Vol. 73/No. 42      November 2, 2009

The workers were locked out October 8 after they decided to work to rule—refusing to drive buses with safety defects, not starting work earlier than the scheduled time, and keeping to speed limits instead of racing to meet tight timetables.

The workers earn from $14.05 to $16.75 per hour (NZ$1.00=US$0.72). Union members have rejected the company’s offer of a $1.80 raise in a three-year contract and givebacks in sick leave and disciplinary protections. While the workers agreed to end their work to rule they also rejected a new contract offer from the company of $1.40 per hour over 30 months.

—Felicity Coggan

Chicago unionists support
striking Teamsters
CHICAGO—Some 200 people joined members of Teamsters Local 743, on strike at SK Hand Tools here, for a solidarity fundraising event at the local’s hall October 9. In addition to strikers, participants included unionists from several other locals, community activists, and family members.

“The struggle at SK Hand Tools is part of bigger attacks on all working people,” said local president Richard Berg, addressing the event. “The SK workers have brought a working-class voice to the health-care debate in this country.”

Workers at SK Hand Tools in Chicago and McCook, Illinois, have been on strike since August 25, after the company cancelled their health plan in May, without prior notification, in the midst of contract negotiations. The bosses are also demanding a 20 percent across-the-board pay cut and an additional cut of $4 per hour for the first six months of the new contract. Twenty-four-hour picket lines have been maintained at both locations.

“President Obama is asking for health reform the way he wants it,” said David Biedrzycki, a union steward at the Chicago plant. “Then we came out to demand what we want, health care for all.”

—Ben O’Shaughnessy

Oil workers in Brazil strike for pay
increases, inflation costs
Oil workers at refineries in Brazil struck October 15 after Petrobras refused to agree to a wage increase plus compensation for inflation. Around 10,000 workers struck at refineries in seven states, an official for the Sindipetro union told Bloomberg news agency.

The workers are seeking a 16 percent wage increase as well as inflation compensation. The company has offered 4.9 percent.

Another 10,000 workers are scheduled to begin a work slowdown October 17, according to an official of the FUP union.

Petrobras is investing $174.4 billion in new fields, including the largest oil find in the Americas since 1976. It operates 13 refineries in Brazil according to Bloomberg. Its stock has risen 59 percent this year.

—Sam Manuel
 
 
Related articles:
Workers in Puerto Rico strike over mass layoffs
Quebec meat packers strike against concessions
Washington teachers, students fight firings
Nursing home workers demand contract  
 
 
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