International unions

The Hong Kong dockworkers' strike entered its 26th day on 22nd April. They believe that international attention is key to winning their strike and call on supporters to organise a protest or petition at any Hutchison Whampoa-owned or invested businesses. Read more...

Dockworkers in Hong Kong are on strike against their appallingly low pay and bad working conditions. They need our support!

Iraqi oil workers' leader Hassan Juma'a is being prosecuted by the Iraqi state for his activities organising oil workers and oil workers in their turn are striking in protest. Read more and take action...

LabourStart are campaigning for the Pakistani authorities to prosecute those responsible for the recent factory fires that killed more than 300 workers. Please support the campaign.

At No Sweat we were shocked to hear about the case of a human rights worker abducted and tortured in Mexico. José Enrique Morales Montaño worked for the Center of Support for Workers (CAT) in Puebla, Mexico.

No Sweat worked with the CAT a few years ago. We're sorry to hear about the terrible situation there at the moment, and will do what we can to support them now.

Please sign the appeal here: http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c...

A group of Zimbabwean socialist, trade unionist, student and human rights activists are being prosecuted for treason. Their trial resumes on 27 February 2012. If convicted, they face years in prison.

Please join our protest to demand the charges are dropped...

The event included representatives from 100 Trade Unions and Workers’ Solidarity Organisations from all over the world (at least 30 countries were represented at the conference) and gave No Sweat the perfect opportunity to network with, and meet new and interesting people fighting for their workers rights in countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Algeria, Pakistan, South Africa Iraq, Iran, Egypt and countries from across the Middle East region and the world.

8 June 2011: Survey across 143 countries – Americas still the deadliest region - Seeds of Arab Spring in worker’s repression and ignoring economic rights.

A garment worker was electrocuted at Rajaghat of Tetuljhora union yesterday afternoon.

The Egyptian revolution was prepared by groups of workers struggling to build independent trade unions - and since the fall of Mubarak, union organisation, workers' protests and strikes have spread like wildfire.

Between 18 and 21 May, activists from Egypt's Centre for Trade Union and Workers' Services/Federation for Independent Unions will be visiting the UK, hosted by Egypt Workers' Solidarity www.egyptworkersolidarity.org. There are meetings in Liverpool on Thursday 19 May and London on Friday 20 May.

In another act of police-state repression, President Mahinda Rajapakse’s government has mobilised hundreds of armed police to break a courageous strike by mostly female textile workers in one of the government’s free trade zones near Colombo. Several striking workers have been arrested, and nearly 40 sacked, at Bratex, a Hong Kong-based undergarment producer, in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

“At Foxteq we work like robots. They force us to lift 30-35 kilogram units for seven hours continuously and this has had bad effects on health. Workers who are doing this kind of work are in so much pain that after tea time they are already asking around for pain killers. Work that used to be done by two people is now being carried out by one person."

The Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions was formed on 2 March at a conference held at the Journalists’ Syndicate on March 2nd that brought together several hundred independent trade unionists and labour activists.

The Image above is of striking garment workers - many of whom are women - from the plants in Mahalla.

A new Egypt Workers Solidarity campaign is being set up...

Egypt, CTUWS, February 16, 2011: Today morning more than 20.000 workers of El Mahallah Spinning Company started an open strike...

Press release from CTUWS, independent Egyptian trade union.

Workers at Iran's Alborz tire factory are one week into a resumed strike over salary arrears.

Ministers respond to the demands of demonstrators on the street.

Labour rights groups: “Failure of brands, government and manufacturers to take preventive action condemns more workers to die”.

At least 28 more Bangladeshi garment workers have died and dozens more have been injured after a fire broke out today on the 9th and 10th floors of the “That's It Sportswear Ltd” factory located 16 miles from
the capital Dhaka. Several workers appeared to have suffocated, while others jumped to their deaths trying to escape the burning building or were trampled by their colleagues as they rushed towards the exits.

