Europe

France: How the Workers’ Struggle group is helping to shut down the Aulnay car plant

By Antoine Lerougetel and Pierre Mabut, 17 June 2013

On May 17, CGT branch spokesman Jean-Pierre Mercier signed a deal that puts the seal on the Aulnay car plant’s closure by 2014.

Turkey, Syria and the hypocrisy of US imperialism

By Bill Van Auken, 14 June 2013

The social upheavals in Turkey, arguably Washington’s most important regional ally, have torn to shreds the phony democratic pretenses and exposed the hypocrisy of US policy in the region.

US-backed Turkish government threatens violent crackdown

By Johannes Stern, 14 June 2013

The US-backed Turkish government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is preparing for a massive police crackdown on anti-government protests.

Tens of thousands protest closure of public television in Greece

By Christoph Dreier, 14 June 2013

Tens of thousands of workers protested the closure of the Greek public broadcaster on Thursday, defying threats of arrest.

Germany: The SPD’s new press spokesman

By Peter Schwarz, 14 June 2013

The more the SPD tries to improve its electoral chances, the clearer it becomes that it supports the current government’s right-wing policies.

Student killed by fascists in central Paris

By Pierre Mabut, 14 June 2013

An 18-year-old student and anti-fascist was beaten to death by a group of fascist thugs June 5 near the St. Lazare rail station in central Paris.

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa

14 June 2013

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European governments in crisis over US spying revelations

By Stefan Steinberg, 12 June 2013

European politicians and media outlets have complained of the American surveillance operation, while at the same time defending the right of their own national governments to spy on the population at large.

Swiss referendum on asylum law

By Marianne Arens, 11 June 2013

A referendum was held Sunday on proposals to strengthen the law against asylum seekers.

Alter-Summit in Athens: A pseudo-left response to growing social opposition in Europe

By Christoph Dreier, 11 June 2013

Trade unions and pseudo-left groups organized a so-called Alter-Summit in Athens, backing the European Union institutions that impose austerity throughout Europe.

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa

7 June 2013

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Flooding ravages central Europe

By our correspondents, 5 June 2013

Large areas of Germany and other regions in Europe have been hit by the worst floods since the so-called “flood of the century” in 2002.

Britain’s Accident and Emergency services reach breaking point

By Mark Blackwood and Ajanta Silva, 4 June 2013

Scenes of A&E units with patients waiting to be seen lying on trolleys in corridors for hours have become commonplace in UK hospitals.

UN warns against social unrest in Europe

By Christoph Dreier, 4 June 2013

In the face of rising social inequality, growing unemployment and the absence of popular confidence in the region’s governments, the International Labour Organization (ILO) warned Monday about the prospect of social unrest in Europe,

Spanish Popular Party government seeks to turn back the clock on abortion rights

By Alejandro López, 4 June 2013

The right-wing Popular Party government is seeking to reform abortion laws, returning them to a state similar to that which existed under the fascist regime of General Franco.

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa

31 May 2013

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Greek government divided over “anti-racist” law

By Christoph Dreier, 30 May 2013

Tensions have risen in the Greek government over draft legislation against racist incitement and state financing of the fascist party Golden Dawn.

Germany’s Left Party supports austerity in Bulgaria

By Peter Schwarz, 30 May 2013

Hans Modrow, chair of the Left Party’s council of elders, has pledged his unreserved support for the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the government it hopes to lead.

Spanish government imposes more austerity measures

By Alejandro López, 30 May 2013

Spain’s Popular Party government has announced another raft of measures aimed at slashing the budget deficit to the European Union’s 3 percent target by 2016.

Top UK universities call for cuts to funding for poorer students

By Joan Smith and Paul Mitchell, 30 May 2013

According to the Times, vice-chancellors at Britain’s Russell group of 24 top research universities are “privately urging” government ministers to cut funding used to support poorer students.

