Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts

05 February 2018

05 February 2018

BRAIN LABOR REPORT: 7 February 2018

ECONOMIC UPDATE: 9 February 2018


CAPE VERDE

TAXI DRIVER PROTEST CAUSES DISRUPTIONS IN CENTRAL PRAIA
On 5 February 2018, taxi drivers caused transportation disruptions in the historic area of the capital Praia. The drivers used their vehicles to block Amílcar Cabral Avenue -- one of the city’s main throughways -- to protest proposed changes by the Praia City Council in the licensing system for taxi operators. The protest was organized by Association of Owners of Beach Taxis (APTP). (05 Feb 2018)


CHAD

SEVERAL PROTESTS AND STRIKES PLANNED THIS WEEK OVER FINANCE ACT
Four opposition parties -- the ODA, COPRAT, CCPPODA and CPOMO -- have called for a nationwide march on 6 February 2018 to protest rising fuel prices, among other things, that came about as a result of the 2018 Finance Act. According to local reports, the government has banned the event, prompting concerns that the demonstrations will be dispersed. Meanwhile, the Free Confederation of Workers of Chad (CLTT) launched a two-day strike on 5 February over the Finance Act; reports indicate that the strike may be extended. Additionally, the Chadian Collective of Civil Society Organizations (CTSOSC) has organized another nationwide march to occur on 8 February.
Analyst Comment: Recent protests over the issue have resulted in violence; as such, travelers should avoid all gatherings that materialize. (05 Feb 2018)


CYPRUS

BUS DRIVERS ON STRIKE IN LIMASSOL
On 6 February 2018, bus drivers in Limassol began a 24-hour strike to protest recently reduced worker benefits. Several thousand travelers were affected by the labor action. The drivers are calling for a reversal of the benefit cuts within one week; they are threatening a 48-hour strike if their demands are not met. (06 Feb 2018)


GABON

TAXI DRIVERS IN LIBREVILLE EMBARK ON STRIKE
On 5 February 2018, taxi drivers in Libreville heeded a call to strike by using their vehicles to block two of the city's major thoroughfares in the morning hours. The strike was organized to protest an increase in the price of gasoline and diesel, as well as purported harassment and extortion by police officers. Taxi drivers’ unions have threatened to embark on an unlimited, general strike to protest over their grievances beginning on 7 February if the government does not address their complaints. (05 Feb 2018)


INDIA

STRIKE CLOSES MARKETS IN DELHI TO PROTEST “SEALING DRIVE”
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called for a two-day bandh (strike) in Delhi on 2 and 3 February 2018 to protest a campaign by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to close down commercial establishments that operate from residential properties. The campaign, which is referred to locally as a “sealing drive,” has resulted in the closure of more than 600 stores and 100 commercial complexes in Delhi over the past several weeks. The organizers of the two-day strike claim that the measure is harmful to the economy in addition to placing a burden on the merchants whose establishments have been closed down. Organizers stated that the bandh will close down almost 25,000 markets in Delhi, including the following highly popular markets: Connaught Place, Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh, Kamla Nagar, Khan Market, Gandhi Nagar, Krishna Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Defence Colony, South Extension, Greater Kailash, Green Park, Rajouri Garden, Tilak Nagar and Rajinder Nagar. Protest marches were also reportedly planned, but no further details are available regarding those actions. (02 Feb 2018)


MAURITANIA

OPPOSITION CALLS FOR NATIONWIDE PROTESTS ON 7 AND 9 FEBRUARY
On 4 February 2018, the National Forum for Democracy and Unity (FNDU) -- a collective of opposition and civil society organizations -- called for two nationwide anti-government protests to occur on 7 and 9 February to protest the poor state of the country’s political, economic and social situations.
Analyst Comment: Security forces frequently use force to disperse protests in the capital Nouakchott. Travelers should avoid all gatherings that materialize. (05 Feb 2018)

·      
SOUTH AFRICA

U.S. EMBASSY IN PRETORIA ISSUES DEMONSTRATION ALERT
On 6 February 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria issued a Demonstration Alert, which reads in part as follows: "Location: Downtown Pretoria.
"Event: Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) announced a planned protest march by the Committee of Workers for Waste Management that will be held downtown today, February 6, 2018. Approximately 300 waste management staff are expected to participate.
"The march/protest will commence at Old Putco Depot at 09:00 and will go until 12:30. The route of the march is as follows:
"From Old Putco Depot they will join Struben Street and they will turn right into Sophie De Bryn Street and left into Madiba Street proceeding straight until they reach Tshwane House.
The following intersections along Madiba Street will also be affected:
Kgosi Mampuru Street
Bosman Street
Paul Kruger Street
Thabo Sehume Street" (06 Feb 2018)


