24 October 2009

As unemployment claims rise
White House rejects new measures to stem jobs crisis

By Barry Grey, 24 October 2009

Even as the Labor Department reported an unexpected rise in initial claims for unemployment benefits, the Obama administration and Democratic congressional leaders reiterated their opposition to any significant new outlays to address the jobs crisis.

Twenty years after capitalism’s return:
Living standards continue steep fall in Eastern Europe

By Stefan Steinberg, 24 October 2009

Twenty years after the reintroduction of capitalism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, a World Bank report acknowledges that a third of the population in the region lives in poverty.

Michigan governor again takes axe to education

By Tom Eley, 24 October 2009

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm announced a $127-per-pupil funding cut on Thursday. This follows a $165-per-head cut and $54 million in vetoes of educational spending in a bill Granholm made law on Monday.

Russia: Workers at AvtoVaz protest against mass layoffs

By Vladimir Volkov, 24 October 2009

Following a wave of labor actions across Russia in the summer and early fall, workers at auto giant AvtoVaz are protesting mass layoffs.

Irish Fianna Fail/Green coalition prepares major budget cuts

By Steve James, 24 October 2009

Ireland’s ruling coalition of Fianna Fail and the Green Party are preparing a confrontation with the working class.

New in German

Britischer Geheimdienstchef rechtfertigt Folter

Von Chris Marsden, 24. Oktober 2009

Der Chef des britischen Geheimdienstes MI5 rechtfertigte letzte Woche öffentlich die Anwendung von Folter, um Beweise gegen angebliche Terroristen zu erhalten.

Koalitionsverhandlungen von CDU/CSU und FDP
Agenda des sozialen Kahlschlags

Von Dietmar Henning, 24. Oktober 2009

Die schwarz-gelbe Koalition verabschiedet sich endgültig von dem Prinzip, dass die Sozialausgaben je zur Hälfte von Arbeitgebern und Arbeitnehmern getragen werden, und beschreitet den Weg in eine Zwei-Klassen-Medizin.

Gebäudereiniger streiken gegen Lohndumping

Von Ludwig Weller, 24. Oktober 2009

Nachdem Ende September die Mindestlohn-Regelung für Gebäudereiniger ausgelaufen ist, versuchen nun etliche Firmen, die Löhne unter die bisherige Grenze von 8,15 Euro im Westen und 6,58 Euro im Osten drücken.

New in French

Karzaï cède aux pressions américaines et accepte un deuxième tour aux élections afghanes

Par Patrick Martin, 24 octobre 2009

D’un geste aussi prévisible, et dégradant, qu’un serf se prosternant devant son maître, le président de l’Afghanistan, Hamid Karzaï, a cédé aux pressions d’une intraitable administration Obama et a accepté mardi le deuxième tour de l’élection présidentielle.

Grande-Bretagne : les postiers face à une lutte politique contre le gouvernement travailliste

Déclaration du Parti de l’égalité socialiste, 24 octobre 2009

Les postiers sont confrontés à une campagne coordonnée établie et mise en œuvre par Royal Mail et le gouvernement travailliste visant à détruire leur mouvement de grève pour la défense des emplois et des conditions de travail.

Perspective

US bankers cash in despite phony pay restraint

24 October 2009

According to the report issued Thursday by Treasury Department “pay czar” Kenneth Feinberg, at least 66 of the 138 bank and corporation executives under his jurisdiction will receive government-approved compensation packages totaling more than $1 million a year.

Earlier Perspectives »

Workers Struggles

UK postalBritain: Postal strikers speak to SEP campaign teams

By our reporters, 24 October 2009

Postal workers yesterday staged their second of two 24-hour strikes, the first major national strike since 2007..

UAW says key local passed Ford contract by 51 percent
Many workers call vote a “fraud”

By Andre Damon, 24 October 2009

Local media reported that United Auto Workers Local 900 narrowly ratified the latest concessions contract. The vote passed by only 51 to 49 percent, prompting allegations of fraud from workers interviewed by the WSWS and other sources.

Reject UAW-Ford concession demands Elect rank-and-file committees to defend jobs and living standards

Statement of the Socialist Equality Party , 16 October 2009

The United Auto Workers agreed to contract modifications with Ford that will further slash the jobs and living standards of the company’s 41,000 hourly workers. The SEP urges workers to reject the contract and download and distribute the following statement.

Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific

24 October 2009

The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Socialist Equality Party

Unite Michigan teachers, students, workers to stop school cuts!

Statement of the Socialist Equality Party, 23 October 2009

This statement, calling for opposition to the attack on public education and cuts in school funding, is being distributed to teachers, students and workers in Michigan.

Correspondence

Letters from our readers

24 October 2009

A selection of recent letters sent to the World Socialist Web Site.

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Videos and Images

50,000 line up for housing assistance in Detroit
50,000 line up for housing assistance in Detroit ISSE members speak on education cuts at rally
ISSE members speak on education cuts at rally Detroit residents speak on utility bills, social crisis
Detroit residents speak on utility bills, social crisis OU video
Michigan’s Oakland University faculty strike has student support Detroit teachers denounce pay cuts
Detroit teachers denounce pay cuts D'Art
Detroit city workers oppose concessions, layoffs Interviews at Los Angeles health care clinic
Interviews at Los Angeles health care clinic Workers continue Vestas occupation on Isle of Wight
Workers continue Vestas occupation on Isle of Wight A conversation with Windsor municipal workers
A conversation with Windsor municipal workers New York City workers speak against cuts in healthcare and social services
NYC workers speak against cuts in social services Flint vid
Flint, Michigan and the bankruptcy of General Motors MI auto vid
GM workers on bankruptcy and plant closings MI auto vid
Michigan auto workers and families speak on plant closures GM vid
GM workers speak out on concessions contract Protesting students and parents speak to the WSWS
Protesting students and parents speak to the WSWS Chrysler workers speak on concessions vote
Chrysler workers speak on concessions vote UK Visteon workers speak on occupation
UK Visteon workers speak on occupation GM and Chrysler workers oppose more concessions
GM and Chrysler workers oppose more concessions Chrysler workers oppose Obama auto plan
Chrysler workers oppose Obama auto plan
WSWS interviews G20 protesters in London Donovan
Pontiac residents speak on schools crisis Detroit jobs fair
Workers interviewed at Detroit jobs fair
Ford workers: “Now the fight is with our own union.” GM workers videoGM workers denounce concession demands Chrysler workers oppose cuts
Chrysler workers oppose pay cuts, concession demands London demonstration against Sri Lankan war
Over 100,000 demonstrate in London against Sri Lankan war Joanne
Funeral for Michigan man frozen following utility shut-off Montserrat
Exposing Franco's mass graves Bay City, Mich.: “Shutting somebody's electricity off in the dead of winter is criminal”
Bay City, Michigan residents speak on death from utility shut-off London protesters speak to the WSWS
WSWS interviews London protesters London demonstrators protest Israeli assault on Gaza
London demonstrators protest Israeli assault on Gaza Chrysler workers denounce pay cuts
Chrysler workers denounce pay cuts Griffiths and Walsh
The Writer and Revolution: A conversation with Trevor Griffiths

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