Since 29 October, the people of Valencia have had an open wound, which cannot begin to heal until those responsible pay for their negligence. The main person responsible for what happened is clearly President Carlos Mazón, but that does not mean he was the only one, as the actions of employers also seriously endangered the health and lives of the working class, which in some cases had fatal consequences and in others has led to significant psychological effects.

The trade unions forming part of the World Federation of Trade Unions have been there from the very beginning, not only helping the population to face the situation, but also denouncing the actions of the president and employers, and demanding the investigation of those responsible.

The general strike called for 29 May, jointly organised by various trade unions in the Valencian Country, is a historic general strike, as it is the first time that a general strike has been called at the national level.

The unions calling the strike are demanding criminal charges against those responsible for the deaths of workers, starting with President Mazón, and are also demanding compensation and justice for the victims of the DANA, the reversal of privatisations and the strengthening of public services, that those affected by the employment regulations resulting from the DANA receive 100% of their wages, the creation of unlimited paid leave for situations of weather alerts, the reduction of the working week to 32 hours or four days, wage increases and respect for the right to housing with controls on rent and sale prices, and the creation of a public housing stock.

For all these reasons, the European Regional Office of the World Federation of Trade Unions sends its full support and solidarity to the general strike on 29 May in the Valencian Country, hoping that it will be a great success, that it will mark a turning point in the country and that it will be a step forward in strengthening class-based trade unionism in the Valencian Country.

The post WFTU-EUROF Solidarity Statement with General Strike in Valencian Country first appeared on Labor Today.

This strike, called by our affiliate, USB, is a bold and necessary response to the devastating policies of the Meloni government and the European Union that deepen social inequalities, exacerbate poverty, and intensify exploitation. These policies prioritize the profits of banks and monopolies, fuel militarization, and undermine democratic freedoms and workers’ rights.

The WFTU unequivocally condemns the Italian government’s actions that align with the broader imperialist agenda, which promotes war as a solution to the capitalist crisis. We denounce the allocation of resources to the war economy, the escalation of military spending, and support for imperialist interventions, including in Ukraine and Palestine, while workers and peoples are left to suffer under precarious conditions, starvation wages, and deindustrialization.

The struggles of the USB reflect the just demands of the Italian working class and the broader society for fair wages, decent work, quality public services, environmental protection, and genuine democratic freedoms. The situation that the Italian working class faces, highlight the urgent need for resistance against the attacks on fundamental rights, the privatization of public goods, and the assault on civil liberties.

We call upon all militant class-oriented trade unions and progressive forces worldwide to express their solidarity with the USB and the working class of Italy. We reaffirm that international solidarity is our strongest weapon in the struggle against imperialism, exploitation, and war.

The post The WFTU Expresses Solidarity with the General Strike in Italy on December 13th first appeared on Labor Today.

The strike constitutes the necessary result and the dignified response of the working class against the rise in the cost of living, the inadequate measures, and the indifference of the Italian government.

We express our full solidarity with the strike on October 31st, and we call upon all public workers to massively participate and strengthen the struggle, sending a clear message to the Minister of the Public Service.

The WFTU calls for the militant class-oriented trade unions to express their solidarity with the USB and the working class in Italy and their struggles.

The post WFTU Solidarity Statement with the General Strike in Italy on 31st of October 2024 first appeared on Labor Today.

Our Choice is Very Clear and Consistent

Faced with an important contractual season as never before, in a phase of uncontrolled increase in the cost of living due to the crisis and war policies, if the government comes to the table with resources that cover only one third of what salaries have lost in purchasing power due to inflation, the task of a trade union organisation worthy of the name is to denounce all this, break the consociative climate and be consequential in its choices.

Outside a table emptied of value, inside the workplace alongside those who carry on the public administration, guaranteeing rights, services and the welfare state.

The strike of 31 October grows in the attention and consideration of women and men workers,
confirming the centrality of our choice and the reasons that led us to leave the negotiating table.
A wave of indignation and discontent that certainly cannot be overcome by the Government’s choice to make available further resources for a paltry 0.22% (by the way, not for everyone) that leaves the loss of purchasing power of wages at 10%.

Today it is more necessary than ever to invite all public workers to strike, to remind them of the fundamental role they play, to offer them coherent platforms and perspectives.

Building conscious struggles is the most important goal: the square on 31 October will shout these watchwords to the Minister of the Public Service.

The post ITALY: USB Declares General Strike on 31 October first appeared on Labor Today.

Maritime workers, Teachers, Dockers, Metalworkers, Workers in Hotels, Tourism, Catering, delivery were on strike demanding Collective Contracts with better wages as well as Health and Safety regulations at work.

Teachers National Strike

The School Teachers National Strike took place against the Ministry of Education attempt to ban the strike through court order the declared the strike ILLEGAL.

Against these tactics the Teachers, with the solidarity of all unions, went on strike escalating it also the level of High schools.

In practice, against the Ministry’s intimidations and bans all first and second level education went on Strike with the teachers rally in Athens being one of the most massive of the last years.

Piraeus Port

Maritime workers, dockers and Metalworkers of the Shipyards held a massive strike which held a protest at the Maritime Ministry. After the Ministry refused to accept the workers’ demands the unions moved to OCCUPY the Ministry and extend their strike on October 24. Maritime workers decided to extend their strike to 48 hours on October 24-25.

Hotel-Tourism Workers

Major Hotels of Athens shut down during the National Strike of Hotel Tourism Workers who demand Collective Contract with better wages. The workers held massive picket lines in front of the hotels and marched to the Ministry of Labor and the Hotel Owners Association. Big Hotels had to announce inability to serve due to the strike.

PAME noted

A big strike river started in the morning, from the port of Piraeus and flooded Athens and other cities of the country. Maritime workers in the shipping industry, dockers in the port of Piraeus, metalworkers in the Shipbuilding Zone, thousands of hotel workers, teachers, kindergarten teachers and High school teachers all over Greece took the baton from the delivery riders and health workers. They are passing the baton to the next sectors that follow, such as the Construction workers, but again to the Riders, and together they are strengthening the front of the workers in the strike escalation to paralyze the country on November 20, in the NATIONAL GENERAL STRIKE, with the slogan ‘Out of the war slaughterhouses, give money for wages, health and education‘ “.

“The government is worried and we will see to it that its worry becomes real fear from the rise of demands. Within a few days it has tried to criminalise and cancel decisions on three strike actions. Of train drivers demanding safety measures on rail transport, of mental health workers demanding that the bill to dismantle Health and Rehabilitation facilities be cancelled, and yesterday of teachers and kindergarten teachers demanding pay rises and modern infrastructure for themselves and their students. The government was left with the court decisions in hand! Everyone in the unions – everyone in the struggle. All in the GENERAL STRIKE on 20 November

The post GREECE: Great Strike Wave in Preparation for National General Strike first appeared on Labor Today.

We join our voices with the working class of Greece, who demand the stop of the new anti-workers monstrosity of the government, and immediate measures to protect and support the people of Thessaly who were affected by floods and wildfires. 

The WFTU calls for the militant class-oriented trade unions to express their solidarity with the Greek working class and their struggles, which constitute an integral part of the unstoppable wave of struggles all over the globe. 

The post WFTU Solidarity Statement with the General Strike in Greece on 21st of September 2023  first appeared on Labor Today.