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Europe
Tens of thousands of Belgian workers in national strike against pension changes
Over 25,000 workers including teachers, civil servants, municipal and transport workers demonstrated Monday in Brussels, Belgium alongside tens of thousands more across the country as part of a national strike against state pension reforms.
The General Labour Federation of Belgium and other union members are protesting the rise of the pension age from 65 to 66, an increase in qualifying years worked and other negative reforms.
The stoppage closed schools and badly hit air, rail and public transport.
Thousands of Italian engineering metalworkers strike for more pay, fewer hours and job security
Thousands of metalworkers across Italy conducted an 8-hour strike and demonstrations at tens of factories this week on an 80 percent turnout to back their demands for job security, increased wages and reduced working hours.
The Italian Federation of Metalworkers, Italian Federation of Metal Mechanics, Italian General Confederation of Labour, Italian Confederation of Trade Unions and the Italian Labour Union members are in collective negotiations for a national contract and an end to redundancies in the industry.
National strike by pharmacy workers in the Netherlands for better pay and conditions
Thousands of pharmacy workers in the Netherlands took part in a nationwide strike January 9-10, demanding higher wages and reduced workloads.
The Federation of Netherlands Trade Unions and Christian National Trade Union members demand a 6 percent pay rise for all hours worked, including pre-opening preparation time.
Turkish Cypriot port workers strike for better pay and conditions
Port workers in Famagusta, Northern Cyprus stopped work for four hours Monday, protesting pay anomalies and unsafe working conditions due to inadequate port infrastructure.
The Port Workers Union and Customs Employees Union members say they will block access to the port if their demands are not met.
Train managers at UK train operating company begin series of strikes over rest day payments
Around 400 UK train managers at the Avanti West Coast train operating company walked out on Sunday in a dispute over payments for working rest days.
The managers traditionally performed the role of conductors/guards but now also manage the team of staff on a train service. Picket lines were mounted at London Euston, Edinburgh and Liverpool, among other stations.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union members held stoppages either side of the New Year’s Day bank holiday. Planned walkouts on December 22, 23 and 29 were suspended after Avanti put forward a new proposal to settle the dispute. The increased offer, however, was rejected by an 83 percent majority.
The managers originally voted by nearly 93 percent to reject Avanti’s pay proposals for working rest days. They normally work a 41-hour week but due to staff shortages are being asked to work rest days.
The train managers want enhanced pay for working rest days, in line with senior managers who are paid up to £500 for working designated rest days.
Avanti runs services covering the west coast, including between Euston in London and Glasgow in Scotland. As a result of the walkout, Avanti ran a reduced service and within limited hours.
The train managers plan to walk out each Sunday until May 25.
Mental health workers in Manchester, UK hold further walkouts in protest over staffing levels
Around 40 UK mental health workers employed in the Manchester Early Intervention Psychosis teams began a two-day walkout Wednesday.
The Unison and Unite union members, who have held periodic stoppages since October last year, include nurses, social workers, welfare rights supporters and therapists. They are protesting lack of funding and staff shortages, which they say are leaving vulnerable people without the support they need.
A picket took place Wednesday outside Chorlton House in Chorlton Cum Hardy, with a picket planned at Prestwich hospital on Thursday. The striking workers also planned to lobby a meeting of the Greater Manchester Mental Health Board at Prestwich hospital on Thursday.
According to Bury Times, the mental health trust was told to improve its services by the Care Quality Commission health watchdog. The article quoted a Unison official saying, “Despite promising to deal with unsafe staffing levels, the trust has failed to make any changes or secure the funding needed to address the problems.”
Middle East
Ongoing protests in Iran as economic conditions worsen
Monday saw protests by retired teachers and telecom workers in several cities across Iran, including Ahvaz, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Marivan and Tehran. They were protesting the failure of their diminishing pensions to cover daily living costs and the inaction of the government.
Also on Monday, residents in the Fars Province city of Meymand protested against custodians of the Shah Cheragh shrine, who have confiscated their land. The protests led to scuffles with security forces and subsequent arrests.
On Sunday, Social Security Organisation retirees protested in the city of Ahvaz and in the capital Tehran against their inadequate pensions.
The same day, workers at the Chooka wood and paper company in the city of Rezvanshahr protested against unpaid wages.
Inflation in Iran stands at 31.7 percent and the poverty rate is around 30 percent. Living standards, blighted by US sanctions, will deteriorate further as the incoming Trump presidency continues Biden’s war plans against Iran.
Africa
Hospital workers’ strike at Mmametihake Hospital highlights funding crisis in South Africa’s healthcare system
Health workers at Mmametihake Hospital in Mpumalanga, South Africa walked out en masse January 9, after 20 days without an adequate water supply.
The Department of Health said this was due to a broken water pump, disrupting health services to a population of 254,331. The hospital only opened in 2024.
The Public Servants Association of South Africa stated there was no urgency by the Department of Health to rectify the ongoing water shortage or fix blocked unhygienic toilets.
On Monday, workers picketed in front of NU8 Clinic in Motherwell after it was closed. According to the public sector union Nupsaw, budget constraints meant there were only two trained nurses at the facility to treat hundreds of patients.
Last week, 150 unemployed doctors and dentists in Eastern Cape picketed outside the premier’s office after they were dismissed due to lack of funding.
Senior university staff continue pay strike in Taraba State, Nigeria
Striking university staff in Taraba State, Nigeria are continuing their strike begun last week over unpaid allowances.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities rejected the government’s offer to pay only a fraction of what is owed in Earned Administrative Allowances (EAA). The union, however, said it would settle for half the outstanding EAA amount being paid now, with the other half in three months’ time.
Media workers in Lagos, Nigeria strike over pay and conditions
Lagos media workers in Nigeria walked out on January 13 over issues including low pay, inadequate resources and poor working conditions.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Radio, Television, Theatre, and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria members’ action halted broadcasts of the Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation.
The workers held a protest and blocked the entrance to a complex of broadcasting stations, with placards bearing slogans like, “Pay us Minimum Wage.” The Lagos state government appealed for workers to end the strike “immediately,” without addressing its failure to pay the agreed N85,000 minimum wage at the state-owned radio stations.