BRAIN
LABOR REPORT: 17
January 2018
ECONOMIC
UPDATE: 19
January 2018
ARMENIA
PUBLIC
TRANSPORT DRIVERS IN YEREVAN GO ON STRIKE
On the morning of 16 January 2018, dozens
of public transport minibus drivers in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, went on
strike. The drivers then gathered for a protest rally in the city, and
authorities deployed a large number of police officers to the gathering to
maintain order. The protesting drivers stated that they went on strike due to
an increase in the price of gas in the country, which has resulted in the
drivers earning less money. There were no reports of violence associated with
the protest. (16 Jan 2018)
AUSTRALIA
SYDNEY
TRAINS STRIKE SCHEDULED FOR 29 JANUARY FOLLOWING NEGOTIATION FAILURE
Despite the resumption of negotiations
between the government-operated Sydney Trains rail network and railway employee
unions on 18 January 2018, a planned 24-hour strike is still scheduled to occur
on 29 January. More than 9,000 railway employees are expected to participate in
the strike, as the government has failed to meet their demands for a 6 percent
pay raise over a four-year period; government negotiators have offered a 2.5
percent increase. Despite this development, a union official stated that the
negotiations were constructive, and talks are scheduled to continue in the days
preceding the strike. (18 Jan 2018)
UNIONISTS
RALLY OUTSIDE FIJI CONSULATE IN SUPPORT OF AIRPORT EMPLOYEES
On 18 January 2018, members of the
Australian Council of Trade Unions participated in a demonstration outside of
the Fiji Consulate in Sydney in support of Fijian airport workers who have been
locked out of their jobs since a December dispute with their employer. The
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), which organized the rally,
delivered a letter to the consulate calling on the Fijian government to take
urgent action to end the lockout. Members of the ITF and participating demonstrators
stated that the lockout has jeopardized aviation safety at Nadi International
Airport (NFFN/NAN) and taken away the livelihoods of hundreds of employees and
their families. (18 Jan 2018)
AZERBAIJAN
DOZENS
GATHER IN BAKU TO PROTEST TAX HIKE ON IMPORTED USED TIRES
On 15 January 2018, dozens of used-tire
salesmen gathered outside the presidential building in Baku to protest a tax
hike on imported used tires that went into effect on 1 January. A container of
2,000 imported used car tires now costs approximately 26,400 U.S. dollars,
three times the cost before the tax hike was implemented. The protesters claim
that they will now have to sell tires for prices between 70 and 88 U.S.
dollars; before, they sold tires for between 18 and 30 U.S. dollars. Buying
imported tires is a common practice in Azerbaijan, as they are often cheaper
than ones made domestically. There were no reports of violence associated with
the protest in Baku. (15 Jan 2018)
BENIN
PROTESTS
HELD OUTSIDE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
On 12 January 2018, health workers
protested outside the National Assembly in Porto-Novo against proposed
legislation prohibiting certain public sector employees from initiating
strikes. Demonstrators claimed the protest was essential for the maintenance of
democracy in the country. Additionally, seven trade unions called for the
entire public sector to strike for 72 hours beginning on 16 January. (12 Jan
2018)
COLUMBIA
FIJI
THOUSANDS
MARCH IN SUPPORT OF NADI AIRPORT EMPLOYEE DISPUTE
Over the weekend of 13-14 January 2018, at
least 2,500 people took part in a peaceful march in the town of Nadi in support
of workers at Nadi International Airport (NFFN/NAN), who have been engaged in a
dispute with their employer since 16 December. The dispute involves
approximately 200 employees of Air Terminal Services (ATS) -- the company
responsible for baggage handling and engineering checks -- who have been
prevented from returning from work after they attended a shareholders meeting
during work hours as part of an alleged “illegal strike action.” The employees,
who own 49 percent of the company, stated that the company has failed to
provide them with wage increases and has ignored allegations of sexual
harassment. The Fijian government, which failed in earlier attempts to mediate
in the matter, is reportedly considering an independent mediator to resolve the
conflict in order to avoid potential disruptions to the airport’s operations as
the dispute continues. (13 Jan 2018)
GERMANY
GREECE
STRIKES
CAUSE MAJOR TRANSPORTATION DISRUPTIONS IN ATHENS
On 15 January 2018, public transportation
workers initiated a strike in response to proposed legislation that will make
it more difficult for unions to strike. Services were suspended in the Athens
metro, the Piraeus-Kifissia electric railway, trolley buses, city buses and the
tram. Additionally, air traffic controllers are expected to strike for three
hours between 1200 and 1500 local time (1000 to 1300 UTC), which is expected to
cause flight disruptions. Unions have also called for demonstrations within the
city, beginning with the civil servants' union, which has called for a rally at
Klafthmonos Square at 1230 to then march toward parliament. The private sector
union will hold a rally at Syntagma Square outside parliament at 1800. A
Communist party-affiliated union will also hold a rally at 1800 at Omonia
Square.