The Clean Clothes Campaign is deeply concerned for the safety and welfare of union- and worker leaders in Cambodia. On November 18th Sous Chantha, a trade union leader of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Unions (C.CAWDU) was arrested and charged with drug trafficking. This arrest is believed to be a frame-up in order to disturb his union activities, and he risks 2 to 5 years in jail.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), which supports and is seeking to represent workers at the Danville facility, believes the plant may be the most dangerous household furniture operation in the United States.

Help Free Reza: An open Letter by the Family of Reza Shahabi

To: Workers, workers' organizations, human rights organizations and media

As you may be aware, Reza Shahabi, an imprisoned worker (the Treasurer and member of the board of directors of the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company) who is incarcerated in section 209 of Evin Prison, have gone on dry hunger strike since December 4, 2010; and, as a result of his previous poor health conditions and the illnesses which have been developed since his incarceration six months ago, his life is now seriously endangered. Although his release letter was issued on October 11, 2010 and a bail of 60 million Toman (about US$57,000) had been posted for him by his family, he has not been freed yet. On the other hand, another bail application with the amount of 100 million toman was given simultaneously to Reza to sign. Moreover, the two judicial authorities that we have been referred to are refusing to provide any information about Reza Shahabi's case and even deny that they are in charge of his file.

Read on for more info and for model protest letter:

Behind the glitz of major sporting events - what's the reality for sportswear workers? In this new video, Indonesian trade unionst, Lilis Mahmudah, challenges us to look behind the glitz and glamour of major sporting events and understand the reality for workers making sportswear for the big brands. Poverty wages; sexual harassment; union busting; verbal and physical abuse, long working hours; and lack of job security are just some of the conditions she describes.
More at:http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-18798-f0.cfm
Or watch on Youtube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-fCEL1kl3E&feature=player_embedded

Police have detained at least 21 garment factory employees and labour rights activists following violent street protests in and around the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka.

They are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. Some workers and activists have gone into hiding. Several others have said that they or their relatives have received death threats from security forces.

Read on for background information.

Around 68,000 garment-factory workers in Cambodia have started a week-long strike to demand a wage of US$ 93. They say that a recently-established minimum wage of US$ 61 fails to cover basic living expenses and does not meet living wage standards. The Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (CCAWDU) and National Independent Federation Textile Union of Cambodia (NIFTUC), with with around 75,000 members are calling upon the Cambodian employers association to enter into negotiations.

In May and early June 2010, a two-week-long strike involving more than a thousand workers at the Honda transmission plant in Foshan triggered a wave of strikes across China.

From China Labour Bulletin.

· Reza Shahabi still held incommunicado

· Osanloo sentenced to one more year prison

· Members of the Coordinating Committee targeted/jailed

· RMT campaigns for release of Iranian trade union leader, Reza Shahabi

· Report on leaflet distribution about Reza Shahabi’s arrest in Tehran

· Is Reza Shahabi being forgotten? By a group of workers and labour activists in Iran

· CUPW: Free Sakineh!

· Demonstration outside Iranian embassy in Paris

· Sample Protest letter (Please use to send messages to IRI authorities)

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 13:42

Kalpona Akter

Recently we informed you about the intimidation and harassment of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity. On July 30, more criminal cases were filed against the BCWS staff and other worker leaders. Your urgent support is needed to stop the crackdown on the labour rights organisations.

Thousands of Bangladeshi Garment workers have taken to the streets in protest at the government's refusal to introduce a living wage. Demonstrations have erupted in rioting and the police have reacted with barbaric violence.

Reports of the demonstrations and rioting are available at:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iX7VWn6VfLGZunZdPEhCC...
&
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/30/dhaka-garment-workers-violen...

Demonstrations at the end of June ended with police violently attacking children and women.

These protests come hot on the heels of the violent attack on a staff member of the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity (BCWS). The activist was detained and severely beaten by Bangladeshi security forces. This occurred just two weeks after BCWS was arbitrarily stripped of its legal status as an NGO.

Read on for info and action link: