Inside LabourStart

Colombia: Free jailed trade unionist Rosalba Gaviria Toro – 16 November 2010 – Justice for Colombia
Government
2,866
Remains in jail with slightly improved conditions

India: Nokia supplier companies refusing to recognize unions – 2 November 2010 – IMF
Company (Foxconn) & Government
1,928

Vietnam: Labour rights advocates face prison – 20 October 2010 – CPVW
Government
3,522
Activists were sent to jail

India: Over 500 workers jailed in dispute with Foxconn – 15 October 2010 – CITU
Government & Company (Foxconn)
4,230

Thailand: Migrant workers have the right to workers’ compensation – 12 October 2010 – UNI Thailand and NGOs
Government
1,743
“According to reports from people in the field, the planned compensation fund scheme with private insurance has gone silent, and this may be related to the campaign. In addition, the prime minister talked about need to address migrant social security last week at a major conference, so that’s also promising. Migrants continue to be unprotected however. We’re also waiting to see if the ILO will issue a report critical of the Thai government, and if so we will publicise this widely.”

Colombia: Free jailed university lecturer and trade unionist – EI – 7 October 2010
Government
1,790

Cambodia: Reinstate sacked construction workers – BWI – 19 August 2010
Company (KC GECIN)
1,652

Mexico: Violence against Mineworkers Union leaders at Johnson Controls – Solidarity Center – 18 August 2010
Government
2,010

Mexico: Reinstate sacked workers, recognize union, and drop all charges – UE – 30 July 2010
Government
1,764

Turkey: Support sacked UPS workers – ITF – 28 July 2010
Government & Company (UPS)
2,690
Company eventually agreed to negotiate with the union in early 2011

Iraq: Minister closes all union offices in Saddam-style move – TUC/GFIW – 23 July 2010
Government
3,100

Turkey: Free jailed trade unionists now – PSI – 2 July 2010
Government
1,563

South Africa: Support striking workers at Dis-Chem – SACCAWU – 09 June 2010
Company (Dis-Chem)
1,699

China: Suicides at Foxconn, supplier to Apple and other international brands – SACOM – 28 May 2010
Company (Apple, Foxconn)
4,587
Foxconn eventually made considerable concessions following world-wide pressure.

Algeria: Union headquarters shut down – Algerian unions – 25 May 2010
Government
2,096

Iran: Farzad Kamangar executed – EI – 11 May 2010
Government
5,807

Philippines: Locked-out Alta Mode garment workers fight against union-busting – Labor Party – 26 April 2010
Government & Companies
2,706

Taiwan: Touch panel screen workers struggle for basic rights – YFOTU – 21 April 2010
Government & Companies
3,435

Jersey: Support public sector workers – NASUWT – 12 April 2010
Government & Media
321

Iraq: Stop harassment of oil union leaders – Solidarity Center – 12 April 2010
Government
2,643

Canada: End the Harvest of Death! – UFCW – 8 April 2010
Government
487

Mexico: Stop union-busting at PEMEX – ICEM – 14 March 2010
Government & Company
3,993

Guyana: Stop union-busting – respect workers rights – GBGWU – 12 March 2010
2,449

New Zealand: Support Ministry of Justice workers – PSA – 4 March 2010
Government
484

Mexico: Support the Cananea miners – ICEM – 2 March 2010
Government
3,470

Ireland: Trade unionists on hunger strike at Green Isle Foods – TEEU – 26 February 2010
Company (Northern Foods)
2,272

Turkey: Free Seher Tümer – PSI – 26 February 2010
Government
3,681

Hands off the Iraqi Teachers Union! – TUC – 26 February 2010
Political parties
328

Thailand/Burma: Support migrant workers – 16 February 2010
Government
97

Thailand: Support railway workers – ITF – 08 February 2010
Government
3,460

Canada: Cadillac Fairviews Christmas Message to its Workers – Freeze! – 26 December 2009
Company
297

South Africa: Sun International must negotiate with strikers – not try to break their union – SACCAWU – 14 December 2009
Company
3,638

Canada/Brazil: Tell Vale that divide-and-conquer won’t work- USW – 03 November 2009
Company
8,343

Iraq: Stop government interference in the unions – GFIW – 19 October 2009
Government (embassies)
2,530

Kazakhstan: Prominent workers’ rights activist attacked – IMF – 09 October 2009
3,151

UK: Eurostar cleaners fight against job losses and bullying and for better pay – RMT – 21 September 2009
Company (Eurostar)
3,625