SWAZILAND

NURSES MARCH IN MBABANE
Nurses under the aegis of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) staged a march in Mbabane on 1 February 2018 to protest issues related to their on-call allowances. The nurses gathered at the park near the Mbabane Fire Station at approximately 1000 local time (0800 UTC) and subsequently marched to the Ministry of Health to deliver a petition outlining their grievances. There were no reports of resulting disruptions or violence during the demonstration. (01 Feb 2018)


UNITED KINGDOM


UNITED STATES




Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

29 January 2018

29 January 2018

BRAIN LABOR REPORT: 31 January 2018

ECONOMIC UPDATE: 2 February 2018


CANADA

THE LABOUR MOVEMENT SPLITS


The big Canadian story so far this year is the decision by Unifor, the country’s largest private sector union, to leave the Canadian Labour Congress or CLC, the national labour centre.  The decision has sent shockwaves through all unions and it threatens not just national programmes but co-ordination between unions at the regional and local levels.


CHAD  

TRADE UNIONS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE NATIONWIDE GENERAL STRIKE
On 29 January 2017, trade unions issued a joint statement calling for an immediate nationwide general strike. The call comes amid anti-austerity protests across the country after the government enacted public spending cuts, including reductions in salaries for civil employees. (29 Jan 2018)


EL SALVADOR  

TAXI DRIVERS PROTEST AGAINST PROPOSAL TO ALLOW RIDE-SHARING SERVICES
On 29 January 2018, approximately 300 taxi drivers gathered at the Divino Salvador del Mundo square in central San Salvador and drove to the Congress to protest against proposed legislation that will allow ride-sharing services, such as Uber, to operate in El Salvador. Representatives of the taxi drivers’ union then attended a meeting with members of a congressional committee and urged them to reject the proposal. Uber has been operating in the country since May 2017. (29 Jan 2018)


FINLAND  

U.K. FCO UPDATES TRAVEL ADVICE FOR FINLAND
On 29 January 2018, the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) updated its travel advice for Finland to include the following: "Industrial action is planned across Finland on 2 February 2018, and some transport may be affected." (29 Jan 2018)

LABOR STRIKE EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRANSPORTATION DISRUPTIONS
On 2 February 2018, several of Finland’s labor unions will observe a 24-hour strike to protest a proposed unemployment law. In Helsinki, the bus system will be out of service between 0300 and 1800 local time (0100 and 1600 UTC). The strike will also halt the metro and tram systems, which will resume services on the morning of 3 February. Outside Helsinki, the strike will likely cause disruptions to public transportation in Turku, Vaasa and possibly Tampere. The labor action is not expected to affect aviation services. Additionally, local and long-distance passenger trains are expected to operate normally, but they are likely to have higher numbers of passengers. The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) plans to stage a demonstration on 2 February in connection with the strike. The rally is scheduled to take place in Helsinki's Senate Square between 1100 and 1300 local time. (02 Feb 2018)


GERMANY  

INDUSTRIAL WORKERS STAGE 24-HOUR STRIKE
On 31 January 2018, industrial workers in Germany began the first 24-hour strike in a planned series of labor actions. Reports indicate that approximately 260 businesses throughout the country -- including Volkswagen -- were affected by the strike and will likely continue to be in the strikes that follow, which are planned to take place through at least 2 February. Union leaders are calling for an 8 percent pay raise for workers and reduced working hours. Additional strikes depend on negotiations with business leaders. (31 Jan 2018)

UNEMPLOYMENT REACHES RECORD LOW
Reports from 31 January 2018 indicated that unemployment rates in Germany reached a record low in January. The 5.4 percent unemployment rate is the lowest rate since the country reunified in 1990. Despite a stable economy, Germany is experiencing increased political tensions, and labor actions in the private and public sectors dominate headlines. (31 Jan 2018)


INDIA  

STRIKE DISRUPTS RAIL TRANSPORTATION IN ASSAM
As of 27 January 2018, tribal groups in the Dima Hasao district of the northeastern state of Assam were observing a 48-hour bandh (strike) to protest the killing of two local youths during a 25 January demonstration. The bandh has disrupted rail services in the area, cutting off rail connections to southern Assam, as well as the states of Tripura and Mizoram. An official of the Northeast Frontier Railway stated that protesters damaged a portion of the track and that services cannot resume until railway authorities can ensure the track’s safety. (29 Jan 2018)

HUNDREDS ARRESTED AFTER PROTEST IN VISAKHAPATNAM
On 30 January 2018, more than 300 demonstrators who were protesting government anti-labor policies were arrested in Visakhapatnam, the financial capital of Andhra Pradesh state in southeast India. More than 2,000 people participated in the protest, which was organized by two major labor unions. Participants demanded several government actions, including implementing a minimum wage and regularizing contract worker services. Several of the demonstrators who were arrested were labor union party leaders. (30 Jan 2018)


MEXICO



SOUTH AFRICA 



UNITED KINGDOM



UNITED STATES

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)