11 FEBRUARY RUSSIA – TYUREM TRANSPORT WORKERS OUT ON STRIKE
Workers gathered outside the Tyurem city administration building, to protest against low wages and working conditions. Talks have been held between the head of admin and the drivers. Pledges have been made to remedy the situation.
-------------------------------
13 FEBRUARY – RUSSIA – WORKERS AT RYAZAN MACHINE BUILDIING PLANT WITHOUT WAGES AND THREATEN STRIKE ACTION
The workers have been waiting for wages for over three months.
-----------------------
13 FEBRUARY – RUSSIA - 900 ORSK RAILWAY CONDUCTORS TO BE SACKED
The situation is complex at YuUF OAO FPK “VAGONNY UCHASTOT ORSK” and made worse due to management banning the entrance of media reporters and TV onto the enterprise.
SOURCE: Orsk.ru
-------------------------
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY WITH THE MEXICAN MINERS (Abridged text)
The IMF, ICEM, ITF and UNI are calling on affiliates to take action from February 14 until and as close as possible to the fifth anniversary of the Pasta de Chonchos tragedy on February 19.
Join us in calling on the Mexican government to
1:Hold employer and government officials accountable for the Pasta de Chonchos mine explosion that killed 65 miners on February 19, 2006,
2. Abolish systemic violation of workers’ freedom of association,
3. End the use of force by the state or private parties to repress workers’ legitimate demands for democratic unions, better conditions, etc,
4. End the campaign of political persecution against the Mexican Miner’s Union and Mexican Electrical Workers’ Union.
We ask that you:
Demonstrate and hold meetings at the Mexican embassy or consulate of your own country, deliver letter of protest, petition to the Mexican government, meet with politicians of your own country who may be able to influence Mexican government, seek meetings with investors and clients of these Mexican companies, hold press conferences etc.
See link below to websites with details about this.
www.icem.org/en/5-Mining-DGOPJP
www.imfmetal.org/mexico/mexico2011
------------------------
12 FEBRUARY- RUSSIA – ULAN UDE BUS DRIVER THREATEN STRIKE ACTION
Strike action is being planned over potential job losses, with demands for pay rises with a threat to paralyse the entire transport network of Ulan Ude
-----------------------------
12 FEBRUARY- RUSSIA – MAGNITOGORSK ADMINISTRATION HAVE FOUND AN ORIGINAL METHOD OF SUPPRESSING STRIKE ACTION BY BUS DRIVERS – IT SOLD OFF THE BUSES.
Since 1 February, bus drivers at “Mag gortrans” went on Italian strike. On the 10 February, they went on full strike where from 130 to 200 employees took part. The drivers are demanding guarantees that there will be no groundless job losses. The city administration has given no firm guarantees that there will no job losses. To start with, a proposal was made to hire out the buses to break the strike, but since the start of the full strike, a decision was made to sell off 63 buses belonging to state owned company “MagGorTrans” into private hands. The buses have been driven away and the drivers left without a job. The strike is now over,
The drivers had came out against privatisation knowing that pay conditions would worsen as well as health and safety.
------------------------
10 FEBRUARY – RUSSIA – NOVOSIBIRSK, AMBULANCE STATION WORKERS HOLD PICKET
This is the second picket held by ambulance station workers in Novosibirsk over unbearable working conditions, worn equipment and low wages. Chief of station has been called upon by the workers to resign. It was organised by an independent trade union.
--------------------------------
10 FEBRUARY – UKRAINE – “ZAPORIZHSTAL” STEEL PLANT IS PREPARING TO CUT 30% OF STAFF
The management of the Zaporozhye metallurgical plant “Zaporizhstal” has decided to make a significant gradual reduction in personnel of the enterprise in 2011.
The Union at Zaporizhstal agreed with the decision to dismiss 30% of company personnel.
"Reducing staff will be conducted in stages. On March 15, notice of dismissal will be issued to 10% of workers, and that will be the first wave of cuts. Frankly, we have a mood of panic in the factory"- said the source.
In the early summer of 2010, it became known that a group of Russian investors, whose interests are represented by VEB and IK “Troika Dialog” became the majority share holder, Zaporizhstal.
Zaporizhstal – is one of the largest Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises. The number of factory workers employed by early 2010 was 19,039 people.
---------------------------------
07 FEBRUARY -RUSSIA, ST PETERSBURG- WORKERS' AT HEINEKEN HOLD PICKET AGAINST THE REPLACEMENT OF PERMANENT WORKERS BY TEMPORATY AGENCY STAFF
Despite the increased pressure on the union by the employer, on February 7, 2011, workers at the St. Petersburg Heineken brewery again picketed against the spread of temporary agency employment at the enterprise, all the more threatening the normal employment and workers' rights to association.
Since November 2009 the union has been negotiating with the administration LLC affiliate Heineken Brewery, which is part of the parent company and OOO "United Breweries Heineken, trying together with management to develop a conservation program of permanent jobs in the company.
