Revolting Europe
unions
Why this Friday will be Black for Amazon in Italy
Up to 4,000 workers at Amazon’s despatch centre at Piacenza in northern Italy will be striking for better pay and conditions on Black Friday. In addition, the workers organised by the unions Tertiary Ugl, Fisascat-Cisl, Filcams-Cgil, and Uiltucs-Uil decided on an overtime ban until 31 December, hitting Christmas shopping. Amazon’s strong growth justifies a more … Continue reading
Portugal’s poll-leading Socialists propose making pensioners pay for ‘anti-austerity’ budget if elected
Portugal’s socialists have come under fire for proposals that would see pensioners pay for their plans to ‘turn the page on austerity’ if they are elected in general elections in the autumn. “There is an alternative, it’s possible to turn the page on austerity and have better economic results,” Socialist leader Antonio Costa said, Reuters … Continue reading
Renzi and Salvini, two faces of the same regime
Giorgio Cremaschi on recent regional elections in Italy that saw wins for PM Renzi but also a sharp decline in voter turn-out and a revival in the xenophobic Northern League. To me it is not surprising that prime minister Matteo Renzi exhales the success of the his Democratic Party ( PD) in the regional elections, … Continue reading
Why Belgians have been marching
Unions led a massive demonstration Thursday in Brussels against cuts to public services, pensions and wages. As many as 100,000 marched against the new coalition government and its plans to raise the retirement age, to 67 years by 2020, and the decision not increase wages under the indexation system that links pay to the cost … Continue reading
Paris chambermaids’ strike victory inspires sisters in other luxury hotels
Outsourced hotel chambermaids at the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme are celebrating a significant wage increase, and inspiring their colleagues in other luxury hotels. The agreement follows a four-day strike for better wages and working conditions that begun on September 19. The agreement covers 80 chambermaids, porters and maintenance staff and brings monthly wage increases from 380 to 420 euros. … Continue reading
3 recent events in Catalonia and Spain and what they mean
Vicenç Navarro analyzes the situation in Catalonia and Spain, looking at three recent events of great significance Earlier this month there were three events that symbolize the situation in Spain. 1. The Death of Emilio Botín One event was the death of Señor Emilio Botín, and the huge media exposure in the wake of this event, … Continue reading
Why Greeks are right to protest Sunday opening
Today Greece is seeing further nationwide protests by shop employees and campaigners against Sunday shop opening imposed by the Government under the terms of the Troika’s hated memorandum of understanding. The idea is that it will boost competitiveness and spur consumer spending in the recession-hit economy. But according to the latest statistics of the National Confederation of … Continue reading
94 reasons why French trade unions have boycotted Hollande’s job summit
Francois Hollande’s jobs summit is becoming a farse. Unemployment in France has risen to a new high of 3.4 million. The socialist President is desperate to be seen to be doing something about it. But Monday yet another union walked out of the two day ‘social summit’, an unprecedented desertion by organised labour for any administration in Paris, … Continue reading
Italian union launches referendum campaign against EU permanent austerity pact
Italy’s largest union has launched a referendum campaign against the EU fiscal compact, a draconian budgetary cap which is set to make austerity permanent across the Continent. The CGIL is calling for a repeal of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union that was signed on 2 March 2012 by … Continue reading
Telefonica-Movistar: a united fight against exploitation
By Esther Vivas The tentacles of Spain’s Telefonica Movistar spread far and wide. I refer not only to the interests of their shareholders, such as banks BBVA and La Caixa, or close links with political power, and their “representatives” on the board, but its “army” of workers. In Spain, the company claims to have 20,000 … Continue reading
Why the French are right to go on strike
After the recent strikes affecting the French railways – the longest in recent history – air traffic control and the entertainment industry there are fears among the establishment that, as the Economist puts it, France is ‘back to the bad old days’. That was the terminology used about Britain in the 1970s and early 1980s … Continue reading
Italy: the problem with Renzi
By Giorgio Cremaschi* A few months ago all the Italian media reported with great sympathy the struggle of the Greek state television journalists against the cuts decided by the government in the name of austerity. Now they point the finger at the strike at Italy’s state broadcaster Rai, characterising it as a revolt of bureaucracy … Continue reading
How much does capital cost? A new index is in making
We’ve heard a lot of about the cost of labour, which is blamed for the crisis. But how much does capital cost? The CGT trade union has launched a project to find out – and aims to use it as a tool in the struggle for a better world at the service of human beings, not profits. … Continue reading
Rajoy’s labour reforms are leading to an historic revenge against workers
By Vicente Clavero Probably PM Mariano Rajoy doesn’t give a damn, but he’s just got a right earful from the International Labour Organization (ILO). The UN agency, which represents governments, unions and employers, has issued a scathing report on collective bargaining in Spain. According to ILO, reforms since February 2012 and cuts in working conditions … Continue reading
7 reasons why Greece is going on strike this week
Greek workers will hold a 24-hour strike this week to protest against austerity measures and public sector layoffs demanded by the country’s international lenders, led by the IMF-ECB-EU ‘Troika’. Greece’s public and private sector unions ADEDY and GSEE will launch a 24-hour general strike on Wednesday, November 6th 2013. Here’s seven reasons why they will … Continue reading
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