Where trade unionists start their day on the net.
News Archive September 1998
Wednesday, 30 September 1998
Three days before election, Australian Labor Party reveals 100 day plan
- Click here for "Countdown to Change" -- a LabourStart special report on the German, Australian and Brazilian elections.
Finland Finnish unions provide training to Russian counterparts in Karelia
Korea
This week's edition of PICIS newsletter
Bank reforms expected to pick up speed as strike is called off
Russia
FIET appeals to Primakov: save country's banking system
At least someone is getting back wages: Gov't pays some arrears to military
Turkey
Workers end strike at US base
Visit the website of the strikers (in English)
UK Full coverage of the Labour Party conference
Ukraine Hundreds of white-coated unpaid nuclear workers parade through Kiev
USA
Trade unionists arrested in Las Vegas slot machine sit-in
Marriot violates union neutrality
Tuesday, 29 September 1998
Now it's Australia's turn
- Click here for "Countdown to Change" -- a LabourStart special report on the German, Australian and Brazilian elections.
100,000 workers face layoff in next week
ACTU and VTHC call for co-ordinated effort in gas crisis
Canada
CLC reaffirms support for gun control laws
Full coverage of Ontario teachers' strike from Canada labour news
Colombia Workers plan new anti-austerity strike
Korea
Mass strike in financial sector averted
But two hold-outs remain
South Africa Labour minister prepared to meet parties to help resolve auto strike
UK
"Black Tuesday" as 1,000 face axe
Unions want "jam today"
Ukraine Nuclear workers protest wage delays
USA/Mexico Solidarity builds between Northwest US and Mexican labor activists
Monday, 28 September 1998
Kohl's defeat is labour's victory
- The labour-backed Social Democrats have won a great victory in Germany. Now it's Australia's turn. Click here for "Countdown to Change" -- a LabourStart special report on the German, Australian and Brazilian elections, including the latest poll results, links to party and news sites, photos of leaders, and a handy calendar.
Germany Round table jobs talks to resume after election, says IG Metall chief
Korea
Union threatens strike on layoffs
Banking strike gets relief signal
Tensions mount over bank strike
Union membership sinks to lowest level in 30 years
Philippines Estrada says PAL dispute over
South Africa
Union in talks to end car strike
Edgars group to strike Monday
U.K.
Brown to tell Labour Party: no quick fix
Left-wingers victorious on NEC
Full coverage of Labour Party conference from the BBC
Global
Globalisation is on trial, ICFTU tells World Bank and IMF
Global Mariner updates from the International Transport Workers Federation
Friday, 25 September 1998
Countdown to Change: Labour-backed challenges to conservative gov'ts in Germany, Australia and Brazil
- Click here for a LabourStart special report including the latest poll results, links to party and news sites, photos of leaders, and a handy calendar.
Australia Latest on ABC battle
Canada Federal civil servants prepare for strike vote; more labour news
China Coal mine explosion kills 28
Greece Strike shuts down airport, public transportation
Nigeria International Federation of Journalists calls for withdrawal of proposal for mass media commission
Poland Solidarity head readies race for Polish presidency
UK 55% of Britons say they belong to "working class"; only 1% admit to membership in "upper class"
USA Baskin-Robbins workers protest shutdown of ice cream plant
Global 5 October is World Teachers Day; visit the Education International's special website
Thursday, 24 September 1998
ILO: One billion unemployed and underemployed workers worldwide
Australia
Labor Party launches $1.7b jobs plan
Media union calls for resignation of ABC chairman
Canada Full coverage of Ontario teachers' strike; more labour news
Colombia Public sector workers stage 48 hour anti-austerity strike
Germany Labour backed SPD still leads in polls
Korea Joblessness falls for first time in crisis
Russia Communications workers to join day of protest on 7 October
South Africa Court blocks SAMWU strike in Cape Town
USA ILWU wins another round in Neptune Jade case
Wednesday, 23 September 1998
Employer intransigence blocks agreement on drivers' working hours
Australia Howard: No plans to "revisit" waterfront reform
China Union leader threatens strike at Hong Kong telecom
Greece Airport staff on four day strike this week
Korea Unions vow to mount nationwide resistance to gov't layoff plan
Philippines PAL scheduled to close down at midnight
Russia Siberian teachers take salary in vodka, but not coffins
Solomon Islands Timber export trade based on violations of workers rights, says ICFTU
South Africa
Car production hobbled by strike
Striking council staff on march
USA Senate blocks minimum wage increase; full coverage from Yahoo!
