European Workers Issues
Ireland: Buyout by KPS would be a defeat for Waterford occupation
By Steve James, February 25, 2009
Receivers for the failed Waterford Wedgwood company are reportedly on the brink of a deal with venture capitalists KPS Capital. Acceptance of the KPS take-over would represent defeat for this brave an...
Britain: More charges of union complicity in mass sackings at BMW’s Oxford plant
By Liz Smith and Elaine Gorton, February 24, 2009
Workers reported for shifts at the BMW plant in Cowley, Oxford, on Monday, still uncertain as to the future of some 500 agency staff.
Workers Struggles: Europe & Africa
February 13, 2009
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Ireland: Waterford occupation continues as protests grow against cuts and closures
By Steve James, February 10, 2009
Workers are continuing to occupy the Waterford Wedgewood crystal factory in Ireland as protests over the economic crisis spread.
Britain: Refinery dispute becomes focus of shift to protectionism within Labour
By Julie Hyland, February 5, 2009
The refinery strikes over jobs for “Britons first” have become the focus for a shift to protectionism by the trade union bureaucracy, which is also finding expression within the Labour government.
Ireland: Workers occupy Waterford crystal factory
By Steve James, February 3, 2009
Two hundred workers have occupied the historic Waterford Crystal plant and visitor centre at Kilbarry, Ireland.
Over 170,000 on short-time working in German auto industry
By Sybille Fuchs, January 29, 2009
Major auto concerns in Germany, including BMW, Volkswagen, Daimler, Opel and Bosch, have introduced or plan to introduce short-time working for tens of thousands of workers. This comes in response to ...
French workers need a socialist perspective to fight the economic crisis
By World Socialist Web Site editorial board, January 28, 2009
The central question facing workers in the January 29 one-day strike and national day of action called by France’s trade unions is one of political perspective: On what basis can working people defe...
France: Thousands demonstrate against education cuts
By Antoine Lerougetel, January 20, 2009
Up to 60,000 people demonstrated on January 17 throughout France against education cuts. Some 13,500 posts are to be lost in schools in 2009 after cuts of 11,500 in 2008; more than 80,000 posts are du...
Workers Struggles: Europe & Africa
January 16, 2009
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
January 2, 2009
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Germany: Opel works council demands planned wage cut be kept secret
By Dietmar Henning, December 13, 2008
A ferocious controversy has broken out between the works council at Opel Bochum and the overall Opel works council at the company’s Rüsselsheim headquarters. Last week, when the Bochum works counci...
