Ontario teachers unions protest attacks on wages and class size

Vol. 84/No. 5 - February 10, 2020
Four teachers unions and their supporters organized picketing in Toronto Jan. 20 as part of rotating strikes across Ontario against the provincial government’s attempt to cut school funding.

BURLINGTON, Ontario — Hundreds of teachers and community supporters picketed outside the Central Public Elementary School here Jan. 23, part of province-wide, weekly rotating strikes against the Ontario government’s attempts to cut school funding. Tens of thousands of Ontario teachers,…



Quebec aircraft refuelers strike over pay and safety

Vol. 84/No. 4 - February 3, 2020
Aircraft refuelers in Quebec, on strike against Swissport Canada, and other unionists rally at company offices in Montreal Jan. 15 demanding higher pay and adequate on-the-job training.

MONTREAL — “Our main concerns are safety and wages,” Tony Digenova, International Association of Machinists Local 2301 chief steward,  told the Militant  on the picket line at the Montréal-Trudeau International airport Jan. 9. He is one of 108 aircraft supply…


French workers strike, protest government attacks on pensions

Vol. 84/No. 3 - January 27, 2020

PARIS — Sizable demonstrations by the General Confederation of Workers (CGT) and other unions continue in France against the assault on pensions by the government of President Emmanuel Macron. Tens of thousands took to the streets Jan. 11 in a…


After nearly 3-year strike, Idaho silver miners approve contract

Vol. 84/No. 3 - January 27, 2020

SEATTLE — After nearly three years on strike silver miners in Mullan, Idaho, voted 86-78 to ratify a new contract with the Hecla Mining Co. Jan. 6. The unionists, members of United Steelworkers Local 5114, walked out at the Lucky…


Minnesota Teamsters walk out in support of UNFI strikers

Vol. 84/No. 1 - January 13, 2020
Teamsters Local 414 members, who struck United Natural Foods plant in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, picket at company’s Hopkins, Minnesota, plant Dec. 17, winning support from workers there.

HOPKINS, Minn. — Seven hundred members of Teamsters Local 120 walked out here Dec. 17 at United Natural Foods Inc., the largest organic grocery distributor in North America. The workers were supporting Teamsters Local 414 members who had set up…


Striking Kaiser workers demand more staffing for patient care

Vol. 84/No. 1 - January 13, 2020

OAKLAND, Calif. — Thousands of mental health workers went on a five-day strike Dec. 16-20 at up to 100 Kaiser Permanente clinics throughout the state demanding increased staffing and a 3% pay raise. Areas where actions were organized included San…


Rail workers in UK strike to defend jobs and safety

Vol. 83/No. 48 - December 30, 2019

Some 800 guards (conductors), members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, began a monthlong strike Dec. 2 against government and bosses’ attacks on their union and to defend jobs and safety for both rail workers and passengers.  The workers’…


Bus drivers in New Zealand fight for higher wages

Vol. 83/No. 47 - December 23, 2019

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — In the week beginning Dec. 2, around half of all bus trips in Auckland became free to the public. More than 900 drivers employed by two of the city’s bus companies — NZ Bus and Go…


Virginia transit workers strike for equal pay, workplace safety

Vol. 83/No. 47 - December 23, 2019
Members of Amalgamated Transit Union on strike against Metro contractor Transdev rally in Fairfax, Virginia, Nov. 16 demanding ‘equal pay for equal work’ and better health care.

LORTON, Va. — Some 130 Metrobus workers from Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 at the Cinder Bed Road have been on strike since Oct. 24. They were briefly joined by nearly 600 Fairfax Connector workers, members of ATU Local 1764,…