Operating theatre nurses’ national one-day pay strike in France; Port Ravenna dockers in Italy ready to strike to block transport of military hardware for use against Gaza; national warning strikes by retail workers across Germany over pay; Stoppages at some UK schools and Liverpool University
UK teachers oppose attacks on pay, conditions, pensions and government’s push for Academisation of schools
Since the pandemic struck, UK teachers are facing an acceleration of government attacks on their pay and conditions, the further marketisation of education, and victimisations.
The Conservative government’s reopening the economy, backed by Labour, is predicated on schools being kept open and has resulted in over 150,000 deaths. Schools are proven major vectors for spreading the virus, and children as well as adults can catch the virus and become seriously ill.
Despite the deaths of hundreds of educators from Covid-19, trade union representatives (reps) who raise health and safety concerns in schools are facing bullying, intimidation, and disciplinary action.
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Belgian private sector general strike against 0.4 percent pay rise cap
On Monday, private sector workers across Belgium took part in a one-day general strike against a law preventing average wage increases from exceeding 0.4 percent.
RTBF reports the strike affected public transport in multiple cities, and seven in 10 technology companies. The FGTB union reports the manufacturing industry in Wallonia was “practically at a stop.” Workers at Liberty Steel in Tilleur, Liège, picketed a plant which is threatened with closure, putting 761 jobs at risk.
The strike was called by the CSC and FGTB unions, with a combined membership of three million, who have complained that profitable sectors of industry could offer more than 0.4 percent. In the face of massive opposition in the working class to stagnating wages after working through a deadly pandemic, the Liberal Prime Minister Alexander De Croo floated the
Read online at https://workersliberty.org/node/36828
Defend NEU activists, stop the victimisations! Submitted by AWL on 16 February, 2021 - 7:50
Author: Pat Markey
When trying to keep your workplace safe during the pandemic, when what you do could save lives, how would you expect your boss to respond? Maybe with some appreciation or a grudging “thank you”?
The reality in many cases is that union reps are facing bullying and harassment for trade union activity during the pandemic. Louise Lewis of Kirklees National Education Union, John Boken of Shropshire NEU, Tracy McGuire of Darlington NEU, and Kirstie Paton of Greenwich NEU are just four of the activists who are currently facing victimisation for supporting staff and for raising safety issues during the pandemic.