Situation for workers in Thailand at a crossroad

With the social conflict pausing for the King’s birthday holiday, the issues behind the recent social upheavals have not been resolved. The anti government alliance is a reactionary movement that is actively trying to force a new military coup. At this stage it is unlikely because the present ‘Red Shirt’ government headed by Yingluck Shinawatra has an understanding with the Thai army. The progressive forces within the original Red Shirts, including worker and union activists, have so far been sidelined in this fight between factions of the ruling elite. Meanwhile, activists remain in jail due to Article 112, Lese Majeste.
source:::http://www.aawl.org.au

International union delegations visits Qatar

As reported previously, life for migrant workers in Qatar, is not very different from the other Gulf countries in the region where low pay, long days, dangerous worksites and no unions allowed are the standard. A recent delegation by the global union federation ITUC to Qatar once again found that conditions for workers are atrocious and that the Qatari government does not seem very keen to improve the lot of migrant workers. In neighbouring Saudi Arabia, 100,000 Ethiopian migrant workers are being expelled. History shows that the most effective way to improve conditions is for workers to organise in independent unions.
source:::http://www.aawl.org.au

Palestinian political prisoners continue protests

As reported last week, Palestinian workers are resisting and organising under very harsh conditions. For radio interview, click here. With unfortunate regularity, Palestinians are also killed. Palestinians who are routinely rounded up by Israeli forces and ‘administratively detained’ are also continuing their hunger strikes in a bid to win their freedom. While these struggles are continuing, the war in Syria is creating a new wave of Palestinian refugees.
source:::http://www.aawl.org.au

South Korean workers fighting on many fronts

This year has seen an intensification of the class struggle in South Korea with many long and bitter struggles. This week, the leaders of the heroic Ssangyong factory occupation were fined over US$ 4.4 million dollars for their actions in 2009. This is clearly an attempt to destroy the union and intimidate all other workers. Similarly the continued action by Samsung to stop workers organising themselves has been condemned by global unions. Meanwhile, a major railway strike is about to begin against the unpopular plans to privatise the railway sector, airport workers will go on strike again, while a short strike was held this week against proposed privatisation of gas utilities.
source:::http://www.aawl.org.au

The race to the bottom is a global war against workers everywhere

The major fires in Bangladesh and Pakistan, and the Rana Plaza collapse have highlighted the barbarity of the capitalist systems’ exploitation of workers in poorer countries. With the continued process of globalisation not only are factories and production shifted around the world but now workers as well. Thus, sweatshop conditions are being reproduced in countries where workers had managed to win historic battles and gain better conditions. The recent fire in Prato, Italy, where 7 Chinese workers burned to death as they were sleeping in the factory has highlighted this new reality. A global response is needed.
source:::http://www.aawl.org.au

Goodbye comrade Nelson Mandela

Goodbye comrade Nelson Mandela

Comrade Nelson Mandela has left us. After a lifetime of struggle he has gone, leaving us to say our goodbyes, and thinking of the people who will miss him. His family, his friends, his comrades, and the many millions of workers and left wing activists who learned politics and class struggle under the shadow of Apartheid.
Today we remember Nelson because of his own personal sacrifice, because he refused to give in, and because he personified the struggle against and the historic defeat of Apartheid.
Nelson was a political activist, leader of a revolutionary movement. This movement defeated the racist South African government, a regime that was supported openly and covertly by capitalist corporations and by Western governments. The movement won through mass struggle, armed struggle, industrial struggle and thanks to the assistance of a global solidarity campaign built by activists and working people.
Nelson's legacy is the defeat of Apartheid in South Africa. In Israel the struggle against Apartheid continues. In South Africa the ANC government has shown that capitalism after Apartheid gives nothing to workers, and legitimate struggle continues to be repressed, sometimes brutally.
Nelson was our leader. The struggle is conducted by millions. Being respectful to comrade Mandela and to the movement means that we continue talking about the situation that faces workers, about the brutality of global capitalism, and about the need for struggle as we create a way forward.
Goodbye comrade Nelson Mandela. Workers change the world
source:::http://www.aawl.org.au