INDIA: Strike Hits Petroleum Refineries
Government owned petroleum refineries hit by strike
January 8th: Employees including those from the executive and officer cadres, at India's state-run oil firms commenced an indefinite strike from Wednesday, demanding higher pay scales and perquisites, hitting operations at four refineries and disrupting natural gas supply. The striking employees have contended that their pay scale has been reduced as compared to the employees of the central Government.
CANADA: Ottawa Transit Strike Continues
January 9th: Ottawa transit workers rejected the city's latest contract offer in a vote Thursday, meaning their month-long strike will continue. Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279 remain on strike.
FRANCE: General Strike called for 29 January, 2009
"Joint Statement of Proposals and Demands of Trade Unions: CFDT, CFTC, CFE-CGC, CGT, FOR, FSU, Solidaires, UNSA
The economic crisis exacerbated by the international financial crisis severely affects a large proportion of employees' jobs and income. They are managers, general workers, unemployed and retired, the first victims of this crisis. It threatens the future of young people and undermines social cohesion and solidarity; it increases inequality and insecurity risks.
The market forces alone can not solve all the problems.
Faced with this situation and considering that it is their responsibility to act in common (especially during the day on January 29 for more measures favorable to employees), unions CFDT, CFTC, CFE-CGC, CGT, FOR, FSU, Solidaires, UNSA, decided to engage businesses, employers and the state.
Overcoming the crisis requires urgent measures to promote employment, pay and public policy into a policy of economic recovery."
OAKLAND, CA: Police Brutality Protest
January 14th, a protest over the fatal shooting by a BART police officer of an unarmed man, Oscar Grant, mushroomed into several hours of violence Wednesday night as demonstrators smashed police station windows and police cars, set several police cars ablaze and blocked streets in downtown Oakland.
Protestors said future protests are already being planned.
BOYCOTT: Israeli and US goods
In America, Malaysia and Italy, critics of Israel's Gaza assault have called for a boycott of Israeli and US goods.
"We cannot remain silent about what is happening in Gaza. We had thought of drawing up a list of businessmen who have links with Tel Aviv because people do not know who they are," said Giancarlo Desiderati, a member of a small group of Italian traders. VoteStrike.org and PeaceStrike.org called for the boycott which appears on the website http://votestrike.ning.com
At least 5,000 people protested outside the US embassy in Malaysia on Friday, and around 300 held a noisy protest outside the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur to urge Arab countries to cut off oil supplies to the US and boycott Coca-Cola, Colgate, Starbucks, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, HSBC, Citibank, Exxon, Shell, Texaco and Mobil.
http://votestrike.ning.com/profiles/blogs/boycott-israel-but-who-do-i for a complete list.
There is also a campaign for ending America's foreign aid to Israel. Details here-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csz4SuHhMrc
Greenpeace is protesting a third runway being added to Heathrow airport by buying parcels of the proposed runway site.
DC Bring the Guard Home
On Wednesday, January 21st, one day after Obama's biggest hangover ever, we will gather in Washington D.C. to begin a new era in American defense policy. After years of presidential misappropriation of power, state legislators across the country are preparing to end the abuse of our National Guard and restore the rule of law.
National Sponsors: VoteStrike.com, Cities for Peace, CODEPINK, Courage to Resist, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Liberty Tree, Military Families Speak Out, Peace Action, Progressive Democrats of America, United for Peace and Justice, Veterans for Peace, U.S. Labor Against the War.
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