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Europe
Serbian air traffic controllers strike for salary increase
Air traffic controllers with the Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services Agency (SMATSA) began a 10-day strike for increased pay on August 19. The stoppage affected flights to and from Serbia and those flying through Serbian airspace.
The Air Traffic Control Union and other union members, representing over two-thirds of the SMATSA workforce, demand significant wage increases for certain employees.
DPD parcel delivery workers in Hamburg, Germany walk out over cost-cutting job shake-up
Parcel delivery workers for DPD in Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg, Germany are striking after being moved against their will from the midday/evening shift to the night shift, making it impossible to maintain a family life.
The Verdi union members are also angered that the late shift will be outsourced to subcontracted workers with lower pay and fewer rights. They expect the same thing could eventually happen to the night shift, with a complete loss of permanent jobs.
DPD is competing mercilessly in a drive to the bottom with Amazon, DHL, FedEx, UPS, Hermes, GLS and other logistics companies at the expense of the workers. DPD is part of transnational Geopost, operating in 50 countries.
Co-operative workers in Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus strike against austerity cuts and redundancies
Workers at three dairy, oil and feed co-operatives in Northern Cyprus held demonstrations August 20, as their strike over austerity measures and non-payment of July salary entered its second week.
The Co-operative Employees’ Union members, who work for three subsidiaries of the Cyprus Turkish Co-operative Central Bank, demonstrated outside the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment to protest the wage shortfall, potential redundancies, cuts in bonuses and cost-of-living allowance and the end of a 13th salary payment.
Hospital workers in Madrid, Spain protest to highlight staff shortages
Around 250 workers at the University Hospital of La Paz in Madrid, Spain demonstrated outside the main buildings Tuesday, as part of a symbolic 24-hour strike in which they attended work.
The aim, according to the Trabajadores en Red (TERE) independent union members, was to “draw public attention” to the hospital’s short staffing. One worker explained that the minimum service coverage required for a strike is higher than the current normal summertime service level.
La Paz is the Madrid healthcare centre that closes most beds during the summer. In August, 397 beds were unavailable due to inadequate levels of replacements for those staff on holiday. The TERE members’ strike highlighted the severe staff shortages over the summer months. They say the entire staff are owed 22,927 days off, and the hospital is unable to offer contracts rewarding enough to attract the necessary replacements.
Union call off walkouts by refuse workers in Wrexham, Wales over changes to working patterns
A series of rolling strikes by around 100 workers in Wrexham’s street scene department in Wales, due to start Saturday, has been called off by Unite the union.
The union members voted by over 70 percent for the action after the council imposed changes for bank holiday working. The council moved bank holiday Monday bin collections to the Saturday following the bank holiday. This would have seen workers losing half a day’s pay every bank holiday.
It also made the Saturday work compulsory, rather than voluntary overtime as previously, meaning workers faced disciplinary action for not attending.
The strikes were due to continue every Saturday until November 15.
Unite accuses the council of bringing in the cost-cutting measures despite receiving nearly £4 million additional from the Welsh government for waste services.
This Saturday’s collection will proceed under the previous voluntary arrangement. Unite claims the strike has been called off with members retaining “the conditions they were previously used to.”
Unite and the council, however, are opening “a new consultation” on potential changes to the working day. The union says “Both sides have made a commitment to actively engage.”
National Coal Mining Museum workers in Wakefield, England begin pay strike
Staff at the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield, England began strike action August 20 over pay. The action is planned to continue until mid-September. Workers rejected a pay offer of 5 percent, or 80p an hour if greater.
Many of the around 40 Unison union members are former miners, who lost their jobs following the defeat of the 1984-85 national miners’ strike—presaging the decimation of the mining industry under the Tory government of Margaret Thatcher.
The strike closed underground tours, though the museum, which relies on charitable funding, remains open. National Union of Mineworkers leader at the time of the strike, Arthur Scargill—who refused to demand the Trades Union Congress end the isolation of the year-long bitter dispute by calling a general strike—attended Thursday’s picket line.
