand. Article 112 […]

Union activist Bob Carnegie faces court in Brisbane, Australia, on February 11. Bob faces charges from a strike and picket last year at the Queensland Children's Hospital construction site. Workers struck for nine weeks against low wages being paid to some subcontracted plastering workers. The workers won, but now the […]