invites workers and other readers to contribute
to this regular feature.
Nationwide strikes in France against Macron government’s criminal response to pandemic
Nationwide strikes took place in France on Thursday over the government’s herd immunity response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the spread of a new more transmissible variant, the Macron government refused a national lockdown. The strikers also protested against low wages, growing job insecurity and deteriorating working conditions. The strike call was made by the Stalinist CGT union, along with the FSU and Solidaires unions, but France’s largest union the CFDT was not involved.
Taking part were public sector workers, including civil servants, teachers, healthcare staff along with rail and other transport workers. Teachers held a one-day strike on January 26 for higher wages and resources. Rallies were planned in cities and towns across France including Paris, Nice, Marseille and Lyon. Students and other groups jo
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East and Africa
11 February 2021
invites workers and other readers to contribute
to this regular feature.
Energy engineers at British Gas continue strikes
Engineers at energy company British Gas, part of the Centrica group, are continuing their programme of strikes. British Gas supplies gas and electric energy and services equipment and has around 20,000 employees.
A four-day strike is due to begin today, with further four-day actions planned for February 19 and 26. The GMB union members are opposing “fire and rehire” plans by British Gas to undermine workers’ conditions and cut pay by 20 percent.
Around 7,500 workers are involved, including 4,000 service and repair gas engineers, 1,700 smart metering engineers, 600 central heating installers, 540 electrical engineers and 170 specialist business gas engineers. The strikes have led to a backlog of 170,000 boiler repairs and the delay of 200,000 service visits.