Overview of the labor movement in the second half of October 2019

strike in the Yaroslavl region

October 27, 2019 buses did not go on routes. The fact is that drivers from the small city of Rostov organized a strike. The strikers protested against the decisions of a transport company from the Moscow region, as a result of which they may lose their jobs.

The Lyubertsy company, where drivers from Rostov worked on a subcontract, terminated the contract and attracted people from the neighboring region to cooperate. The Yaroslavl authorities invited Rostov drivers to switch to other routes while maintaining the same salary and social guarantees. But this proposal did not suit everyone.



Strong protest in Dagestan

On October 19, indignant residents blocked the passage along one of the Khasavyurt avenues. The reason for the protest is the systematic shutdown of gas. In some areas, it has not been around for several weeks.

“Why didn’t you inform the people that you had such a problem?” We would buy firewood, would heat the stoves! said one of the protesters to authorities. The people who gathered right there supported her: "There was no light at night either! Mock people!"



In Perm, a rally was held against increasing prices for public transport

On October 19, workers, students, retirees, and unemployed gathered for a protest rally. People at the rally opposed the reform of the transport system and the unjustified increase in the cost of travel in public transport. Concerned Permians gathered to demonstrate their disagreement with the policies of the city administration, which is systematically destroying the transport system. Familiar, convenient routes are changing, the number of buses is decreasing. In the millionth city, the trolleybus service has been destroyed.

During the rally, signatures were collected against increasing public transport fares to 26 rubles. In addition, the protesters demanded that the regional authorities stop the destruction and closure of the central section of the Gornozavodskaya railway. They recognized the need to provide for the subsidization of passenger transportation in the Perm budget, leave the fare for citizens at the rate of 20 rubles, and also keep the city’s transport network unchanged and split the routes.



In the Rostov region held another picket of miners

On October 26, in the city of Gukovo, the miners organized a new protest rally. During the picket, they wrote an appeal addressed to the prosecutor, in which they demanded that the bankruptcy commissioner report on the progress of the underground workings weekly.

With the onset of autumn, the main problem of the miners protesting in Gukovo was the lack of money for heating. At a picket on October 20, miners talked about how they collect firewood to heat their homes due to the lack of coal.

Miners regularly carry out such actions, demanding payment of arrears of wages and rations of coal. The amount of debt to the miners amounted to 102 million rubles.



Abroad

American workers with the help of the mass strike have achieved some improvement in their material situation

On October 26, 2019, the largest strike of employees of one of the well-known automobile concerns was completed in the United States. The number of its participants exceeded the figure of 50 thousand people. The united union approved a new collective labor agreement.

With the help of the strike, workers achieved lump-sum payments, an increase in wage increases, which should also increase.



Milliont strong protest in Chile

On October 26, masses of workers, peasants, and representatives of other sectors of society came out to protest. An anti-government rally in the capital of Santiago brought together more than a million people. Barricades arose, the police used water cannons and tear gas charges.

Workers protested inequality in the country and advocated for changes in social and economic policies. In addition, the audience demanded to end the state of emergency and to withdraw the military.

The fact is that on October 6 in Chile, metro prices rose by 30 pesos. This led to protests. At first, peaceful actions by October 18 grew into clashes with the police. People erected barricades, knocked on pots as a sign of disagreement with the increase in prices. Military and armored vehicles were pulled into large cities. The authorities of Chile amid mass unrest introduced a state of emergency not only in the capital, but also in several other cities. For three nights in a row, curfew was imposed.



Lebanon general strike

On October 21, a mass strike began in the country. Demonstrators blocked the main highway leading to Beirut from the north of the country. Tires and garbage cans barricaded major roads in the capital. On the streets sounded slogans calling for a change in existing power. Police dispersed the demonstrators using tear gas and water cannons. Additional army forces were introduced into the capital.

One of the reasons for the mass discontent was the increase in fuel taxes, communicationservants, as well as raising the value added tax to 15 percent by 2022. Citizens accused the government of corruption and money laundering at the expense of the population. The demonstrators demanded the resignation of all officials and a fair trial.



Mass strike in Italy

On October 25, a general strike began in the country. The main requirements of strikers: an increase in salaries, pensions, as well as the abolition of the increase in the retirement age, which took place as a result of the adoption of the relevant law in 2012.

The action was attended by workers and other employees of both state and private enterprises.