Kurdish teachers strike, march on Baghdad for unpaid wages

Vol. 87/No. 46 - December 11, 2023

Over 58,000 Kurdish teachers in Sulaimaniyah province have been on strike for back wages for more than two months in the longest teachers strike in the history of Kurdistan, putting nearly a million students out of school. More than 1,000…


Flight attendants at American Airlines rally, ‘ready to strike’

Vol. 87/No. 45 - December 4, 2023
American flight attendants rally at Chicago O’Hare Airport, 12 other cities, Nov. 16 demanding a pay raise, payment for work performed on the ground and more humane work schedules.

CHICAGO — “Overworked! Underpaid!” chanted hundreds of American Airlines flight attendants, members of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants union, as they rallied outside of Chicago O’Hare Airport Terminal 1 Nov. 16. The boisterous and spirited pickets carried signs saying,…


Quebec public workers go on strike against the government

Vol. 87/No. 44 - November 27, 2023
Some 420,000 health, education and social services workers in Quebec went on a one-day strike Nov. 6 for better wages and working conditions. On Nov. 8-9 80,000 nurses also struck.

MONTREAL — Some 420,000 public workers went on strike for the first time Nov. 6, demanding a new contract with the Quebec government. A majority of them are health and education workers united in a Common Front of four union…


Chicago-area mechanics fight to defend health care and union

Vol. 87/No. 44 - November 27, 2023

ALSIP, Ill. — Sixty mechanics, parts-counter workers and other members of International Association of Machinists Mechanics’ Union Local 701 went out on strike at M&K Truck Centers in this south Chicago suburb Nov. 1. They are pushing back against the…


UK Amazon workers fight for union recognition, wage raise

Vol. 87/No. 44 - November 27, 2023

COVENTRY, England — Beginning Nov. 7, 1,000 Amazon workers at the distribution center here carried out a three-day strike, fighting for union recognition and a wage raise. The members of the General Municipal and Boilermakers union announced they will walk…


Portland teachers walk out, their first strike ever

Vol. 87/No. 44 - November 27, 2023

PORTLAND, Ore. — Members and supporters of the Socialist Workers Party participating in the Portland Book Festival Nov. 4 took advantage of the opportunity to bring solidarity to two strikes in the area. The first-ever strike by members of the…


UK refuse workers reject wages below inflation, strike for more

Vol. 87/No. 43 - November 20, 2023

WARRINGTON, England — Some 65 refuse workers employed by the Labour Party-led Warrington Borough Council and organized by the Unite union have voted for a third wave of strike action. Their first set of strike days began Oct. 3, part…


Construction workers in Australia fight for safety

Vol. 87/No. 43 - November 20, 2023

SYDNEY — Chanting “Killer stone — Ban it now!” thousands of construction workers, members of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, marched here Oct. 26 and rallied outside the New South Wales state Parliament. The protest was called by…


Nurses picket at Minnesota hospitals for safe staffing levels

Vol. 87/No. 42 - November 13, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS — At an informational picket at the Abbott Northwestern Hospital here Oct. 26, some 100 Minnesota Nurses Association members and Service Employees International Union members who work in the same hospitals got out the word about the dangers both…


St. Lawrence Seaway unionists strike for wage increases

Vol. 87/No. 41 - November 6, 2023

MONTREAL — Workers for the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, members of the Unifor union, walked off the job just before midnight Oct. 21. The 361 workers ensure passage of ships through the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes,…