Lawmakers are expected to pass the
legislation that will limit unions' right to strike, among other unpopular
measures, as part of an EU bailout deal. As a result, more labor actions and
protests may occur in the near future. (15 Jan 2018)
INDIA
U.K.
FCO WARNS OF TAXI DRIVER STRIKE IN GOA
On 18 January 2018, the U.K. Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) updated its travel advice for India to include the
following notice of a planned taxi driver strike on 19 January:
“There is a planned strike by taxi drivers in Goa on 19
January which is expected to affect travel in and around Goa, including on the
road to the airport and around hotels and beaches. Monitor the media for the
latest information, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local
authorities. Allow more time than usual to travel to the airport. Speak to your
hotel/airline/travel company about getting to and from the airport.” (18 Jan
2018)
LIBERIA
DEMONSTRATORS
RALLY OUTSIDE MILITARY BARRACKS
On 12 January 2018, the spouses of
military personnel demonstrated at the entrance to the Edward Binyan Kessely
Military Barracks (EBK), located near the Roberts International Airport
Highway, for a third consecutive day to demand payment of money purportedly
owed to their significant others. Police officers were deployed at the Boys
Town Junction to deter protesters from blocking the highway, which connects
Monrovia to the airport. According to local media reports published on 15
January, protesters have threatened to continue demonstrating and interrupt the
peaceful conduct of the upcoming presidential inauguration ceremony of President-elect
George Weah if their demands are not met. (12 Jan 2018)
MALAYSIA
HUNDREDS
PROTEST PROPOSED EU PALM OIL BAN
On 16 January 2018, approximately 2,000
palm oil farmers gathered in front of the European Union (EU) Delegations
Office in Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, to protest an EU proposal to ban palm
oil biofuels as part of its Renewable Energy Directive (RED). The protesters
submitted a petition to all of the 17 EU nations’ embassies, calling on the EU
to stop the ban and to remove all discriminatory provisions against palm oil
producers in the RED. The protest took place peacefully and there were no
reports of significant traffic disruptions as a result of the gathering. (16
Jan 2018)
SENEGAL
STUDENT
PROTESTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS CLASH IN DAKAR
On 18 January 2018, police officers used
tear gas to disperse student protesters who had blocked the Avenue Cheikh Anta
Diop de Dakar in front of Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD). At least one tear
gas canister landed inside a student housing building, which triggered a fire
and destroyed a dormitory. The incident heightened tensions between police
officers and protesters and clashes occurred. One student was arrested and
several individuals sustained minor injuries; the confrontation also led to
significant traffic disruptions. (18 Jan 2018)
SOUTH
AFRICA
NATIONAL
UNION OF MINEWORKERS BRANCH CHAIRMAN SHOT
During the night of 18 January 2018, the
branch chairman of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) at Eastern Platinum
Mine was shot and killed. The chairman did not specify where the killing took
place, but the mine is located in Marikana, close to the city of Rustenburg, in
North West province. The motive and perpetrators are currently unknown;
however, instances of violence between members of NUM and the Association of
Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) occur with some frequency in South
Africa’s platinum mining region. (18 Jan 2018)
SWITZERLAND
ANTI-GLOBALIZATION
PROTESTERS MARCH IN BERN
On 13 January 2018, approximately 500
anti-globalization protesters demonstrated against a planned visit by U.S.
President Donald Trump to the Davos World Economic Forum in late January. The
protesters marched in front of the Swiss parliament in Bern. There were no
reports of violence associated with the demonstration. (13 Jan 2018)
TUNISIA
HUNDREDS
PROTEST AUSTERITY MEASURES IN TUNIS
On 14 January 2018, hundreds of people
demonstrated against government austerity measures in Tunis. The demonstrations
occurred on the seventh anniversary of the overthrow of President Zine
al-Abidine Ben Ali at the start of the Arab Spring uprisings. The demonstrators
protested recent price increases for essential goods, along with the
government's imposition of new taxes. One rally occurred outside the Labor
Union (UGTT) headquarters and several others occurred along the Habib Bourguiba
Avenue in central Tunis. Police officers fired tear gas to disperse dozens of
youths who threw stones and lit tires on fire in the Ettadamen district of
Tunis. (14 Jan 2018)
UNITED
STATES
ZIMBABWE
BULAWAYO
STREET VENDORS TARGET POLICE OFFICERS
According to reports on 16 January 2018,
six Bulawayo police officers were injured the previous week during run-ins with
street vendors. Reports indicate that the officers suffered the injuries when
they confronted the vendors as part of a campaign to stem illegal hawking in
the city. A total of 40 such assault cases targeting police officers have been
recorded since the police operation began. (16 Jan 2018)
