European Workers Issues
Solidarity meetings in Germany for dismissed shop worker
An interview with Emmely
By Marius Hauser, October 15, 2009
Last weekend a series of solidarity meetings were held across Germany for the shop worker Emmely, who was sacked for allegedly pocketing bottle coupons with a value of €1.30.
German unions agree to mass layoffs in printing machine industry
By Gustav Kemper, October 13, 2009
German trade unions are playing a key role in the destruction of thousands of jobs at the world largest manufacturers of printing presses, Heidelberg Printmachine AG (HDM) and Manroland.
Leeds refuse workers vote to continue strike
SEP (Britain) warns against sellout by union leadership
By our reporter, October 9, 2009
At a mass meeting of striking refuse workers in Leeds yesterday, the 300 strikers present voted to continue their five-week strike against attempts to slash wages by up to £6,000 a year.
Britain: Postal workers vote for national strike
By Robert Stevens, October 9, 2009
Postal workers in Britain voted Thursday for national strike action in their ongoing dispute with the state-run Royal Mail.
Opel/Vauxhall takeover by Magna
Unions play off workers against one another
By Dietmar Henning, October 8, 2009
The German unions are doing everything to ensure the contract is finalised between Opel, Vauxhall, GM and Magna, while haggling has begun between the unions represented at the various European locatio...
Britain: Postal workers call for disaffiliation from Labour during strike ballot
By Paul Bond, October 2, 2009
Around 15,000 postal workers are thought to be involved in strikes affecting large parts of the UK, while a consultative ballot amongst London members of the CWU voted overwhelmingly for the union to ...
Opel workers demonstrate in Antwerp in defence of jobs
Works councils and unions prepare sell-out
By our reporters, September 25, 2009
On Wednesday, 3,500 Opel employees demonstrated in front of the factory gate at the Opel plant in Antwerp, Belgium, to defend their jobs. Trade union leaders cynically exploited the rally to prepare j...
Britain: Leeds refuse workers strike against pay cuts
By Barbara Slaughter, September 19, 2009
Six hundred workers employed in refuse collection, street cleansing and waste management in Leeds are on strike against the plans of Leeds City Council to cut their wages by up to £6,000 a year on th...
Workers Struggles: Europe & Africa
September 18, 2009
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
The GM-Magna deal
German metal workers’ union backs government in geostrategic power struggle
By Ulrich Rippert, September 17, 2009
The IG Metall trade union is playing a crucial role in implementing the foreign policy interests of the German government.
Britain: Postal workers discuss disaffiliation from Labour, ballot for national strike
By Paul Bond, September 16, 2009
Britain’s postal workers, already engaged in a rolling series of one-day regional strikes against attacks on jobs and conditions, begin balloting this week for national action.
Following GM announcement on new talks with Magna
German auto union offers further concessions to Opel
By Dietmar Henning, September 14, 2009
The German trade union IG Metall rushed to assure GM-Opel management that it is prepared to make more concessions following the latest announcement from General Motors.
