AUCPB - CLASS STRUGGLE 8 JUNE

FIVE THOUSAND METALLURGISTS PROTEST IN KIEV

05.06.2011 09:54
In Zaporozhye protest action by metallurgists and workers of mining and metallurgical industry in the region took place. According to preliminary data, the protest, which was planned to have 4 thousand workers take part, gathered no less than 5 thousand people.

The press service of the Zaporozhye regional committee of trade union of metallurgists and miners of Ukraine reports.

"The reason for the protest is thelarge-scale reduction of jobs at most enterprises is due to the economic situation, provoked in the first place, to say by the "strange" state policy against the largest budget filling enterprises in the region" - said the head of the trade union Valery Kozub. - "For 10 years in the Zaporozhye region, some 18,000 workers have lost their jobs, with 7,000 workers losing their jobs in just the past two years."

According to the report, the main cause of layoffs is a rise in electricity prices for large industrial enterprises, so that the work of the enterprises of metallurgical plants becomes unprofitable.

In particular, the Zaporizhia Ferroalloy Plant, according to Chairman of the Board of ZFP, Pavel Kravchenko, due to forced closure of two major departments of the enterprise because of the exorbitant cost of electricity has led to a job losses amounting to 1900 out of 3,400 workers.

"The main reason for this situation – is the transfer of the Zaporizhia Ferroalloy Plant in 2011 from 1 st to 2 nd class power consumption, which caused a significant increase in energy costs, which the share in the cost of production has reached 42% -47% (depending on the type of ferroalloys), which led to a so significantly reduction in the competitiveness of products, that the results of 5 months in 2011, we have to close shop," - said Kravchenko. - "Because we have significantly higher tariffs - more than 2,5 times - to reduce power consumption, in this connection for 5 months in 2011 the state did not receive electricity amounting to 328 million UAH.

According to him, the company's management repeatedly requested to change the tariff in the NERC, NAC "ESC" Fuel and Energy Ministry and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, but to no avail.

According to the union, in the protest action took part representatives of all groups from Zaporizhzhya industrial giants as well as their colleagues from Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and other regions of Ukraine.

The rally gradually moved from the area of trade unions to the area outside the regional government office. In a black coffin, which was set up in the center of the protesters, factory workers "buried" Zaporizhia Ferroalloy Plant, Marganets GOK and Ordzhonikidze Mining (ore processing plant).

People hold banners were reading: "Do not let them destroy "Mineral"," "We want to work peacefully and not have to fight for survival," and others.

The protest action by Ukrainian steel workers was supported by their colleagues from the other CIS countries, in particular, Chelyabinsk Oblast Organization Mining and Metallurgical Union of Russia and the International Union of workers of mining and metallurgical industry in the CIS countries "Soyuzmetall. If the government "will not take notice" of today's action, metallurgists promise to hold it again, but this time in Kiev.

In Kiev, it is the second protest in which demonstrators to express their vision and attitude towards their problems by using coffins at rallies. Previously, under the walls of governors, protestors "buried" the reforms of the government.

Source
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SOUTH KOREA - POLICE DISPERSE STRIKING YOOSUNG WORKERS

Week-long strike disrupts production of major automakers

By Lee Hyo-sik

Thousands of riot police raided a regional auto parts manufacturing plant, Tuesday, to put an end to a week-long “illegal” strike that disrupted the production of Hyundai Motor and other major automakers.

More than 2,500 police entered the factory of Yoosung Enterprise in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, at 4:00 p.m., where hundreds of unionized workers have been holed up over the past week, according to South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency.

Police met little resistance from the workers while dispersing them. About 500 unionists were apprehended.

“We had to use force to disperse the striking workers and hand control of the facility back to the management. The raid was unavoidable as last-minute talks between management and the employees on strike fell apart,” a police officer said.

Police will decide whether to detain the workers or not after looking into their involvement in the walkout.

Police obtained arrest warrants for two union leaders and a search warrant for union offices from the Daejeon District Court.

He said 31 companies of riot police and three police vehicles equipped with water cannons were deployed to the scene.