Tuesday, 22 September 1998
Korean unions tell Amnesty International of massive rights violations; KCTU backs formation of new progressive party
- Hundreds of trade unionists in prison or on wanted lists
- Labour-led progress party formed with backing of KCTU
Burma ICFTU condemns European trade action
Canada CLC says don't appeal pay equity ruling; more labour news
Philippines PAL workers start vote that might end strike
South Africa Auto makers brace for day of strike action
UK Congress decisions -- what was carried, what lost
USA AFL-CIO Work in Progress weekly newsletter
Monday, 21 September 1998
Strike threat at Hong Kong Telecom
Australia Polls show Labor Party ahead
Austria Rio Tinto blamed for mine disaster
Canada Ontario nurses strike; more labour news
Philippines Estrada offers union seat on board in order to end dispute at PAL
Sweden Labor-backed Social Democrats claim victory as they poll their lowest result ever
Turkey Workers protest at union pay deal
U.K. Teachers demand 10% pay rise
Global ITF, ICEM target union busting in ports
Friday, 18 September 1998
TUC - Day 4:
"Prince of Darkness" gets cool reception as he calls for unions to "modernise"
Canada Halifax city workers poised to strike; more labour news
Ivory Coast Taxi strike sparks riot
Korea Conflict over layoffs threatens banking reform
Russia Labour leaders warn of unrest
South Africa
COSATU Executive briefed on anti-privatization campaign
Unemployed march in Johannesburg today
USA
Workers vote to end SNET strike
Phone, auto, airline strikes show unions want greater share of wealth
Thursday, 17 September 1998
TUC - Day 3:
Trade unionists to Blair gov't:
Don't sell off Post Office!
Australia Unions row over poaching
Canada
CLC asks, "Will NAFTA provide one iota of justice for these workers?"
Full coverage of the Ontario teachers' strike from Canada labour news
China Six miners die in "revenge" blast
Finland On vacation
Israel Nationwide strike by municipal workers ends
Korea
Bank workers union threatens general strike
International Metalworkers Federation calls for protests against repression of Mando Machinery workers
FKTU also not happy with tripartite committee
Russia Trade unionists call for discussion of the crisis on the net
Turkey Strike casts shadow over US airbases
USA Growers, farmworkers union sign pacts
Wednesday, 16 September 1998
TUC - Day 2:
Delegates attack Labour gov't over treatment of public sector workers, minimum wage
Canada Air Canada strike over, but Ontario teachers' strike goes on -- today's Canada Labor News
Ecuador Unions protest price hikes
Israel Local authority workers strike
Korea
47 bank worker unionists arrested as police crush protest
Three public sector unions to unite
Palestine UN workers stage wage strike
Russia Nuclear plant strikers take official hostage
South Africa
Car makers maintain limited output despite strike
SAMWU President: "it would irresponsible and incorrect of us to simply vote for the ANC"
USA SNET reaches tentative pact with union
Yemen Airline strike over
Global Unions call on G7 to establish int'l commission on financial markets
Tuesday, 15 September 1998
"Greedy bastards" --
British Trades Union Congress opens with attack on "fat cat" pay increases for bosses as unemployment rises
Australia Labor's job target: plan or dream?
Canada Full coverage of Ontario teachers strike from Canada Labour News
Ivory Coast Taxi drivers strike after shooting
Korea Thousands of unemployed march
Palestine UNRWA workers to hold wage strike
Russia Teachers to strike for back pay
Yemen Yemen airways halted by staff strike
Monday, 14 September 1998
The news column was not updated today.
Friday, 11 September 1998
South Korea: Hyundai union blocks "shipment" of workers to North Korea
Bangladesh Union appeals for help after floods
Canada
Air Canada strike ends
Today's Canadian labour news
China Laid off worker kills daughter, self
Germany Unions bullish on European prospects
Russia On the economic and political crisis
U.K.
Head teachers demand 17% pay increase
CWU members vote to accept BT pay offer
USA
Northwest, Pilots reach tentative deal
SNET strike continues
Global ITF message to Seafarers now on the web
Thursday, 10 September 1998
South African gov't refuses to declare moratorium on privatisation; unions plan mass protest actions
Australia Unions and the One Nation threat
Canada Ontario teachers strike; more labour news
Korea KCTU mulls withdrawal from tripartite talks
Mexico Mexican Labor News and Analysis
Russia Notes from a regional city on the current crisis
Sweden Unions boost Social Democrats in general election run up
U.K. TUC backs gov't productivity drive
USA
US Airways next in line to strike
Court-appointed monitor seeks delay in Teamsters election
Labor headlines and alerts from Labornet USA
Global Metalworkers news
Wednesday, 9 September 1998
Transport workers' day of action:
The world gets the message, says ITF
- The world gets the message: Fatigue kills [ITF]
- French truckers blockade ports [BBC]
- French truckers set pace in global protest [Reuters]
Australia Labor puts jobs centre stage
Korea KCTU appeals to ILO
Russia Nuclear workers, unpaid for months, plan protests
South Africa Thousands of municipal workers take to streets
USA
Full coverage of the Northwest strike from Yahoo!