For nearly a year, union and company management have failed to reach agreement on such crucial issues as:
• restricting the use of employees of temporary agencies;
• reduce the employment of temporary workers, and not
a reduction of permanent jobs in a state of decline in production.
On Oct. 18 employees at "Heineken" held a picket, demanding an end to the substitution of the permanent workers by temporary workers. However, the administration ignores them and continues to cut permanent jobs. During the time elapsed since the first picket, more than two dozen employees have been laid off. Therefore, the Brewers are not going to retreat.
The chairman of the primary trade union organizations of workers of "Heineken" in St. Petersburg, Vitaly Morozov:
"For two years, the company have cut more than 300 full-time jobs. Often union activists are the first to go. We do not agree with this situation and will resist the spread of precarious employment and the pressures on our members. All posts relating to production and logistics company's products must be in the hands of the state, and not given to contracting firms. "
GREEK DOCTORS ON MASS STRIKE AGAINST HEALTH REFORMS
9th February - Clashes took place between Greek medics and police in Athens outside parliament building on the day parliamentary debate was underway over health service reforms. Tear gas was used against protestors. No serious injuries reported.
video
http://vkpb.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=568:2011-02-10-15-04-23&catid=13:2010-07-08-15-41-24&Itemid=40
--------------------------------
RUSSIA - Novokuznetsk TV reporters do not want to work without wages
February 7, employees at Novokuznetsk City TV, Russia, "Novo-TV" suspend work in protest against unpaid wages.
--------------------------------
05 FEBRUARY- MASS ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTEST IN SERBIA
A mass anti government rally took place in Belgrade. Various sources put the number taking part between 60 to 80 thousand. The rally was held in the city centre in front of parliament demanding early elections. The opposition accuse the government of causing the difficult social-economic situation in the country. One of the leaders of the Serbian Progressive Party, Alexander Buchich declared that after every hour in Serbia, another 44 people become unemployed and the state debt increases by 750 euro. At present in the country, an all out teachers strike has been underway, calling for higher wages.
The head of the Serbian Progressive Party, Tomislav Nicolic warned, that if the government will not listen to the demands for early elections, then from April the opposition would begin a sit-in protest outside parliament. Nicolic accused the ruling coalition of corruption, lies and incompetence, and called on citizens to peacefully and with dignity, make it possible to change the government and put a stop to the country’s destruction.
http://aucpbenglishwebsite.blogspot.com/
Workers gathered outside the Tyurem city administration building, to protest against low wages and working conditions. Talks have been held between the head of admin and the drivers. Pledges have been made to remedy the situation.
-------------------------------
13 FEBRUARY – RUSSIA – WORKERS AT RYAZAN MACHINE BUILDIING PLANT WITHOUT WAGES AND THREATEN STRIKE ACTION
The workers have been waiting for wages for over three months.
-----------------------
13 FEBRUARY – RUSSIA - 900 ORSK RAILWAY CONDUCTORS TO BE SACKED
The situation is complex at YuUF OAO FPK “VAGONNY UCHASTOT ORSK” and made worse due to management banning the entrance of media reporters and TV onto the enterprise.
SOURCE: Orsk.ru
-------------------------
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY WITH THE MEXICAN MINERS (Abridged text)
The IMF, ICEM, ITF and UNI are calling on affiliates to take action from February 14 until and as close as possible to the fifth anniversary of the Pasta de Chonchos tragedy on February 19.
Join us in calling on the Mexican government to
1:Hold employer and government officials accountable for the Pasta de Chonchos mine explosion that killed 65 miners on February 19, 2006,
2. Abolish systemic violation of workers’ freedom of association,
3. End the use of force by the state or private parties to repress workers’ legitimate demands for democratic unions, better conditions, etc,
4. End the campaign of political persecution against the Mexican Miner’s Union and Mexican Electrical Workers’ Union.
We ask that you:
Demonstrate and hold meetings at the Mexican embassy or consulate of your own country, deliver letter of protest, petition to the Mexican government, meet with politicians of your own country who may be able to influence Mexican government, seek meetings with investors and clients of these Mexican companies, hold press conferences etc.
See link below to websites with details about this.
www.icem.org/en/5-Mining-DGOPJP
www.imfmetal.org/mexico/mexico2011
------------------------
12 FEBRUARY- RUSSIA – ULAN UDE BUS DRIVER THREATEN STRIKE ACTION
Strike action is being planned over potential job losses, with demands for pay rises with a threat to paralyse the entire transport network of Ulan Ude
-----------------------------
12 FEBRUARY- RUSSIA – MAGNITOGORSK ADMINISTRATION HAVE FOUND AN ORIGINAL METHOD OF SUPPRESSING STRIKE ACTION BY BUS DRIVERS – IT SOLD OFF THE BUSES.