Canada: Support building maintenance workers at TD Centre – CEP – 13 September 2009
Company (Cadillac Fairview)
1,014

Turkey: Free jailed trade union leaders – KESK – 26 July 2009
Government
1,639

UK: Keep Diageo jobs in Scotland – UNITE – 26 July 2009
Company (Diageo)
2,040

South Africa: Shop stewards sacked for safety strike – ICEM – 29 June 2009
Company (SAPPI)
2,278
“The ICEM reports that the parties came to a negotiated memorandum on the issue of suspension of shop stewards and others, following unprotected safety strikes in April and May. A 4-page memorandum was signed August 5 putting and end to the conflict. There were no dismissals, and that is good news, considering Sappi had originally sought job dismissals on some. Also, the suspensions (unpaid) that now are in effect are relatively short. And “final written warning” to all the affected workers (19 shop stewards + 24 others) will only stay in effect for one year. In review, the agreement is a sign that healing inside this mill might begin. CEPPWAWU must write a letter to all Enstra workers condemning the illegal strikes. Sappi waives its claims on asset damages stemming from the unprotected industrial actions. The ICEM thanks all those who supported this campaign and congratulates both Sappi and CEPPWAWU for putting this dispute behind them.”

Philippines: Paul Yu – negotiate with your workers! – Labor Party – 22 June 2009
Company (Paul Yu) and Government
1,550

USA: Support Stella D’oro strikers, stop predatory private equity – BCTGM – 17 June 2009
Company (Brynwood Partners)
1,383

Algeria: Tell Compass Group: To injure one of us is to injure all of us! – SNAPAP – 16 May 2009
Company (Compass, ESS)
2,014

Puerto Rico: Government plans to sack tens of thousands, disregards union rights – PSI – 15 May 2009
Government
1,837

UK: Stop job cuts at London Metropolitan University – UCU – 29 April 2009
Company
181

Turkey: Unions demand right to demonstrate in Taksim Square on May Day – DISK – 26 April 2009
Government
2,356

Israel/Palestine: Support East Jerusalem workers fighting for their rights – WAC/Ma’an – 18 April 2009
Government
2,187

Turkey: Metal workers sacked for union membership – IMF – 9 April 2009
Employer (Sinter Metal)
2,130

Iraq: Teachers union faces threat of government takeover – ITU – 27 March 2009
Government (Embassies)
4,468

Costa Rica: Solidarity with plantation workers – Peuples Solidaires – 09 March 2009
Government and Company (Del Monte)
3,749

Iran: Drop charges against jailed union leaders – IUF – 20 February 2009
Government
5,633

Canada: Tell the Mayor of Ottawa to put an end to the public attack on ATU 279 and return to the bargaining table – ATU – 24 January 2009
Government
825

Russia: Stop attacks on auto workers union – IMF – 03 December 2008
Government
2,183

Iran: Save the life of Farzad Kamangar – EI – 28 November 2008
Government
5,571

Turkey: DESA leather workers fight for the right to have a union – Labour Behind the Label – 16 November 2008
Companies
5,188

USA: Tell the Gap: Don’t Harbor Worker Abuses – Teamsters – 24 October 2008
Company
2,653

South Africa: Woolworths engages in union-busting – SACCAWU – 10 October 2008
Company
937

Mexico: Reinstate sacked workers in Janos – UE – 26 August 2008
Government
833

Australia: Unions in Victoria – Save our TAFES – 15 August 2008
Government
16

Iran: Protest intensified repression against labour activists – No to whippings and executions! – IASWI – 14 August 2008
Government
5,771

Korea: Stop arrests of trade union leaders – KCTU – 04 August 2008
Government
5,345

Turkey: Free jailed woman trade union leader – PSI – 30 June 2008
Government
7,412

Australia: Boeing – recognize the union at Hawker de Havilland – APESMA – 10 June 2008
Company
1,335

Turkey: Release jailed road transport union members – ITF- 30 May 2008
Government
1,452

USA: Pacific Beach Hotel workers have a right to a union – ILWU – 17 May 2008
Company
2,309

Ireland: BT Discriminates Against own staff because they are Irish – CWU – 25 April 2008
Company
2,275

Russia: North Urals mining company refuses to bargain with workers after hunger strike – IMU – 18 April 2008
Company
2,807

Colombia: Protest murder of Leonidas Gomez Rozo – UNI – 4 April 2008
Government
3,439

Canada: Stop the Attack on Trade Union Rights in Saskatchewan – SFL – 19 March 2008
Government
2,625

