manufacturing and materials

News and articles about work, policy and workers' struggles in manufacturing, research and development, mining and materials around the world.

Inflation provokes more strikes in Vietnam

An inflation rate of as high as 23% has provoked more walkouts in Vietnam's manufacturing industry.

Over 1,000 workers walked out of a Panasonic factory in Hanoi over the weekend demanding higher pay. This came in the wake of a strike by 5,000 at a shoe factory in Hai Phong City last month.

The Ecological Challenge: Three Revolutions are Necessary

With a planetary ecological crisis on hand, it can no longer be denied that socialism will be incompatible with mass production and mass consumption. Indeed, even without returning to Malthusian catastrophe theories, we are forced to admit that the planet’s resources are not inexhaustible. These resources could provide for humanity’s needs, but only if they are used in a reasonable and rational way, i.e., in a manner directly opposed to capitalist logic, which in itself is a source of imbalance.

The Ecological Challenge: Three Revolutions are Necessary
by Alternative Libertaire

Coca Cola plant goes up in flames

Three persons died and several others were injured when the multi-million naira Coca Cola plant at Eyean, near Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday went up in flames during an explosion that causes extensive damage to the facility.

The development had prompted the management of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) to suspend operations at the plant.

The dead workers were said to have been taken to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) morgue while the injured were reportedly receiving treatment.

Mexico: Corona bottle makers face redundancy for supporting independent union

Factory workers in San Luis Potosí in northern Mexico have been threatened by their bosses with the closure of their factory if they don't renounce their elected independent union in favour of the bosses' union.

The threat from Grupo Modelo in the Industrial Vidriera Potosí factory comes not long after the firing of over 250 workers for being involved with the activities of Sindicato Único de Trabajadores de la Empresa IVP (SUTEIVP).

Mexico: 250 Corona bottle makers fired for forming an independent union

More than 250 employees of a factory that manufactures beer bottles for Corona (amongst others) in San Luis Potosí have been fired for associating with a legally recognised independent union. The factory's owners are also purging the factory of sympathisers of the sacked workers.

Almost two years of unionising activity had resulted in workers ousting the corrupt, mainstream Confederación Revolucionaria de Obreros y Campesinos (CROC) union from the shopfloor of the Industrial Vidriera Potosí (IVP) glass factory and replacing it with the independent Sindicato Único de Trabajadores de la Empresa IVP (SUTEIVP).

Belgium: Duracell workers win strike

Workers at the factory in Aarschot had originally walked out on Thursday during negotiations.

The latest offer was approved by 69,6% of workers at a General Assembly on Tuesday. Workers had refused a management offer of 500 euros in bonuses, a 100 euro christmas bonus and a staff shop selling products from the parent company Procter & Gamble. They eventually settled for a 750 euro bonus paid in three installments with the other benefits included.

Remploy workers to strike

Workers at 28 factories due to be closed by Remploy are being balloted for strike action.

Following a decision in November last year by the former secretary of state Peter Hain, Remploy will close 28 out of it's total network of 83 factories as part of a modernisation deal. The factory closures will result in the loss of 2,000 supported jobs for workers with disabilities. Two strike ballots have come back in favour of action, and a further six are being held with more to follow.

France: Areva strikers issued with summonses

31 striking workers have been issued with summonses for 'restricting the freedom to work'

80 of the 89 workers at the Montrouge site have been on strike since January 10th over plans to close the factory down. Workers have also occupied and blockaded the buildings in protest. There has been no explanation of why the 31 employees targetted were chosen.

France: round-up of strikes and more government attacks on conditions

The government continues attacking workers and immigrants and workers continue defending themselves.

Just outside of Paris at the Areva TD factory in Montrouge, 89 striking workers have been occupying and blockading the factory for four days.The movement began after management announced plans to close the factory, which produces electrical transformers. Workers are demanding large compensation payments, management is currently refusing to negotiate.

manufacturing and materials