Trade unions in alliance with management against Berlin transport workers

By Franz Schobert and Carola Kleinert, 29 May 2013

Verdi and the Municipal Employers’ Association (CAV) reached a deal last week for the 13,000 workers at Berlin’s transport company BVG.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown leads Labour’s intervention in Scottish independence referendum

By Steve James, 28 May 2013

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s intervention into the Scottish independence referendum is driven by Labour’s concern over its implications for Britain’s ruling elite.

Soldier attacked while on security patrol in Paris

By Antoine Lerougetel, 28 May 2013

On Saturday a lone assailant stabbed a uniformed French soldier in the throat, three days after the gruesome murder by machete of an off-duty British soldier in London.

German city gives municipal clinic away to private operator

By Marianne Arens, 28 May 2013

The Offenbach town council has sold the municipally owned clinic to the Sana corporation for the symbolic price of one euro.

PSG campaigns in Berlin to stand in federal elections

By our correspondents, 28 May 2013

The Partei für Soziale Gleichheit is currently collecting signatures at job centres, in factories and in working class communities to be able to participate in the federal elections in September.

UK soldier killed in London in reprisal for Afghanistan and Iraq wars

By Robert Stevens, 24 May 2013

The killing of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, London on Wednesday was the horrific result of the crimes committed by British imperialism in North Africa and the Middle East.

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa

24 May 2013

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Works council in Bochum seeks to stifle opposition to GM-Opel plant closing

By Dietmar Henning, 24 May 2013

The chairman of the works council at the GM-Opel factory in Bochum called a meeting at the plant gate which halted production for several hours following the recent confirmation by management that it planned to close the plant.

ThyssenKrupp to slash 3,000 jobs

By Elizabeth Zimmermann, 22 May 2013

ThyssenKrupp CEO Heinrich Hiesinger announced the axing of a further 3,000 jobs worldwide.

Germany: Parliamentary inquiry into neo-Nazi murders concludes

By Peter Schwarz, 21 May 2013

The federal prosecutor and judges in the neo-Nazi NSU trial want to limit further revelations about state involvement in the group’s series of murders.

Spain’s Popular Party faces wave of strikes and demonstrations

By Alejandro López, 21 May 2013

A social explosion is brewing in Spain, where there have been at least 27 demonstrations since the beginning of the year.

Slovenian government adopts another austerity programme

By Markus Salzmann, 21 May 2013

Seven weeks after taking power, Slovenia’s centre-left governing coalition adopted a new austerity programme and presented it to the EU commission.

Unions sabotage Irish bus workers strike

By Jordan Shilton, 17 May 2013

According to reports, up to 95 percent of services were affected, including major routes in Dublin and longer inter-city connections.

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa

17 May 2013

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Greek teachers defy military mobilisation orders

By Christoph Dreier, 16 May 2013

Greek teachers have voted to oppose the mobilisation order of the government and begin strike action on Friday.

Euro zone contracts for sixth consecutive quarter

By Andre Damon, 16 May 2013

The euro area economy contracted by 0.2 percent in the first quarter of this year, which was followed by further calls for austerity.

Russia: Deputy Prime Minister Surkov resigns

By Clara Weiss, 16 May 2013

On May 8, President Vladimir Putin approved the “voluntary resignation” of Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov, universally regarded as “number two in the Kremlin”.

France: Three die in fire at Roma squat

By Antoine Lerougetel, 16 May 2013

Three Roma, two women and a 12-year-old child, died in a fire in an abandoned factory in Lyon.

Greek protests against ban on strikes

By Christoph Dreier, 14 May 2013

Greek police served 88,000 high school teachers with civil mobilization orders on Monday.

Germany: Opel Bochum workers denounce union sellout

By our correspondents, 11 May 2013

GM Opel workers are incensed over the betrayal carried out by the IG Metall trade union.

Britain’s Queen’s speech: Anti-immigrant rhetoric in support of austerity

By Julie Hyland, 11 May 2013

By scapegoating immigrants as undeserving “scroungers”, the government intends to deny people, including European Union citizens, the right to access public services, including welfare, health care and housing.

