Yearly Archives: 2013

In the last week there has been a massive increase in the level of repression against asylum seekers coming to Australia by sea to seek protection. The Labor government has announced that any new asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat will be immediately and permanently deported to Manus Island, […]

The use of temporary workers, or guest workers, by capitalists and governments has been increasing over the last decade. This trend is another aspect of the continued globalisation of the world economy. Employers like using guest workers because it makes them vulnerable, isolated and non-unionised. These things will make it […]

Workers of Crown Bevcan, a key can supplier of the Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Icecek, have been fighting hard for years to win the right to an independent union. The company is now using the courts to frustrate the workers’ right to choose their own union. There is an international […]

Amid continuing unemployment, widespread poverty, and the killing of labour activists, a coalition of groups, including trade unions, demonstrated against the policies of the present Philippine government. The protesters were met by a huge force of police who prevented the march from reaching its destination. Many demonstrators were injured and […]

Palm oil plantations are hugely profitable industries in both Malaysia and Indonesia. While the environmental issues of such plantations are widely known, the abuse of workers in these plantations is less well known. While a few years ago a report exposed the terrible conditions for workers in Malaysia, a recent […]

As companies expand their reach internationally, integrating their production, distribution and commercial sectors at a global level, there is a need for workers, and their organisations, to change accordingly. Our organising and actions must also be intergrated and co-ordinated at an international level to be able to confront global companies. […]

This week, Bangladesh's parliament passed long-awaited changes to Bangladesh’s Labour Act. Although a welcome step, labour activists and unionists have stated this Act doesn’t go far enough because the laws do not ensure workers’ right to form unions. In the amended Act, entire categories of workers will still be prohibited […]

Earlier this week, to mark the one year anniversary of the jailing of 147 of their fellow workers, the Maruti Suzuki workers union had planned a demonstration and an indefinite hunger strike. The local authorities tried to stop the march by imposing a ban on all demonstrations. The workers defied […]

The Hyundai motor company has used casual and sub contracting employment practices to drive down wages and conditions of its workforce. Workers have campaigned hard against these practices, with two workers now into their 9th month of a heroic aerial sit-in protest. To support these workers and highlight the campaign […]

Samsung is not only a huge corporation that operates all over the world, but also has a notorious record of anti union activities, click here and here. Not surprisingly, it also has a terrible health and safety record. It's therefore quite significant that 400 sub-contractors of Samsung are forming a […]