The well publicised Maruti Suzuki dispute of the last couple of years is only one of many struggles that Indian workers have undertaken in the ongoing industrialisation of India. The repression unleashed against the Maruti Suzuki workers can be seen by the fact that over 100 are still in jail. A fundraising campaign has been set up to help these jailed workers. Following on from actions by garment workers in neighbouring Bangladesh, workers in Chennai are also taking action. Construction workers in the western city of Ahmedabad are also mobilising while the dispute against union busting at Frito-Lay (PepsiCo owned) is now getting more international solidarity. source:::http://www.aawl.org.au
As reported previously, workers in Korea are fighting on many fronts against union repression and for better wages and conditions. This year has seen many harsh disputes. The current fight against the privatisation of the railway system has already seen almost 7,000 workers suspended for taking action after only three days. There has been a massive show of support internationally with solidarity rallies in many countries, click here for Sydney rally photos. Meanwhile the Korean Women's Trade Union has held a second strike against wage discrimination and precarious work. source:::http://www.aawl.org.au
The political crisis that has been developing over the last few weeks in Thailand is showing no sign of abating. The government’s decision to resign and call for fresh elections has only encouraged the fascist forces of the Yellow Shirts to call for the army to stage a coup. This crisis shows the deep division within the capitalist class in Thailand. While the Thai army has a history of carrying out coups, it is unclear who they would support at this stage, or how their intervention would resolve anything. The missing actors are the workers and the progressive sections of the mass movement that were the mainstay of the Red Shirts. Our brothers and sisters need to come out to campaign for the right to organise, for a living wage, for the rights of migrant workers, and a universal health and welfare system. This is a fight we can win. source:::http://www.aawl.org.au
Another major accident was recorded this week in one of China’s coal mines. According to the latest news reports, 21 workers were killed when an explosion rocked the Yangjiagou coal mine in Hutubi County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. These deaths are only the most recent fatalities (seehere, here and here) of an industrial system where lax regulations and high work pressures lead to terrible OHS standards in workplaces. While there has been some improvement, the coal mining industry is one of the most dangerous in China. Independent unions are not allowed in China. source:::http://www.aawl.org.au