Since 1 February, bus drivers at “Mag gortrans” went on Italian strike. On the 10 February, they went on full strike where from 130 to 200 employees took part. The drivers are demanding guarantees that there will be no groundless job losses. The city administration has given no firm guarantees that there will no job losses. To start with, a proposal was made to hire out the buses to break the strike, but since the start of the full strike, a decision was made to sell off 63 buses belonging to state owned company “MagGorTrans” into private hands. The buses have been driven away and the drivers left without a job. The strike is now over,
The drivers had came out against privatisation knowing that pay conditions would worsen as well as health and safety.
------------------------
10 FEBRUARY – RUSSIA – NOVOSIBIRSK, AMBULANCE STATION WORKERS HOLD PICKET
This is the second picket held by ambulance station workers in Novosibirsk over unbearable working conditions, worn equipment and low wages. Chief of station has been called upon by the workers to resign. It was organised by an independent trade union.
--------------------------------
10 FEBRUARY – UKRAINE – “ZAPORIZHSTAL” STEEL PLANT IS PREPARING TO CUT 30% OF STAFF
The management of the Zaporozhye metallurgical plant “Zaporizhstal” has decided to make a significant gradual reduction in personnel of the enterprise in 2011.
The Union at Zaporizhstal agreed with the decision to dismiss 30% of company personnel.
"Reducing staff will be conducted in stages. On March 15, notice of dismissal will be issued to 10% of workers, and that will be the first wave of cuts. Frankly, we have a mood of panic in the factory"- said the source.
In the early summer of 2010, it became known that a group of Russian investors, whose interests are represented by VEB and IK “Troika Dialog” became the majority share holder, Zaporizhstal.
Zaporizhstal – is one of the largest Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises. The number of factory workers employed by early 2010 was 19,039 people.
---------------------------------
07 FEBRUARY -RUSSIA, ST PETERSBURG- WORKERS' AT HEINEKEN HOLD PICKET AGAINST THE REPLACEMENT OF PERMANENT WORKERS BY TEMPORATY AGENCY STAFF
Despite the increased pressure on the union by the employer, on February 7, 2011, workers at the St. Petersburg Heineken brewery again picketed against the spread of temporary agency employment at the enterprise, all the more threatening the normal employment and workers' rights to association.
Since November 2009 the union has been negotiating with the administration LLC affiliate Heineken Brewery, which is part of the parent company and OOO "United Breweries Heineken, trying together with management to develop a conservation program of permanent jobs in the company.
For nearly a year, union and company management have failed to reach agreement on such crucial issues as:
• restricting the use of employees of temporary agencies;
• reduce the employment of temporary workers, and not
a reduction of permanent jobs in a state of decline in production.
On Oct. 18 employees at "Heineken" held a picket, demanding an end to the substitution of the permanent workers by temporary workers. However, the administration ignores them and continues to cut permanent jobs. During the time elapsed since the first picket, more than two dozen employees have been laid off. Therefore, the Brewers are not going to retreat.
The chairman of the primary trade union organizations of workers of "Heineken" in St. Petersburg, Vitaly Morozov:
"For two years, the company have cut more than 300 full-time jobs. Often union activists are the first to go. We do not agree with this situation and will resist the spread of precarious employment and the pressures on our members. All posts relating to production and logistics company's products must be in the hands of the state, and not given to contracting firms. "
GREEK DOCTORS ON MASS STRIKE AGAINST HEALTH REFORMS
9th February - Clashes took place between Greek medics and police in Athens outside parliament building on the day parliamentary debate was underway over health service reforms. Tear gas was used against protestors. No serious injuries reported.
video
http://vkpb.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=568:2011-02-10-15-04-23&catid=13:2010-07-08-15-41-24&Itemid=40 --------------------------------
RUSSIA - Novokuznetsk TV reporters do not want to work without wages
February 7, employees at Novokuznetsk City TV, Russia, "Novo-TV" suspend work in protest against unpaid wages.
--------------------------------
05 FEBRUARY- MASS ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTEST IN SERBIA
A mass anti government rally took place in Belgrade. Various sources put the number taking part between 60 to 80 thousand. The rally was held in the city centre in front of parliament demanding early elections. The opposition accuse the government of causing the difficult social-economic situation in the country. One of the leaders of the Serbian Progressive Party, Alexander Buchich declared that after every hour in Serbia, another 44 people become unemployed and the state debt increases by 750 euro. At present in the country, an all out teachers strike has been underway, calling for higher wages.
The head of the Serbian Progressive Party, Tomislav Nicolic warned, that if the government will not listen to the demands for early elections, then from April the opposition would begin a sit-in protest outside parliament. Nicolic accused the ruling coalition of corruption, lies and incompetence, and called on citizens to peacefully and with dignity, make it possible to change the government and put a stop to the country’s destruction.
http://aucpbenglishwebsite.blogspot.com/ 
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