Yearly Archives: 2014

A localised dispute quickly gained international recognition when workers took on global giant food maker, PepsiCo, over precarious work. Members of the IUF affiliated National Union of Workers (NUW) at a Smith's warehouse in the Brisbane suburb of Tingalpa, began an indefinite occupation of part of their workplace for the […]

This week the Australian government legislated to increase its repressive powers over asylum seekers and refugees. The Australian Government has now effectively destroyed its commitment to the International Refugee Convention by creating special and secret powers to stop asylum seekers from settling in Australia. The government now explicitly says that […]

As reported in a previously, the number of strikes, demonstrations and walk-outs in China has been increasing as workers are realising their power and developing new ways to organise. In the last few months, teachers all around China have taken industrial action over low pay, social security and unpaid wages. […]

As reported last month, 87 workers were dismissed by Wyeth Philippines, a food company that is part of the giant Nestle Corporation group, for their stance against casualisation and for the right to form an independent union. This fight is still continuing. While the local workers are strong, coordinated industrial […]

As previously reported, the struggle against the military regime in Thailand is an international campaign, with protests greeting General Prayuth Chan-ocha in every country he visits. Last Monday, a group of labour and human rights activists staged a protest in Kuala Lumpur against his visit outside the Thai embassy. A […]

The current Japanese government headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has taken a progressively more militaristic stance as it tries to turn the country into a regional military power. In Okinawa, a plan to move a USA military base has generated a lot of opposition leading to the recent defeat […]

This week saw two major accidents at Chinese coal mines. The first one was at a State-owned coal mine of the Hengda Mining Company, in Liaoning province. Accumulated coal dust ignited a fire in which 24 miners were killed and more than 50 injured. A day later, an explosion at […]

Thirty years ago in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh – India, the worst single industrial accident in the world happened at the Union Carbide chemical plant. A chemical explosion and leak, caused by inadequate maintenance, bad health and safety procedures, and inept emergency procedures, led to an immediate death toll of around […]

Last Monday the 24th of November was the second anniversary of the fire at the Tazreen factory where 119 workers were killed. While some compensation has been paid, and more is still being sought, the reality is that the owner of that factory is still to face justice. Apart from […]

On Monday 1 December, Thailand’s military ruler, Prayuth Chan-ocha, will visit Malaysia on an official state visit. After seizing power in a military coup in May of this year, Prayuth installed himself as the new Prime Minister of Thailand. His military junta has created a climate of fear and repression, […]