Danish nurses continue wildcat stoppages in defiance of unions over pay and lack of staff, joined by sympathy strike of Silkeborg social workers; teachers across France walk out for 24 hours to demand more staff, better pay and conditions; Sunday pay strikes at ScotRail continue for over six months, 24-hour safety strikes continue at East Midlands Rail; Nigerian resident doctors on strike for nearly two months over pay arrears, while other health unions prevaricate about calling members out over same issues
Danish nurses defy union and Labour Court and continue one-hour strikes over pay and understaffing after ten-week strike ended; numerous strikes across healthcare system in France over pay and conditions; Sunday rail strikes continue UK’s longest pay dispute after re-ballot by conductors and ticket examiners; resident doctors’ strike in Nigeria in danger of sell-out after union suspends strike awaiting Labour court ruling
Strike by Iranian oil workers spreads amid rising wave of protests and stoppages
The strike by Iranian oil contract workers is about to enter its fifth week. It has spread to 105 refineries, complexes and companies across 35 Iranian cities. The contract workers walked out over low pay and poor working conditions. They make around $300 a month, and are demanding to be paid around $500.
A defence committee to support the strikers issued a statement on Sunday, appealing to other workers to come out in support of the contract workers, including workers directly employed by the national oil company. It also appealed for rallies in support of the strikers.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
8 July 2021 invites workers and other readers to
Spanish unions betray bank workers’ strike, agree thousands of job losses at CaixaBank
Last week, trade unions at CaixaBank, Spain’s largest retail bank, agreed to the loss of 6,452 jobs, following token warning strikes and face-saving “negotiations” with management.
The unions and management announced they reached an agreement on July 1, only two days after a 24-hour strike which, according to the unions, shut down over 90 percent of the bank’s branches in Spain. The unions called only one other whole-day stoppage, on June 22, following a number of one-hour or half-hour protests.
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Protests in Khartoum, Sudan, as government and International Monetary Fund step up attacks
Mass protests took place in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on June 30, against high inflation and the removal of fuel subsidies, which are increasing food prices and causing further cuts in living standards. Inflation hit 341 percent in March. Fuel will increase from around 35 cents to nearly 70 cents per litre, and the price of diesel will more than double.
On June 29, the International Monetary Fund approved a $2.5bn loan, with strings attached.
Demonstrators outside the presidential palace shouted, “We want the fall of the regime,” and “Bread for the poor.” Police used tear gas against crowds who burned tyres in the streets.