USA: Union-busting in Minnesota Attorney General’s Office – AFSCME – 27 February 2008
Government
855

Iran: Release jailed workers, respect rights – ITF – 12 February 2008
Government
5,589

Canada: Petro-Canada locks out workers, puts community at risk – CEP – 31 January 2008
Company
697

Bangladesh: Free Mehedi Hasan – Labour Behind the Label – 31 January 2008
Government
3,627
“Mehedi Hasan was released from detention on Sunday afternoon. Thanks to everyone who took action to help secure this outcome. We continue to have serious concerns about other labour rights defenders in Bangladesh”

Canada: Tell Sears you won’t buy until they end the lockout – IBEW – 1 December 2007
Company
1,976

Russia: Ford workers strike – call for dialogue, not repression – IMF – 29 November 2007
Company
2,561

New Zealand: Stop contracting-out at Port of Napier – MUNZ – 29 November 2007
Company
1,459

Russia: No to impunity for attackers of dockworkers’ leader – 2 November 2007
Government
1,433

Iran: Attempted assassination of labour activist – IASWI – 23 October 2007
ILO
2,973

Mexico: Tell Tommy Hilfiger, Guess and Dickies: Stop the firings of Mexican jean workers; support their right to a union of their choice – MSN – 6 November 2007
Company
2,021

UK: Support the Fremantle Care Workers – UNISON – 24 August 2007
Company
7,816

New Zealand: First ever national lockout in public hospitals – SFWU – 18 July 2007
Government
1,452
“The campaign ended in victory on 24 July 2007 as the company was forced to come to the negotiating table and end the lockout.”

Australia: Support Cochlear workers – AMWU – 17 July 2007
Company
4,136

Russia: Dockworker leader stabbed and beaten – 11 June 2007
Government
4,574

Indonesia: Free jailed trade unionist Sarta bin Sarim – FKUI – 7 June 2007
Government
1,762
“On 30 July 2007, Sarta was found guilty by the court — but his sentence was set to the time served, and the next day he walked free.”

Costa Rica: Chiquita sacks workers for reporting poisoning – Banana Link – 18 May 2007
Company
2,965

Chile: Protest murder of forestry worker – BWI – 11 May 2007
Government
4,326

Gibraltar: Union-busting at Cammell Laird – TGWU – 25 April 2007
Company
1,987

Mexico: Protest murder of Santiago Rafael Cruz – FLOC – 18 April 2007
Government
5,546

Iran: Free Mahmoud Salehi now – 18 April 2007
Government
6,773

Philippines: Tell Wal-Mart: Require Chong Won to negotiate with independent union – MSN – 28 March 2007
Company & Government
3,322

Zimbabwe: Solidarity with Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions – for human rights and the rule of law – ITUC – 15 March 2007
Government (Embassies)
6,528

Sri Lanka: Trade unionists under threat – Labour Behind the Label – 14 March 2007
Government
1,974

Iraq: Raid on trade union offices – GFIW – 1 March 2007
Government
3,068

New Zealand: Stop the cuts at Air NZ – SFWU – 6 February 2007
Company
5,288

Canada: Support strikers at FirstOntario – COPE – 3 February 2007
Company
4,234

Australia: Thales must respect workers rights, bargain collectively – AMWU – 2 February 2007
Company
2,609

UK: Support the temporary and agency workers bill – TGWU – 31 January 2007
Government
1,586

Panama: Group 4 Securicor sacks protesting workers – 18 January 2007
Government & Company
2,689

Canada: Ontario must change the law to allow college part-timers to join a union – OPSEU – 12 January 2007
Government
1,108

Philippines: Workers left hanging as Wal-Mart stalls – MSN – 20 December 2006
Company
2,405

Iran: Free Mansour Osanloo now – IASWI – 22 November 2006
Government
6,766

USA: Support striking cleaners in Houston – SEIU – 8 November 2006
Company (Chevron)
3,144

Turkey: First strike ever in a free trade zone – Petrol-Is – 31 October 2006
Company (FMC)
2,033

Thailand: Goodyear sacks union activists – 27 October 2006
Company
1,954

Chile: Entire Musicians Union Fired! – 07 October 2006
Government
1,994
“The union reports that while there is a lawsuit underway (a first hearing due on 23 March 2007), the government has turned a deaf ear to the worldwide protests. “The Chilean government,” they write, “has been numb to the devastating effects on one of its few national cultural institutions and that without their protection the orchestra and various other cultural institutions will surely vanish.”

