European Workers Issues
Italian steel workers fight for jobs
By Marianne Arens, December 5, 2012
Employees of the Ilva steel group carried out demonstrations throughout Italy last week to protest against the closure of the company’s main plant in Taranto.
Florange steelworkers betrayed by French government, unions
By Pierre Mabut, December 4, 2012
The Socialist Party (PS) government capitulated to steelmaker ArcelorMittal, putting the 629 jobs at the blast furnaces at Florange in eastern France in the balance.
Brandenburg teachers protest state education policies
By Ernst Wolff, November 30, 2012
Teachers in Brandenburg staged a protest against the education policies of the state’s administration—a coalition of the Social Democratic Party and Left Party.
Spanish unions abandon miners prosecuted during 2010 strikes
By Vicky Short, November 16, 2012
Seven Spanish miners who faced charges of public disorder and “attacks on authority” after the 2010 strike saw their sentences suspended in exchange for a two-year probationary period.
Belgium: 20,000 protest against closure of Ford plant in Genk
By our reporters, November 13, 2012
The closure will throw 4,600 workers at the factory and more than 5,000 employees in related industries out of work.
German public services trade union Verdi agrees to wage cuts
By Ernst Wolff, November 2, 2012
The German public services trade union, Verdi, has agreed to a contract cutting 15,000 workers’ wages by 5 percent.
France’s New Anti-capitalist Party conceals plans for historic attack on European auto workers
By Alex Lantier, October 30, 2012
As European automakers and trade unions prepare job and wage cuts, the NPA is advancing justifications for their reactionary policies.
Lufthansa pushes ahead with job cuts
By Ernst Wolff, October 30, 2012
Lufthansa management has announced details of its plan to outsource and cut jobs.
Unions leading race to bottom for British car workers
By Trevor Johnson, September 25, 2012
Britain’s trade unions have enabled significant cuts to car workers’ pay at the same time as enormous hikes in productivity.
Caterpillar to sack 920 workers at FG Wilson, Northern Ireland
By Steve James, September 19, 2012
Caterpillar Inc.’s decision to shift diesel generator production from Northern Ireland to China will cost 760 staff and 160 agency workers their jobs.
Alcoa workers travel to Rome to protest imminent plant closure
By Mike Jobson, September 17, 2012
On September 10 about 500 Alcoa workers from Sardinia travelled to Rome to protest the imminent closure of their plant located in Portovesme.
Sartorius report: French government backs mass layoffs at auto maker PSA
By Pierre Mabut, September 15, 2012
The Socialist Party government accepted a report backing PSA’s plans for mass layoffs and factory closures.
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