Strike updates for Bulgaria, Iceland, France, Canada, US, UK, Spain, Chad

BULGARIA: PARLIAMENT SHUT DOWN

A "Nation-wide Peoples' Protest" culminated in front of Parliament on January 14, 2009.  Protesters were controlled yet steadfastly demanded the arrest of their leaders. Organizers stated, "we are fed up with living in the poorest and most corrupt country."

A counter pro-government rally, led by a group of neo-Nazis, started a riot with police. The provocation caused police to falsely react and attack the peaceful demonstrators. 154 were arrested. Reuters and other media sources wrongly reported the riot was the result of the peaceful demonstration and not that of the neo-nazis.

Protests are expected to accelerate ahead of this summer's general elections starting with a General Strike planned for mid-March. The government's response has been to invalidate the protesters and to make all protests a privilege only for the paid unions.

ICELAND:  BANK PROTEST

Weekly protest in Reykjavik Feb. 14th - and still the same demands - new goverment and new CEO´s at the Icelandic Central Bank. The protesters are angry that the current government continues to reject their calls for new elections. Police are still a heavy presence at the paliament building. 

Protesters are demanding justice after the government used the national treasuries to bailout the Central Banks, whom soon after stopped all credit then filed for bankruptcy.  Tens of thousands of layoffs followed overnight.

ITALY: NATIONAL STRIKES

On Friday 13th February, three protest groups congregated in Rome at the Piazza San Giovanni.

The federations have set up a website together as part of their organizing campaign to build for a national strike in their sectors on 13 March http://www.unitanticrisi.it/ See also the unions' websites: http://www.fpcgil.it and http://www.fiom.cgil.it/

The CGIL Metalworking Federation (FIOM CGIL) and FP public service (FP CGIL) are coming together in protest of government policies attacking public sector workers, public services, and undermining progress and job safety.

FRANCE: "UNLIMITED STRIKE"

                                 
Thousands of French university lecturers took to the streets February 5th, as part of a growing "unlimited" strike movement against government reform plans. Lecturers and students marched in twenty cities across the country, including Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux. In Strasbourg, police used tear gas against peaceful demonstrators.

The multi-professional national mobilization GENERAL STRIKE on March 19 2009, will mark a stopping blow to the "reform", disastrous actions of the government.

Petition to support French strikers:
 http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.lapetition.be%2Fen-ligne%2Fjpeux-pas-faire-grve-mais-jfais-grve-quand-mme-3769.html

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