Sep
28
2012
0

Two more campaigns closed; one new one launched

We’re closing down the Kazakhstan campaign today after 3 months. This campaign appeared in 12 languages, got 6,632 messages of protest sent and the English version was liked by 970 people on Facebook. I’ll report later if I get any feedback from the campaign sponsors about any effect on the ground.

We’re also closing the Turkey campaign after 3 months. This one appeared in 10 languages, got 6,859 messages sent, and was liked by 1,300 people on Facebook. This was the largest of the five campaigns we closed this week.

We’re following this up with a new Turkey campaign as trials begin next week of those we previously campaigned for.

Written by admin in: Campaigns |
Sep
26
2012
1

Three campaigns closed today

We closed the following campaigns today –

China: Who killed Li Wangyang? Total number of supporters: 6,312. Suzanne Wu at the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions wrote: “Under the great pressure in Hong Kong and international society, the Chinese Government launched an investigation about the death of Li. However, the result is not satisfactory that it concluded as suicide again. Unfortunately, the suppression of the case didn’t stop, Li’s sister still missed, and the Chinese Government decided to charge Li’s friend, who took the photo of his death and disclosed to the public. We do think the pressure from international society have positive impact on Li’s case, however, a boost of Chinese speaker in Hong Kong is not very possible at this moment. After collecting opinions from our colleagues, we suggested to stop the campaign for Li.”

UK: London Transport cleaners deserve decent wages and Olympic payments Total number of supporters: 5,461. Andrew Brattle, RMT web editor, wrote: “You can now close this campaign. The strikes went well, and although the disputes are on-going, they are no longer focused on the Olympics but on more permanent improvements to pay and conditions. Thank you very much for all your help and support, I know the members very much appreciated it.”

Turkey: Togo Footwear workers sacked for forming a union Total number of supporters: 5,728. Eren Korkmaz, International Relations Officer for Deri-Is, wrote: “We would like to inform you that picket line in Togo Footwear in Turkey was ended on 19.08.2012. The reason is the closure of the plant. Togo Footwear Company preferred to close the plant and continue producing footwears via their suppliers instead of negotiating with the Union. Our Union’s demand was either negotiate with the union or if it insists on not respecting labor rights, it should close the plant. Workers gained their severance pays. We would like to thank you for your support and spread our call to all parts of the world.”

Written by admin in: Campaigns |
Sep
25
2012
0

New campaign launched – Guatemala

This campaign went live more than a week ago in English, but we’re only beginning promotion and translations today. That’s because it came on the heels of the Pakistan fire campaign, which now has resulted in 8,800 messages being sent to the Pakistan government. We’re trying to stagger campaigns, and not to launch too many all at once, but it’s not easy and there’s very little coordination between the unions which make these requests.

Written by admin in: Campaigns |
Sep
24
2012
4

Weekly round-up, 17-24.9.12

A short week for me, as I spent two full days in Geneva working with the IUF. (Also got some good ideas about social media from an expert who was seconded to them by a US union.)

Campaigns: We’re slowly launching a Guatemala campaign – expect it to be promoted today and tomorrow. The Pakistan campaign has not grown much in the last week – but we’ve had an offer to do a version in Urdu, which I hope to launch in the next day or two.

Conference: Planning another Skype call with the organizers; have booked my own ticket. Am following through with other international guests.

This will be a full week – though I’m travelling again next Monday for a week. I’ll try to get up a report at the end of this week showing what I’ve been able to do.

Written by admin in: 2012 conference,Campaigns |
Sep
19
2012
0

PCS (UK) Seems to Like Us

PCS Euston Tower Branch has endorsed us and is encouraging their members to sign-on with LabourStart. They’re using their Twitter feed (amongst other things) to get the word out:

http://pcseuston.org.uk/labourstart-have-a-little-international-solidarity-with-your-breakfast/#

Written by derek in: Uncategorized | Tags: ,
Sep
17
2012
2

Weekly roundup – 6.9 – 17.9.12

New campaigns launched –

Pakistan textile fire (IndustriALL). After just four days online, just under 8,000 (actually, 7,959 as I write this) messages sent making this our biggest campaign for some time. The campaign appears in 8 languages already.

Morocco – free jailed dockers union leader (ITF). After 6 days online, appearing in 9 languages, this is considerably smaller with only half the number as the Pakistan campaign (3,980).

Campaigns closed –

As reported earlier, we lost the vote at Siemens in Maryland, and the campaign was closed.

In the next day or two, we’re closing two more campaigns – China and Peru. Details to follow.

New office –

In the last week we moved all remaining bits, including 10 sets of bookshelves and many hundreds of books.

LabourStart offline –

Last week I attended the TUC in Brighton, beginning the day by distributing over 150 LabourStart brochures to delegates. On Thursday, I and a volunteer leafletted a film at the first-ever London Labour Film Festival, handing out about 80 brochures. On the weekend, I was the (sole) speaker at a small Unison Wales event in Cardiff, and distributed some leaflets there as well.

Written by admin in: Campaigns,Office,Publicity |
Sep
13
2012
0

New campaign: Pakistan textile factory fires kill over 300 workers

Pakistani workers protest.
This has to be a big one — it’s almost unimaginably horrible, and I hope that all of us will do more than our usual to turn this into a giant campaign.

Written by admin in: Campaigns |
Sep
12
2012
0

You can’t win them all – Siemens campaign closed

We closed the United Steelworkers’ Siemens campaign last week following the union’s defeat in the vote at the Maryland plant.  The hiring of union-busting experts by the company only days after it signed a global framework agreement with IndustriALL did the trick.  A battle has been lost, but the struggle continues.  The USW report on the defeat, which thanks LabourStart, is here.

Written by admin in: Campaigns |
Sep
12
2012
1

A Compliment From a (Twitter) Follower

“@labourstart You guys do a good job. Largely unrecognized and under appreciated, but necessary. If there was a god, you’d be doing his work.”

Written by derek in: Uncategorized | Tags:
Sep
11
2012
0

New campaign launched in defense of jailed Moroccan dockers’ leader

Free SaidThe campaign is here.

The ITF has provided us with translations into Arabic, Italian, French and Spanish, so we won’t be needing those.

This is our first campaign in 17 days — an unusually long gap this summer. Let’s hope this one takes off like a rocket, and that the Moroccan government decides to release our comrade.

Written by admin in: Campaigns |

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