Irish Labour Party in deep crisis

By Jordan Shilton, 11 May 2013

Since entering government with Fine Gael in 2011, Labour has taken the lead in wielding the axe to public spending.

German Left Party’s Oskar Lafontaine calls for return to national currencies

By Christoph Dreier, 11 May 2013

The founder and former chair of the Left Party, Oskar Lafontaine, is proposing the reintroduction of national currencies to drive down wages.

Marx 21 Congress: Anti-Marxists meet in Berlin

By Johannes Stern, 11 May 2013

The congress of the Marx 21 group taking place this weekend in Berlin is a shabby operation aimed at promoting right-wing and imperialist policies under a pseudo-left garb.

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa

10 May 2013

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Lufthansa: Verdi union agrees to 30 percent pay cut for airline workers

By Ernst Wolff, 9 May 2013

Verdi union negotiators have approved the setting up of three low-cost subsidiaries at Lufthansa, the largest European airline, paying up to 30 percent lower wages.

Europe on the eve of mass working class struggles

By Ulrich Rippert, 7 May 2013

Against the background of the greatest economic crisis since the 1930s, the European Union is showing its true face—that of a dictatorship of finance capital.

Germany: Verdi union accepts cuts to real wages at Lufthansa

By Ernst Wolff, 7 May 2013

Following strikes by its Lufthansa members, Verdi has capitulated to management.

French unions back closure of PSA Aulnay auto factory

By Anthony Torres, 7 May 2013

On Monday, auto maker PSA’s central works council authorized a redundancy scheme to close PSA’s plant at Aulnay, near Paris.

France: What is Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s May 5 protest?

By Antoine Lerougetel and Alex Lantier, 4 May 2013

A class gulf separates the explosive anger and opposition to austerity that is building in the working class across Europe from establishment figures like Mélenchon.

Euro zone unemployment hits record high for 23rd consecutive month

By Andre Damon and Stefan Steinberg, 2 May 2013

Unemployment in the euro zone hit another record in March, with no end in sight to the economic and social catastrophe gripping Europe.

No retreat from austerity in Italy

By Chris Marsden, 2 May 2013

Enrico Letta heads a coalition tasked with continuing the savage austerity measures begun under Mario Monti.

Greek unions hold one-day general strike

By Robert Stevens, 2 May 2013

Public transport ground to a halt in the capital Athens, with no train or ferry services operating.

UAW chief stabs German Opel workers in the back

By Jerry White, 2 May 2013

United Auto Workers President Bob King called on workers at General Motors’ Opel factory in Bochum, Germany to vote again on a concessions-laden contract.

More mass layoffs in Greece

By Christoph Dreier, 30 April 2013

The Greek parliament has voted to dismiss 15,500 public service workers and slash the minimum wage.

Amid jobs collapse, French President Hollande backs austerity in Europe

By Alex Lantier, 30 April 2013

With 26 million workers unemployed in Europe, Hollande is signaling that he will keep supporting social cuts that are devastating the French and European economies.

UK base carrying out Afghan drone strikes

By Robert Stevens, 30 April 2013

A specially created mission base in Lincolnshire, England is directing drone strikes on Afghanistan.

Danish government forces teachers to work longer hours without pay

By Christoph Dreier, 27 April 2013

The Danish parliament passed a special law Friday stipulating that school teachers must work extra hours and accept more flexibility, without pay.

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa

26 April 2013

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Political issues in the teachers’ lockout in Denmark

By Christoph Dreier, 25 April 2013

The lockout of tens of thousands of Danish teachers by the state marks a new stage in the class struggle in Europe.

Protest strike by teachers in Berlin

By Ute Reissner, 25 April 2013

Some 8,000 teachers were called out on a one-day protest strike in Berlin on Tuesday.

70,000 Danish teachers locked out

By Helmut Arens and Christoph Dreier, 24 April 2013

In a historically unprecedented act, the Danish government has locked out 70,000 high school teachers for more than three weeks.

