gilly
16-04-2009, 08:08 AM
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/15/content_11189819.htm
Strikes spread worldwide amid global economic downturn
www.chinaview.cn 2009-04-15 14:14:59
Special Report: Global Financial Crisis
by Xinhua writer Liu Si
BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- As the ailing world economy shows no sign of quick recovery and continues its disseminated infection on different economies, strikes seem to be a common phenomenon across the world.
A wave of widespread strikes have mushroomed in different walks of life in many countries.
On Wednesday, about 600 pilots of All Nippon Airways went on a 24-hour strike in Japan, saying the management's responses to its demands on safety and other issues are inadequate.
The strike forced cancellations of 149 domestic flights of Japan's second largest airliner, hitting around 16 percent of the company's domestic services and affecting roughly 6,000 people.
ANA pilots went on strike a month ago and caused cancellations of 137 flights.
Similarly in Australia, baggage handlers of the country's largest airline Qantas staged a strike on March 30 over the company's decision to outsource baggage handling and check-in jobs, causing major delays and chaos at several domestic terminals.
With the economy sliding into recession, the EU's employment is rapidly deteriorating, causing increasing pressure to governments.
During the EU summit last month, more than 1 million French workers took to the streets, launching a nationwide strike for a second time this year in a show of their dissatisfaction with rising unemployment as a result of the global financial crisis.
A similar strike with civil service stoppage and street marches on Jan. 29 in France ended after the government pledged over 2 billion euros (some 2.73 billion dollars) of new benefits for the low-paid and unemployed.
Over the similar appeal for wage increase, Canada has suffered a 51-day transit strike, which has thrown the life of residents in Ottawa into chaos during the coldest months in winter.
More than 2,300 bus drivers, dispatchers and mechanics had walked off the job since Dec. 10 last year over disputes between the city and the union focusing on scheduling, working conditions and salary increases.
Strikes do not pick their target nations. They were also seen in developing and poor countries in the current tough time.
On Tuesday, some 400 employees of the Madagascan Central Bank began a sit-in in front of the bank complex, in protest against the government's interference in their work and excessive workload.
All transactions between banks and money supply were stopped as a result of the protest.
Meanwhile, a wage strike in road freight industry, starting on April 7, still continued this week in South Africa, causing 300 patrol stations across the country to run dry with retailers in the townships worst hit.
An estimated 20,000 truck drivers are taking part in the strike. Their demands include a 13 percent pay hike and four months' paid maternity leave with a job guarantee on return to work.
Also in Africa, Nigeria has seen strikes one after another.
The Maritime Workers Union in the African country threatened last week to commence a nationwide strike over non-employment of dockworkers and seafarers at Bua Terminal in the southeastern Rivers State.
Last month, the workers of the Power Holding Company under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees had threatened to stop operation should the management fail to respond to their demands for increased wages.
In February, thousands of primary and secondary school pupils and students in Lagos were sent home as teachers in the state's public schools were on an indefinite strike to press for improved welfare.
Activities in all public schools in the state were paralyzed.
Amid the economic slump, rising ailment among employees over company's or the government's measures in response to the crisis could be attributed to the mounting strikes worldwide.
As a matter of fact, the strikes could make the economic situation even worse and cause more social problems.
Strikes spread worldwide amid global economic downturn
www.chinaview.cn 2009-04-15 14:14:59
Special Report: Global Financial Crisis
by Xinhua writer Liu Si
BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- As the ailing world economy shows no sign of quick recovery and continues its disseminated infection on different economies, strikes seem to be a common phenomenon across the world.
A wave of widespread strikes have mushroomed in different walks of life in many countries.
On Wednesday, about 600 pilots of All Nippon Airways went on a 24-hour strike in Japan, saying the management's responses to its demands on safety and other issues are inadequate.
The strike forced cancellations of 149 domestic flights of Japan's second largest airliner, hitting around 16 percent of the company's domestic services and affecting roughly 6,000 people.
ANA pilots went on strike a month ago and caused cancellations of 137 flights.
Similarly in Australia, baggage handlers of the country's largest airline Qantas staged a strike on March 30 over the company's decision to outsource baggage handling and check-in jobs, causing major delays and chaos at several domestic terminals.
With the economy sliding into recession, the EU's employment is rapidly deteriorating, causing increasing pressure to governments.
During the EU summit last month, more than 1 million French workers took to the streets, launching a nationwide strike for a second time this year in a show of their dissatisfaction with rising unemployment as a result of the global financial crisis.
A similar strike with civil service stoppage and street marches on Jan. 29 in France ended after the government pledged over 2 billion euros (some 2.73 billion dollars) of new benefits for the low-paid and unemployed.
Over the similar appeal for wage increase, Canada has suffered a 51-day transit strike, which has thrown the life of residents in Ottawa into chaos during the coldest months in winter.
More than 2,300 bus drivers, dispatchers and mechanics had walked off the job since Dec. 10 last year over disputes between the city and the union focusing on scheduling, working conditions and salary increases.
Strikes do not pick their target nations. They were also seen in developing and poor countries in the current tough time.
On Tuesday, some 400 employees of the Madagascan Central Bank began a sit-in in front of the bank complex, in protest against the government's interference in their work and excessive workload.
All transactions between banks and money supply were stopped as a result of the protest.
Meanwhile, a wage strike in road freight industry, starting on April 7, still continued this week in South Africa, causing 300 patrol stations across the country to run dry with retailers in the townships worst hit.
An estimated 20,000 truck drivers are taking part in the strike. Their demands include a 13 percent pay hike and four months' paid maternity leave with a job guarantee on return to work.
Also in Africa, Nigeria has seen strikes one after another.
The Maritime Workers Union in the African country threatened last week to commence a nationwide strike over non-employment of dockworkers and seafarers at Bua Terminal in the southeastern Rivers State.
Last month, the workers of the Power Holding Company under the umbrella of the National Union of Electricity Employees had threatened to stop operation should the management fail to respond to their demands for increased wages.
In February, thousands of primary and secondary school pupils and students in Lagos were sent home as teachers in the state's public schools were on an indefinite strike to press for improved welfare.
Activities in all public schools in the state were paralyzed.
Amid the economic slump, rising ailment among employees over company's or the government's measures in response to the crisis could be attributed to the mounting strikes worldwide.
As a matter of fact, the strikes could make the economic situation even worse and cause more social problems.