Police helicopters hovered above the site to monitor the movements of the striking workers.

More than 500 unionized workers began occupying the factory on May 18 after they failed to reach common ground with their management on working conditions and salaries. Following the walkout, the management of Yoosung Enterprise, which specializes in piston rings, cylinder liners and other key components of car engines, imposed a lockout on the plant.

On Monday, the company’s management and labor held unsuccessful talks to resolve the confrontation.

The Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), affiliated with Yoosung labor union, released a statement condemning the police raid.

“Law enforcement authorities refused to follow law and order by sending riot police into the plant. This is tantamount to a barbaric act. We will fight along with unionized workers of Yoosung Enterprise to the end until we achieve our goals,” the KCTU said.

It said it will launch a nationwide campaign to force President Lee Myung-bak to step down.

Despite the strike coming to an end on Tuesday, it will likely take some time for the plant to resume operations, meaning that automakers will have to grapple with output disruption for the time being.

According to the auto industry, the ongoing strike has forced automakers to suspend production of several vehicles due to a shortage of engine components.

Yoosung supplies key engine components to all five automakers operating here. In particular, Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, the nation’s two largest automakers, depend heavily on its supply as they receive 70 percent of engine-related components from the firm.

Hyundai and Kia said if the walkout lasts through the end of May, they will be forced to cut output by as much as 50,000 cars. The other three carmakers — GM Korea, Renault Samsung and Ssangyong Motor — will see their production drop by a combined 10,000.

Hyundai has already been forced to shut down its assembly line for the Tucson ix sports utility vehicle, while Kia had to halt production of its Carnival passenger minivan.

According to the Korea Employers Federation, the labor strike has already cost automakers over 150 billion won in lost output as of Tuesday. From May 26, they will likely incur over 100 billion won in losses on a daily basis

Photo report

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RESIDENTS OF HOSTELS IN NOVOSIBIRSK DEMAND THE PROVINCIAL DEPUTIES TO CARRY OUT VOTERS' DEMANDS
27.05.2011 07:59

On 26 May, at 9.00-10.00am, at the main entrance of the building of the Legislative Assembly of Novosibirsk Region, a picket was held by dormitory residents of Novosibirsk. The picket was attended by residents of dormitories, SB RAS (Illich, 21, Zolotodolinskaya, 29, Academic, 2a, etc.), residences for ul.Zalesskogo, 7, Kirzavodskaya, 6, and Pisarev, 36 / 1. In spite of the working day, the demonstration was attended by about 40 people.

The demonstrators stood at the main entrance to the Legislative Assembly of the NSO, stretching the banner "We, the residents of hostels, elected you, deputies (MP-s). FULFILL THE MANDATES" and placards "Privatization of housing – a legal right," "We demand the transfer of homes on ul.Pisareva, 36 / 1 into municipal property", "living in a hostel, we should not be treated as second class citizens, "The hostel is our only home","Dormitory residents, unite!" and others.

The protesters handed out their Appeal by dormitory residents of Novosibirsk to deputies going into session.

We recall that last year, the residents of hostels in Novosibirsk, who were denied the right to privatize their homes they had earned themselves, united in the movement for the rights of the residents of hostels. At this time, residents of dormitories came to the Legislative Assembly of NSO (a second time) to demand deputies discussed their problems at the session (the next - in June) of the Legislative Assembly. Several deputies came to the protesters, promising support. Support for residents of hostels was promised by the deputy chairman of the Legislative Assembly, Karpov V.

However, there were MPs, who passed by, even refusing to take the appeal, which caused outrage among the picketers.

Residents of hostels believe that to achieve solutions to their problems, this can only be achieved through amendments to the federal housing legislation that would allow residents of dormitories, living in them permanently, to privatize their housing. Legislature by the NSO has the right to initiate legislation and can therefore pass the draft Act to the State Duma with the appropriate Bill.

In June, residents of dormitories intend to carry out a city-wide mass protest to force the government to listen to their demands.

Source: http://vkpb-nsk.ru/

Photos