European Union cites Boston attack to justify major anti-terrorist operation

By Chris Marsden, 24 April 2013

On April 17 and 18, anti-terrorist units of numerous European Union member states participated in an operation involving simulated terrorist attacks in nine different countries.

One-day Lufthansa strike grounds flights in Germany

By Ernst Wolff, 24 April 2013

A strike by Lufthansa ground crew on Monday led to the cancellation of flights at airports across Germany.

Spain: Polls show support for all parties, unions and monarchy at record low

By Alejandro López, 24 April 2013

The huge decline in support for the political parties, trade unions, and the monarchy can only mean huge social struggles are on the horizon.

Official opposition protests Montenegro presidential election result

By Ognjen Markovic, 24 April 2013

Both candidates in the recent presidential election in Montenegro support the austerity policies of the European Union.

German media, politicians praise Obama for military-police lockdown of Boston

By Johannes Stern, 23 April 2013

Commentaries in the media and by leading political figures on the events in Boston throw a spotlight on the undemocratic character of the German ruling elite.

UK: 50,000 march to save Stafford Hospital

By Ben York and Paul Mitchell, 23 April 2013

The massive turnout to protest plans to close Stafford Hospital testifies to the determination of local residents and hospital staff to protect services.

Mass evictions continue in Spain

By Franci Vier and Paul Mitchell, 23 April 2013

None of the main demands of the anti-evictions petition launched by the Mortgage Victims Platform have been included in a new law by the Popular Party.

Irish public sector workers reject austerity package

By Jordan Shilton, 22 April 2013

The vote was a rejection of the attempts by government officials to blackmail workers into accepting the deal with the threat of further cuts, as well as the trade union bureaucracy's support for the agreement.

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa

19 April 2013

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German SPD conference approves election program

By Christoph Dreier, 18 April 2013

The Social Democratic Party Augsburg conference sent a clear message that the party agrees with the Merkel government’s austerity policy.

Britain’s involvement in assassination of Congo’s Lumumba confirmed

By Jean Shaoul, 18 April 2013

A senior British politician has revealed Britain’s involvement in the 1961 assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the Congo’s first prime minister.

German Defence Minister prevented from speaking at Berlin’s Humboldt University

By Ernst Wolff, 16 April 2013

Protesting students in Berlin prevented Germany’s Defence Minister Thomas from delivering a lecture.

British banks engulfed in new scandals

By Jordan Shilton, 16 April 2013

The Parliamentary Commission on Banking declared that HBOS crashed after a lack of risk controls, rapid and aggressive expansion and poor management amounting to a “colossal failure” on the part of bank executives

Health workers in southern England forced to sign new low-pay contracts

By Ajanta Silva, 16 April 2013

TQtwentyone, a large National Health Service provider operating in southern England, is seeking to cut workers’ pay, terms and conditions.

Cahuzac affair exposes bankruptcy of French petty-bourgeois “left”

By Anthony Torres, 16 April 2013

The scandal over tax evasion by former Budget Minister Jérôme Cahuzac, which has destabilised the government of President François Hollande, exposes the entire French political establishment.

Norwegian trade unions avert national strike

By Robert Stevens, 12 April 2013

A deal on pay will mean a minuscule raise, wholly in the interests of the employers.

The Cypriot bailout marks a new stage in the euro crisis

By Christoph Dreier, 11 April 2013

Fifty-five years after the founding of the European Economic Community, the project of unifying Europe on a capitalist basis has been irrevocably shattered by the global economic crisis.

British parliament unites in praise of Margaret Thatcher

By Julie Hyland, 11 April 2013

The recall of Britain’s parliament was the occasion for the government and opposition Labour Party to applaud Margaret Thatcher’s right-wing nostrums and assault on the working class.

The attack on UK health care and the case of Leeds General Infirmary

By Liz Smith, 11 April 2013

The ongoing crisis of Leeds General Infirmary, in which child heart surgery provision was suspended, reveals the grave consequences of the deliberate running down of National Health Service resources.