Healthcare assistants at Nottingham University Hospital Healthcare Trust, England win regrading battle
After 28 strike days, 900 healthcare workers at Nottingham University Hospital Healthcare Trust, England, secured a pay increase.
The Unison members, who were taking bloods, fitting cannulas and doing electrocardiogram tests, were paid at the lower Band 2, which is the pay rate for personal care only. They will now be regraded at Band 3 with a commensurate pay uplift and offered a lump sum of £2,000 as back pay.
Middle East
Iraqi Halliburton workers protest termination of contracts
More than 100 workers staged a protest last week at the offices of US oil company Halliburton in Basra, Iraq, at the sudden termination of their contracts.
The workers, including engineers and technical experts, have been employed by Halliburton for more than 13 years. They were informed without prior notice that their contracts would not be renewed and that the company would bring in replacements.
The protesters accuse both the company and the government of failing to protect workers’ rights. One protester told the press, “The government is negligent towards us, pays no attention to our abilities, and has made us subservient to foreign companies, forcing us to accept all kinds of humiliation and disrespect just to earn a living.”
Oil accounts for more than 90 percent of Iraq’s federal revenues. The sector is largely dominated by multinational corporations, leaving Iraqi workers particularly vulnerable to sudden layoffs.
Unemployment is a critical problem, especially for youth. The national unemployment rate was 15.52 percent in 2024, but this rose to 36 percent for Iraqis aged 18-35. In some governorates, including Basra, where the majority of the oil fields are situated, youth unemployment topped 50 percent.
There has been slow progress on the job creation discussed by successive governments, with corruption exacerbating the crisis. There have been repeated protests over jobs, corruption and public services in Basra and other southern provinces.
Oil workers demand wages as protests across Iran continue over conditions
Oil workers across Iran’s southern oil and gas operational areas are continuing their “Protest Mondays” gatherings in pursuit of common nationwide demands. These include the full payment of wages and correction of minimum salaries, elimination of retirement caps and full payment of severance benefits, refund of unlawfully collected excess taxes, payment of outstanding arrears, and the independence of the Oil Pension Fund.
Protests are taking place at dozens of sites, including Fajr Jam Gas Refinery, Pars Oil & Gas Company (POGC) Kangan Site 2, South Pars Gas Field Gas Refinery, 40 POGC offshore platforms and the South Pars Gas Complex. At Fajr last week, protesters chanted “Illegal deductions must be abolished!” Workers at South Pars Gas Field demanded “We want stable production, remove the wage cap!”
Strikes are ongoing among third party (contract) workers. Third party workers at Razi Petrochemical in Mahshahr have now been on strike for more than two weeks. Last week, around 500 contract workers protested over consecutive days outside the company’s central offices.
Among their demands are wage increases and an end to management repression and authoritarian practices. Two workers, Ahmad Asakereh and Javed Rashidi, were initially detained but then released on bail. They have been banned from entering the workplace. Protesters are demanding this ban be lifted and the workers reinstated.
Third-party workers at Gachsaran Oil and Gas Company also held a protest march on August 25, following a government draft plan for employment conversion for third-party oil workers. While this would mean wages and benefits were paid directly by the company, it would still maintain subcontractors.
Workers have said the issue is not just method of payment, but the complete removal of subcontractors.
On the same day, contract workers at the Yadavaran oil field protested outside the Khuzestan governor’s office in Ahvaz against their working conditions and exploitative contracts. They are demanding permanent contracts and access to the benefits of employment conversion. These workers have 15 years of continuous service but are still on temporary contracts, without job security and employment benefits.
There have also been protests by municipal workers in Zahedan and Bandar Mahshahr over unpaid wages. Some workers report not having been paid in five months. Workers at the Tazareh mine also held a protest rally over unpaid wages and the failure to pay their insurance premiums.
Power outages and infrastructural crises have escalated the ongoing protests across the country at social conditions.
