Yearly Archives: 2016

At the start of this month, new legislation came into effect in New Zealand effectively banning the importation of asbestos into the country. This is a major victory for the trade union movement in New Zealand who have campaigned hard to ban this hazardous substance. Unfortunately, globally, around 2 million […]

This week, 22 migrant workers were killed in the eastern city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang province when the four buildings they were sleeping in suddenly collapsed in the middle of the night. The buildings had already been condemned for demolition, but the owners were renting them out as sleeping quarters […]

The transport workers strike that began earlier this week is holding firm against increasing repression from the government. In addition to this dispute, the railways and subway workers have been on strike since late last month. The length of these strikes, and the support they are receiving from other workers, […]

The use of death squads and extra judicial killing in the Philippines, under President Duterte’s murderous War on Drugs, is increasing the dangers for all labour and human rights activists. In the last week, a number of peasant activists were arrested on the pretext of being drug runners, while Jimmy […]

This week, in the long running dispute at the CUB brewery in Melbourne Australia, workers marked the new ownership regime of AB InBev with a rally outside their offices to remind them that workers are still fighting. The dispute is part of a union busting and wage cutting attempt by […]

This week, King Bhumibol died after being Thailand’s Monarch for an incredible 70 years. During his reign, the power and influence of the Thai Royal family increased considerably. While the King was patron of many charities, his family was also exceptionally wealthy. His reign also saw numerous coups being carried […]

Coming in the week of the commemoration of the Westgate bridge disaster, workers at the Geelong oil refiner, won their battle for better health and safety conditions at their workplace. The dispute only lasted a week as the workers, with help from labour activists and the local community, were able […]

The situation for workers and their communities in Kashmir has deteriorated sharply over the last few months, with many deaths and injuries. These incidents have brought India and Pakistan once again to the brink of war. Another war would have devastating effects on workers in both countries. While the governments […]

The first female president of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, Helen Kelly, has died at the age of 52.  Kelly started her career as a school teacher and became a union delegate on her first day on the job.  Kelly fought unrelentingly for health and safety in the […]

The indefinite general strike started last week by railway and subway workers in South Korea continues to hold even as the government increases its pressure on the workers. This coming week, Korean transport workers will also begin a general strike, both for their own industrial issues and in support of […]