John Sweeney's Labor Day message
Canada
Air Canada pilots optimistic about talks
More Canadian labour news
Tuesday, 8 September 1998
Today is the international day of action by drivers, called by the ITF
- Latest update from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) website
- Truckers to blockade ports [BBC]
- French truckers set to head worldwide protest [Reuters]
- Editorial: Fatigue kills [ICFTU]
- Hear French trade union leader Roger Roletti on today's struggle [Real Audio required]
- Visit the website of the ITF for more information and updates
Israel
Histadrut ends public sector strike
School strike ends; teachers win wage increase and funding for special programs
Canada Continuing coverage of Labour Day
USA Northwest, pilots to resume talks to end strike
Venezuela Doctors strike
South Africa Fund set up by union to retrain miners
Monday, 7 September 1998
Israel: Public sector, teachers, airport, sanitation workers on strike
- Unions say wage deal near [Reuters]
- Who's on strike today [Ha'aretz]
- Airport chaos expected as strike widens [Ha'aretz]
- Strike due to intensify today [Jerusalem Post]
- Workers threaten to shut airport as strike intensifies [Reuters]
- Tel Aviv sanitation workers strike [Ha'aretz]
- School strike continues [Jerusalem Post]
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South Korea
"Most of the leaders are in jail, so it would be very difficult to organize struggle. We, however, can't abandon our fight here. I hope all of you fight under the remaining leadership in Myongdong Cathedral. . . ."
From the extraordinary letter of the leader of the Mando Machinery workers, whose strike was crushed by more than 15,000 riot police in South Korea last week. For the full story, click here.
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Global Tomorrow (8 September) is International Action Day on Drivers' Hours
UK Jobless figures rise on eve of TUC congress; union leaders to meet Blair today
Bosnia Unions postpone strike
USA Labor Day -- full coverage from Yahoo!
Canada Labour Day in Canada -- full coverage from Canada Labour News
Korea Production resumes at Mando as some workers return to their jobs
Friday, 5 September 1998
World labour condemns repression of Korean union as details emerge of violent crackdown
- Over 1,000 trade unionists arrested
- 14,000 police attack strikers in 7 factories
- Helicopters, tear gas, water cannons used in assault
- Workers fought back with burning barricades, Molotov cocktails
Police leading away striking workers yesterday.
- ICFTU condemns repression of Korean unions
- KCTU threatens nationwide strike
- KMWF statement on the raid
- Police forcibly break up strike at Mando Machinery
- Click here to send solidarity messages to the Korean Metal Workers Federation (KMWF)
- KMWF news page [not updated since 30.8]
- KCTU threatens nationwide strike
Israel
Labour talks stall; strike continues
ICFTU on the Israeli strike
USA
Minnesota governor asks Clinton to stop Northwest strike
Yahoo! full coverage of Northwest Airlines strike
Canada
Air Canada begins layoffs
Full coverage of the strike from Canada Labour News
Full coverage of the strike from Yahoo!
UK Scargill charity appeal due
South Africa NUMSA to announce strike plans today
Zimbabwe Gov't to answer union demands today
Thursday, 4 September 1998
General strike in Israel
- Public sector strike starts today [Ha'aretz]
- Israel hit by public sector strike [Reuters]
- Israeli unions launch nationwide strike [Reuters]
- Teachers' strike continues [Ha'aretz]
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Korean riot police storm striking Mando auto parts plant 
Police entering the Asan factory early Thursday morning. |
South Africa Thousands of strikers converge on motor industry offices
Australia Patrick Stevedores pays $5 dollars to businesses affected by waterfront dispute
Canada Full coverage of Air Canada strike from Canada Labour News
USA Northwest strike continues
Finland Forest wardens strike
Germany Trade union boss wants grand coalition
Yemen Oil strike ends
Japan 380,000 workers affiliate to FIET
Wednesday, 3 September 1998
South Korea: "Historic" agreement collapses as workers vote overwhelmingly to reject Hyundai layoffs pact
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Victory for Detroit newspaper strikers!
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South Africa
Over 200,000 auto, airline workers strike over wages
COSATU on Fidel Castro and NAM summit
Gambia Press union protests arrests of journalists
Yemen Oil workers strike
Israel Teachers launch indefinite strike
Canada
Air Canada strike shuts down airline
Full strike coverage from Canada Labour News
Full strike coverage from Yahoo!
USA
No end to Northwest strike seen
Full strike coverage from Yahoo!
Russia October 7 looms large
Global - from the International Trade Secretariats: FIET news - August 1998; IFBWW Fax News 1.9.98
Tuesday, 2 September 1998
Four South Korean trade union leaders arrested; 20 more placed on "wanted" list
South Africa Country gripped by strikes amid world economic fallout
Israel Last ditch effort to avoid schools strike
Poland Gov't, unions in row over public sector pay
UK Union sounds out members on crews row
Indonesia Trade union rights remain a pious wish, says ICFTU
Canada Full coverage of Air Canada strike
USA
US West strike ends
But SNET strike continues
Northwest strike continues
Gore backs labour movement