Costa Rica/Ecuador: Dole’s Bitter 50th Birthday for Banana and Pineapple Workers – BananaLink – 18 September 2006
Company
3,720

Russia: Union battles for recognition at GM-AVTOVAZ – 07 September 2006
Company
3,428

New Zealand: Support locked-out Woolworths workers – NDU – 31 August 2006
Company
3,307

Australia: Solidarity with first victims of new anti-union laws – CFMEU – 28 August 2006
Government
4,659

Australia: Lufthansa call centre workers under attack – ASU – 12 July 2006
Company
6,966

Indonesia: Support Securicor workers – UNI – 14 June 2006
Company
6,302

“On 21 July the Group 4 Securicor workers got their jobs back in a great victory for Indonesian trade unions and the international labour movement as a whole. Timboel Siregar of ASPEK Indonesia (Association of Indonesian Labor Unions) writes:
“Over the past fifteen months, Securicor Indonesia has tried to ignore, intimidate, and undercut our struggle to demand our rights. Through solidarity, we have been able to show them that Indonesian workers can take on international corporations, and win.
“We have heard from the company how much the involvement of unions and individuals from around the world has infuriated them. They thought they could ignore our rights and our laws without any consequences, but instead they found themselves in an international spotlight. We want to express our thanks to Labourstart, and particularly to the more than 6000 people who wrote emails demanding that the company respect our rights and our country’s laws.
“This victory will make a huge difference in our lives and those of our families. May God bless everyone who has given us their support. We will keep fighting for the rights of the thousands of Group 4 Securicor workers in Indonesia. We hope that this international support will continue for them and for the other Group 4 Securicor workers around the world whose rights are being violated. Hopefully our victory will be a step towards teaching Group 4 Securicor management that they must respect all workers’ rights.”

Germany: Cleaners deserve more – UNI – 09 June 2006
Company
1,359

Germany: Speaking Truth to Power – UNI – 08 June 2006
Company
1,868

UK/Netherlands: Stand up for ISS cleaners – UNI – 08 June 2006
Company
1,018

Costa Rica: New Government Launches Assault On Trade Unions – ANEP – 01 June 2006
Government
2,468

Thailand: Global PR giant sues labour activist – Thai Labour Campaign/Labour Behind the Label – 23 May 2006
Company
156

Canada: Solidarity with striking diamond workers – PSAC – 17 May 2006
Company
491

Numbers of participants in these campaigns (below this point) are no longer accurate as some records have been deleted or archived.

India: Unilever shuts factory, breaks laws with impunity – All India Council of Unilever Unions – 03 May 2006
Government & Company
507

Norway: Let Sabah stay! – 28 April 2006
Government
28

Mexico: Strikers shot and killed during steel mill occupation – UE – 26 April 2006
Government
537

USA: Support hunger strikers at University of Miami – SEIU – 19 April 2006
University

Canada: Public sector workers in Quebec vs anti-union Bill 142 – CSN – 10 April 2006
Government
162

Global: Solidarity with TNT workers – ITF – 03 April 2006
Company
382

New Zealand: Support workers taking McDonalds to court – Unite – 15 March 2006
Company

Indonesia: Justice for Palm Oil Workers – Free the Musim Mas Six – IUF – 16 February 2006
Government & Company
59

Nepal: Free jailed trade union leaders – GEFONT – 05 February 2006
Government

Indonesia: Protest anti-union actions of Group 4 – 31 January 2006
Company

Iran: Release jailed strikers now! – 31 January 2006
Government

Indonesia: Justice for Indonesian Palm Oil Workers – Free the Musim Mas Six – IUF – 26 January 2006
Company

Ireland: Union steward sacked for wearing a union badge – Mandate – 15 January 2006
Company

Argentina: Solidarity with Bauen hotel workers – Hotel Bauen Coop – 22 December 2005
Government

New Zealand: SkyCity Riverside – Campaign for parity and a fair deal – SFWU – 05 December 2005
Company

Costa Rica: Stop union-busting at banana plantations – BananaLink – 22 November 2005
Government

Russia: Siberian oil workers appeal for support – Russian Oil and Gas Workers’ Union – 10 November 2005
Company

Indonesia: Stop harassing Group 4 Securicor strikers – SEIU – 28 October 2005
Company

Indonesia: Defend trade union rights in Indonesia – Support sugar workers – IUF – 18 October 2005
Government

Mexico: Time Warner Exploits Child Labor in Mexico – USLEAP – 07 October 2005
Company