Germany: Bundestag allows police access to private PINs and passwords

By Johann Müller, 11 April 2013

Revisions to the German Telecommunication Act legalise the monitoring of private data stored on mobile phones and in the Internet.

Stalinist daily l’Humanité defends French government in Cahuzac scandal

By Olivier Laurent, 11 April 2013

The Stalinist daily’s April 3 editorial on ex-budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac’s confession to tax evasion defends the Socialist Party government.

European Union demands cuts after Portuguese court rules bailout unconstitutional

By Paul Mitchell, 9 April 2013

The Portuguese Constitutional Court’s ruling against EU budget cuts reveals the politically criminal and illegal basis of the pan-European onslaught on the working class.

European Union imposes austerity bailout on Cyprus

By Robert Stevens, 9 April 2013

The terms dictated to Cyprus by the European Union in exchange for a bailout are predicated on the destruction of the pay and conditions of the working class.

Britain: South West NHS Pay Cartel publishes plans to cut wages and conditions

By Ajanta Silva, 9 April 2013

The final business plan of the National Health Service management in the south west of England serves as a blueprint for reducing the pay and conditions for workers throughout the NHS.

Hundreds of workers at Goss International France lose their jobs

By Gustav Kemper, 8 April 2013

Web offset giant Goss International intensifies its redundancy program, laying off 430 workers.

Class war in Europe

By Julie Hyland, 4 April 2013

The punitive measures imposed on Cyprus mark a qualitative deepening of the European bourgeoisie’s class war offensive.

Largest ever welfare cuts come into force in Britain

By Paul Mitchell, 4 April 2013

This month, historic cuts in welfare provision come into force, driving millions further into destitution.

European unemployment rises for 22nd consecutive month

By Stefan Steinberg, 4 April 2013

The latest figures from the Eurostat statistics office confirm that the continent’s economic recession is taking a rising toll on jobs and living standards.

French Budget Minister Cahuzac resigns over hidden bank account

By Olivier Laurent and Alex Lantier, 4 April 2013

France’s Socialist Party government in crisis after its former budget minister admitted to lying about a Swiss bank account hidden from tax authorities.

As government crisis drags on

Italian president appoints expert commissions

By Marianne Arens, 4 April 2013

The ruling class in Italy is desperately seeking to override the election result of February 25 and develop a political mechanism to continue the austerity policies that were decisively rejected by the electorate.

SYRIZA makes political pact with the nationalist right

By Christoph Dreier, 4 April 2013

The alliance with right-wing nationalists clearly shows SYRIZA’s class character.

Greek parliament overturns right to free, universal education

By Robert Stevens, 2 April 2013

The cynically-named Athena Plan, calling for mass closures of universities and technical institutions, was passed in flagrant violation of the Greek constitution.

Reports reveal rapid pauperisation of the Spanish working class

By Alejandro López, 2 April 2013

Recent statistical surveys attest to the massive drop in working class living standards in Spain since the onset of the global financial crisis.

After Cyprus, more austerity in Greece

By Robert Stevens, 30 March 2013

Fresh from its financial looting of Cyprus, the European bourgeoisie is threatening to withhold funds from Greece unless it complies with mass sackings in the public sector.

UK health regulator reports on poor care of the elderly

By Ajanta Silva, 30 March 2013

The UK’s Care Quality Commission has produced a report documenting the severe deterioration in the quality of care for elderly people.

IG Metall union joins offensive against GM-Opel workers

By Dietmar Henning, 30 March 2013

The executive of the IG Metall trade union unanimously voted in Frankfurt-Main in favor of the so-called “Opel Master Contract”, sealing the closure of the GM-Opel factory in Bochum.

Spain: Sacked Delphi workers confront trade unions

By Vicky Short, 29 March 2013

Sacked Delphi workers in Cadiz clashed with trade union officials during an official celebration called by the Socialist Party-Communist Party regional government.

Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa

29 March 2013

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