Europe

Britain: Post workers speak to SEP during second day of national strike

By our reporters, October 26, 2009

The second day of national strike action by postal workers on October 22 involved 76,000 postal delivery workers.

German philosopher Peter Sloterdijk defends racist remarks by central banker

By Stefan Steinberg, October 26, 2009

The German philosopher Peter Sloterdijk has openly defended racist remarks made by German Central Bank executive member Thilo Sarrazin.

Paris CGT jobs protest dominated by nationalist politics

By Antoine Lerougetel, October 26, 2009

Some 20,000 industrial workers from all over France converged on Paris last Thursday, in a protest against the wave of plant closures and sackings engulfing their sector. The demonstration was dominat...

Merkel coalition agreement

A program of social devastation in Germany

By Dietmar Henning, October 26, 2009

The new German government plans to use cuts to social expenditure as its most important means of redistributing social wealth in favour of the wealthy.

Russia: Workers at AvtoVaz protest against mass layoffs

By Vladimir Volkov, October 24, 2009

Following a wave of labor actions across Russia in the summer and early fall, workers at auto giant AvtoVaz are protesting mass layoffs.

Britain: Postal strikers speak to SEP campaign teams

By our reporters, October 24, 2009

Postal workers yesterday staged their second of two 24-hour strikes, the first major national strike since 2007.

Irish Fianna Fail/Green coalition prepares major budget cuts

By Steve James, October 24, 2009

Ireland’s ruling coalition of Fianna Fail and the Green Party are preparing a confrontation with the working class.

Twenty years after capitalism’s return:

Living standards continue steep fall in Eastern Europe

By Stefan Steinberg, October 24, 2009

Twenty years after the reintroduction of capitalism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, a World Bank report acknowledges that a third of the population in the region lives in poverty.

Britain: Leeds refuse workers vote to continue strike

By Barbara Slaughter, October 23, 2009

At a mass meeting on October 21, striking Leeds refuse workers voted by a massive 92 percent majority to reject the “final offer” from Leeds City Council and continue their seven-week strike.

Britain: South Yorkshire firefighters threatened with mass sackings over new shift patterns

By Simon Whelan, October 23, 2009

At 18.00 hours (GMT) today, firefighters in South Yorkshire, England, will carry out the second of two 24-hour stoppages.

Workers Struggles: Europe & Africa

October 23, 2009

The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

British postal workers launch two-day national strike

By Chris Marsden, October 23, 2009

Britain’s postal workers began two days of strike action yesterday, the first major national strike since 2007.