September 17, 1971
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota-Employers in this state must now grant working women the right to a maternity leave of up to six months, whether the employee is married or unmarried. The new sex-discrimination guidelines adopted by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights also provide that women cannot be forced to leave their jobs at any specific time during their pregnancy, and that they cannot be deprived of their seniority rights during the leave. The woman must be reinstated in her original job, or one of the same status and pay, after the leave. The guidelines specify that pregnancy cannot be used as grounds for not hiring a job applicant for a vacant position.

Women should be paid during their maternity leaves, and a parental leave should be equally available to the father.

September 21, 1946
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Two days ago 15,000 dockworkers in the ports of Ghent and Antwep quit work. The strike is solid and is led by an Action Committee opposed to the policies of the reformist union leadership. At a meeting of 6,000 members in Antwerp, local union leaders denounced the foul role played by the reformist leaders.

The strike was caused by an agreement between the official union leaders and the employers. Under this agreement the workers would be given a plan of social security only if in return they give up some of their hard won gains, including holidays with pay, etc.

This strike can be understood only in relation to the growing offensive of the Belgian workers as a whole. Starting with sporadic strikes in the Brussels region, the wave of struggle rose with a strike of the metal workers in the regions of Louviere and of Liege, a postal workers' strike, and a national strike of the tramwaymen.  
 
 
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