Stories about Labor from May, 2006
Latin America: “Banana Unionism Goes Transnational”
Global Labor Strategies describes the genesis of the newly formed Coalition of Latin American Banana Unions (COLSIBA) in the post “Banana Unionism Goes Transnational.”
Costa Rica: Protests Against Free Trade Agreement
Scott Pralinsky, describing Oscar Arias’ presidential inauguration says that “despite the numbers of people supporting Arias, several thousand protesters marched outside to demand Costa Rica not ratify the Cafta free-trade agreement.” Uri Ridelman has photos of the prosters. Professor Roberto Gallardo, in a post titled “They Don't Represent Me,” says...
Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, El Salvador: Mining Controversies
Gold prices are quickly approaching an all-time high which has inspired a new boom in prospecting around Central and South America. The Honduras News Blog asks if gold mines are good or bad for Honduras, while the Guatemala Solidarity Network continues coverage on the Marlin mine in San Marcos, Guatemala,...
China: Mumblings from Marxists and mortgage owners
After more than twenty years of Socialism with Chinese characteristics, education and health care remain prohibitively expensive for the majority of the population, privatisation in many sectors has left millions unemployed, independent labor unions are outlawed and capitalist hyperdrive has pushed the gap between rich and poor close to the...
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Exam time
As high school students in St. Vincent gear up for the CXC exams and observe last-day traditions such as the signing of each other's school shirts, Abeni waxes nostalgic about her own school leaving. With employment at more than 20%, however, she finds it hard to feel optimistic about the...
African Diaspora: Hard times for Africans in France and Belgium
Several francophone blogs have tackled African immigrants’ latest tribulations in France and Belgium. Choosing Immigrants Le Pangolin criticizes French interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy’s latest round of immigration policies. The blogger sees Sarkozy’s approach as a diversion from the real social issues raised by protestors of the CPE [Youth Employment Law]....
Bangladesh: Fair Trade Fashion, Labour and Textiles
Even as we just finished covering some of the aspects of labour issues in Bangladesh, Safia from People Tree, a fair trade fashion company blogs on textile factory tragedies in the country and the direction of activism.
South Africa: SATAWU Union
Politics.za makes some criticisms against the SA labour union, SATAWU.…”With the average security earning R1500 a month the strike it will take a striker 10 months to earn back the wages he may have lost if SATAWU manages to get the 11% increase. If SATAWU settles for 8.3% like the...
Cayman Islands: Ignorance and stupidity wash in Grand Court
Cayblogger is outraged at the legal precedent set by a Cayman Islands’ Grand Court which ruled that “that if a man has sex with a 12-year-old girl, the ‘but she looked 16-years-old’. . . a conviction of statutory rape can be avoided.” As the title to Cayblogger's post says, “Ignorance...
China: May Day malcontents
Lyn Jefferey at Virtual China gives some background on China's week-long May Day holiday and translations of comments from an online discussion on the state of laborers in the pseudo-socialist country, including the comments that are quickly being erased.
Iran: Women & Labour Market
Hamed Ghoddusi in his Hot Cuppa blog talks about a new coming wave in Iranian labour market. He says a new wave of entering into the market by women in the next few years would be expected. Blogger adds this wave is the result of rapid increase of women’s share...
China: Current trends in censorship law
In September last year, Chinese authorities released a new set of regulations aimed at websites and blogs which show signs of democratic leanings or any behavior which might otherwise threaten the country's one-party rulers. From Sophia Beach at China Digital Times: It is worth noting that these new regulations include...
Haiti: Annual Agricultural Fair Showcased Local Produce
“On April 29 and 30, thousands of people participated in the annual agricultural fair organized in Port-au-Prince by the Ministry of Agriculture in honor of International Day of Labor and Agriculture,” reports (FR) Alterpresse. “300 exhibitors were present showcasing local crafts, industrial widgets and various beverages.” Visitors could taste traditional...
Aruba: No equal pay
ArubaGirl attends a seminar and learns that women in Aruba, while better educated than their male counterparts, on average earn US$275 month less than the latter. She also learns that the country has no law that mandates equal pay for equal work, and that introducing one is not on the...
Jordan: Labor and wages
As Khalaf closes his article describing the economical situation in Jordan: “Two things go unnoticed; the whoring of the rich and the death of the poor.” The story is about government small raise of the minimum wages in the country, which didn't cover all labors, and the demonstration of recruit...
Haiti: Week's Happenings
Radio Kiskeya lists (FR) noteworthy events taking place in Haiti this week including the following. Monday: President-elect Rene Preval's visit to Canada; the closing of Port-au-Prince's culinary fair in honor of International Labor and Agriculture Day; the city of Jacmel's annual celebration; a pro-Aristide march organized by the former president's...
May Day rallies in South East Asia
Martin Manurang on his Change blog has a post on May day rallies in Indonesia and other countries in the region. Protesters joined rallies in large numbers in Cambodia, The Phillipines and Thailand too.
Martinique: Aftermath of Women's Strike
Female workers at clothing store Minimum Maximod won a protracted strike to improve working conditions says (FR) Bien Vu. But their boss refuses to honor the agreement he signed during negotiations and has fled to France. “The women remain without salary or back pay,” says the blogger. “What are labor...
Bangladesh: May Day feature on Women
Ahmede Hussain has a feature on women and issues they face in the workforce in Bangladesh.
China: Workers holiday
Outside In blogger finds irony in what the week-long holiday surrounding International Workers Day has become in China: “The great international communist holiday has morphed into one grand frenzy of unabashed consumerism. LONG LIVE THE WORKERS. WHAT'S ON SALE AT IKEA?”
Haiti: Committee Supports Today's Immigrant Strike
Alterpresse published (kreyol) a press release by GARR, a Haitian committee of support to refugees and the repatriated, which supports today's immigrant strike and boycott in the US. “The same situation is developing in the Dominican Republic for many Haitian workers there, says GARR's Martine Dorvilas. While D.R. government representatives...