In Ramhormoz, residents blocked the Seydun-Kohgliuyeh road in protest at diversion of water from the Alaa River. Protesters successfully resisted attempts by security forces to disperse the crowd. Residents of Aligudarz and Darian, in Fars province, similarly protested the plunder of local water resources.
Weekly protests by retirees against poverty-level pensions continue nationwide. Social Security retirees protested in Shush, Tehran and Karaj. The capital also saw a major rally last week by retirees of the Telecommunications Company of Iran. Steel and mining retirees marched in Isfahan, chanting “Enough with the empty promises, our tables are empty.”
Africa
Health workers continue months-long strike in Kiambu county, Kenya over healthcare system crumbling from lack of funding
Healthcare workers in Kiambu County in Kenya are continuing their strike begun over 90 days ago. Over 280 doctors, 80 pharmacists and 30 dentists walked out to protest lack of essential medical supplies, salary delays and poor working conditions.
The Medical Association and Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya issued a statement appealing to the government to intervene and abide by contractual obligations to staff.
Nurses at Busia and Trans Nzoia county hospitals in Kenya continue stoppage over pay and conditions
Nurses at the Busia county hospitals in Kenya are continuing their strike begun August 9. The Busia Nurses Union members demand more staff, an end to long hours, more funding for health, and an end to salary deductions. A union spokesperson said the health service is crumbling.
In Trans Nzoia county, nurses have been on strike for three weeks, shutting services in 25 wards. On Tuesday, hundreds of Kenya National Union of Nurses marched in Kitale town demanding a pay rise, due promotions, and a Collective Bargaining Agreement for 2025-2029. A spokesperson emphasised the acute shortage of staff, with 400 nurses for a population of over a million.
Protesting pupils at secondary school in Siaya county school in Kenya demand the right to a decent education
As the new term begin, students at St Stephen’s Usingo Secondary School in Siaya county, Kenya staged a protest Tuesday over the teacher shortage, and poor leadership by the principal.
Students are aggrieved at the substandard education they receive, being sent home regularly due to lack of staff, and inadequate school meals.
Nigerian university lecturers protest and prepare for national stoppage over pay and conditions
Lecturers at universities across Nigeria carried out protests on Wednesday as a precursor to possible national strike action.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities members demand renegotiation of the 2009 agreement with the government, reinstatement of sacked members, payment of 25-35 percent salary increase, and promotions where due. The union is organising a strike ballot.
Judiciary staff in Kwara State, Nigeria walk out over pay and conditions
Judiciary staff in Kwara State, Nigeria began an indefinite walkout on Monday to protest the government’s failure to implement the Consolidated Judicial Salary Structure and review salaries.
The Judiciary and Staff Union members also complain about neglect of their welfare.
Western Cape, South Africa fish processing workers’ indefinite stoppage over pay and union rights
South African workers at the Lucky Star fish processing plant and the Amawandle Pelagic plant in Western Cape began an indefinite stoppage on August 19.
The 2,000 Food and Allied Workers Union members are responding to employer Oceana Group’s replacement of a seasonal allowance with an inferior 13th cheque. The union is also demanding the reinstatement of a full-time shop steward role and on-site union offices.
Macsteel workers in South Africa strike against job losses
Workers at Macsteel, in Johannesburg, South Africa are continuing their strike begun August 22 against redundancies.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) say the company issued voluntary severance packages, without consulting the union. Macsteel is South Africa’s leading steel supplier.
Steelworkers at SA Steel Mills, Meyerton picketed the offices of company shareholder, the Industrial Development Corporation, over unpaid wages. The company was placed in business rescue in 2023, leaving the NUMSA member unpaid and owed over R20 million in wages.
Teachers in Thabo Mofutsanyana district, Free State, South Africa protest staff shortages and work conditions
Hundreds of teachers marched to the Thabo Mofutsanyana district education department in Free State, South Africa August 21 with a memorandum of demands.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union members are demanding the resignation of the director, who they say has ignored grievances since 2022. According to the union, 70 posts remain vacant, some schools lack water and toilets are filthy.