Strikes and other protests in the second half of November 2019

The working people of Russia rise to the fight

In the second half of November, employees of the Center for Social and Labor Rights announced the results of counting the number of protests by residents of the country for the three quarters of 2019. The total number of such events amounted to 1443. Moreover, most of them occurred in the third quarter of the year - in July-September, 580 actions were held in Russia. In the second and first quarter - a little less: 434 and 429 protests, respectively.
The largest number of actions was caused by dissatisfaction with the construction in the Arkhangelsk region, near the Shies station of a landfill where they are going to take out capital waste. The problem worries not only local residents, but also many other citizens of the country. In particular, rallies were held in Moscow, Stalingrad, Tyumen and other cities.
Among other reasons for organizing street protests are safety violations that led to a strike by crane operators in Kazan, mass layoffs of doctors in Karelia, Perm Territory, Novgorod and Samara Regions, and Penza.
About a third of the action are single and massive pickets, which have become an effective tool for social and labor protest.
However, it should be noted that this calculation focuses on street events. As a result, part of the workers' strikes were not included in the final figure. Therefore, the total number of protests in the country following the results of three quarters of 2019 significantly exceeds the number of 1,443.

Workers' strike in the Sverdlovsk region

On November 16, 2019, in the village of Sosnovy Bor, the stokers of the Progress municipal unitary enterprise carried out a strike.
The fact is that workers did not receive a salary for several months, both for the beginning of the current and the end of the last heating season. Accounts of MUP "Progress" were arrested due to debts.
In 2017, the regional authorities allocated 26 million rubles for the reconstruction of the boiler house, but these funds were spent for other purposes.

Drivers protest in Vladimir

On November 25, taxi drivers went on strike. Drivers seek higher salaries and more comfortable working conditions. In an attempt to avoid cost overruns, they often work more than twelve hours a day. The reason for all this is that the owners of the transport company withdraw from the taxi drivers a considerable amount of revenue.
During the strike, protesters collected signatures for the introduction of state regulation in the field of interaction between drivers and taxi companies.

A rally in the Vladimir region

On November 16, a street rally in defense of the social and economic rights of workers was held in the city of Kolchugino. The administration allowed the rally, and then realized it and wanted to ban it. The fact is that in order to develop the main theme of the event, the leaflets handed out to the Kolchugites wrote: "For the resignation of the head of the Barashenkov district administration, against nepotism and corruption, sloppiness and irresponsibility."
Attempts were made to ban the rally, which ended, unfortunately with local officials, in failure. After all, it took place at a venue called in the decision of the administration itself “Hyde Park”, where mass events can be held even without the permission of the official authorities.
The assembled workers, intellectuals, and pensioners unanimously supported the demands for the resignation of the head of administration. In every speech, indignation thundered against him. Power destroys the Kolchuginsky district, tears established social ties and plunges the local economy into a severe crisis.



Canadian workers mass strike

3200 railway workers stopped working on November 19. The start of the 72-hour strike was announced by the union. The conflict arose after the authorities confirmed that they intend to dismiss many employees due to the deteriorating economic situation.
In addition, railway workers face a wall of misunderstanding on issues related to their health and safety. Drivers are forced to work on weekends.

South Korean protest

On November 21, local railway workers went on strike. Its reason was the refusal of the authorities to fulfill their requirements, which related to improving working conditions and raising salaries. Railway workers are seeking to consolidate the staff of the transport company by 4 thousand people and increase earnings by 4 percent.

Aviation workers support strike in Finland

In the second half of the month, a mass strike, which began on November 11, continued in the country. It was organized by local postal workers. The reason for the action was plans to reorganize the enterprise, which include changing the form of remuneration of employees.
On November 25, as a sign of solidarity, a union of aviation workers joined the strikers, and dozens of flights were canceled at Helsinki Airport.

A joint picket of metallurgists and miners was held in Poland

On November 18, a rally was held in the city of Krakow against a decision to stop the operation of the main steel shop of a large metallurgical enterprise. It may comeand to layoffs.
Several hundred metallurgists and miners took part in the picket near the walls of the plant.


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