Philippines: Nestle Philippines Union Leader Murdered – Government Must Act – IUF – 05 October 2005
Government

Korea: Owners Close Luxury Hotel to Bust Union – IUF – 13 September 2005
Government

UK: Gate Gourmet – Reinstate Sacked Workers Now – T&GWU – 16 August 2005
Company

Ireland/Germany: Pharma giant Merck should listen to employees – SIPTU – 28 July 2005
Company

Australia: Fundamental workplace rights under threat – ACTU – 15 July 2005
Government

Canada: A Sodexho hospital job is a passport to poverty – HEU – 12 July 2005
Company

Canada: Union resists as Telus promotes race to the bottom -TWU – 10 May 2005
Government

Eritrea: Demand Freedom for Imprisoned Trade Unionists! – IUF – 09 May 2005
Government

Argentina: Workers Co-op Made Famous by ‘The Take’ Under Attack – 25 April 2005
Government

Israel: Stop harassment of Palestinian trade unionist – DWRC / IFWEA – 20 April 2005
Government

USA: Supporting striking graduate teachers at Yale and Columbia – GESO – 14 April 2005
Government & Universities

UK: T-Mobile – stop union-busting, start negotiating – CWU – 15 March 2005
Company

Australia: Defence contractor Tenix must respect workers rights – ASU – 04 March 2005
Company

UK: Tell Hoverspeed to recognise unions – NUMAST – 03 March 2005
Company

Sweden: XPonCard Must Respect Union Rights – SAC – 01 March 2005
Company

New Zealand: Union delegate sacked at LSG Skychefs – SFWU – 24 February 2005
Company

Bahamas: Justice for 1,200 former Royal Oasis workers – 24 February 2005
Company

Turkey: Stop union-busting by Jotun A/S – Petrol-Is – 05 January 2005
Company

Philippines: Protest Massacre of Strikers [19-Nov-2004]USA: Support locked-out San Francisco hotel workers [25-Oct-2004]Australia: Qantas workers deserve their fair share! [22-Oct-2004]South Africa: Stop Telkom Retrenchments [27-Aug-2004]New Zealand: Dunedin Casino – Union delegate sacked [06-Jul-2004]Pakistan: Solidarity with Colorking workers [30-Jun-2004]Egypt: Support strikers at asbestos factory [25-Jun-2004]Sri Lanka: End union-busting at Workwear Lanka [23-Jun-2004]Bahamas Royal Oasis Resort: Solidarity with casino workers [20-Jun-2004]Stop violence, recognize workers’ rights in Haiti’s Codevi FTZ [09-Jun-2004]Colombia: Support striking oil workers, stop repression [21-May-2004]Thailand: Support union call to stop privatisation! [19-May-2004]Solidarity with Cambodian Hotel Workers! [06-May-2004]Haiti: Stop union-busting, respect workers’ rights! [05-Mar-2004]South Korea: Support Migrant Workers Union [14-Jan-2004]US occupation forces raid IFTU HQ – demand full investigation! [09-Dec-2003]Korea: Free 8 jailed construction union officials [20-Oct-2003]Mexico: Tarrant – it’s time for justice [13-Oct-2003]British American Tobacco – Out of Burma! [22-Sep-2003]Mexico: Tarrant – Respect garment workers rights! [21-Aug-2003]Freds Inc – Justice for workers in Burma and USA [23-Jul-2003]Support Justice for Janitors [07-Jun-2003]Release Yao Fuxin and Xiao Yunliang [27-Oct-2003]Colombia: 130 trade union murders in 1 year [13-May-2003]British Columbia Government: Stop violating workers’ rights [05-May-2003]Russia: Support hunger-strikers at ‘Norilsk Nickel’ [20-Feb-2003]Mexico: Puma – Don’t turn your backs on Matamoros workers! [19-Feb-2003]GrainCorp’s Joe Di Leo, union-busting chardonnay socialist [19-Feb-2003]Korea: Worker commits suicide to protest anti-union repression [06-Feb-2003]USA: Solidarity with LSG Sky Chefs workers! [11-Oct-2002]USA: Azteca Foods – Time for a Contract! [17-Dec-2002]Hong Kong: Oppose Article 23 anti-subversion laws [03-Jan-2003]South Korea: Free imprisoned trade unionists! [19-Jan-2003]Indonesia: Demand reinstatement of Shangri-La Hotel workers! [2-Jul-2002]Indonesia: Demand reinstatement of Honda workers! [17-Jan-2003]