AUCPB-CLASS STRUGGLE 20 JULY 2011

LABOUR MOVEMENT IN RUSSIA – REPUBLICS OF EX-USSR – INTERNATIONAL


NATIONAL MARCH OF STUDENTS IN CHILE ENDS IN CLASHES WITH POLICE

Santiago de Chile, July 15 (Prensa Latina). A national march of students in Chile, which was attended by over 100 000 people demanding democratic and non-privatized education ended with heavy clashes with police.

Riot police used tear gas and water cannon against the participants of the mobilization that took place in Heroes' Square, a few blocks from the Palacio de la Moneda.

The police surrounded the demonstrators and was faced with a group of hooded students trying to get out, witnesses reported at the incident.

Earlier, the government authorized the march on the site Alameda Avenue, which was supposed to start at the main railway station and end up at Heroes' Square, not reaching the palace of La Moneda.

Leaders of the Confederation of Students of Chile did not comply with this order, and called on students and other demonstrators to begin the march from Italy Square, in the heart of the capital, and continue along the Alameda to the outskirts of La Moneda, the seat of the government.

The call for demonstrations, which prompted students from different regions of the country, was sent to families of young college students, high school pupils and to society as a whole.

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IN CHILE, PROTESTS IN DEFENCE OF EDUCATION HAVE CONTINUED

Students, teachers, community organizations and citizens of Chile on July 14 became the protagonists of a new burst of a national campaign for free public education.
"Tomorrow we will again conduct a demonstration under the slogan "Yes" and only "Yes" and walk in the march from Italy Square," said the night before, Camila Vallejo, the president of the student federation at the University of Chile,.

The university leader reiterated the decision of students to keep to the previous course to enhance the wave of protests.

Last week, the student movement rejected the proposal of the Government of Chile on Higher Education, which, they argue, does not make deep structural changes in the education system in the South American country's most expensive and very selective, that is not for everyone.

The system does not guarantee the fundamental human rights to education, leaving quality training at the mercy of the market, as stressed in public statements by the student federation.

The call for a demonstration on behalf of the federation of student teachers and the College of Chile was supported by high school students, the confederation of workers, unions, health workers' and the National Federation of Copper Mine Workers, as well as many other organizations.

Agency "Prensa Latina"

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STRIKE BY EMPLOYEES OF BUS TRANSPORT IN VLADIVOSTOK- RUSSIA

Employees of bus companies in Vladivostok on Friday, July 15, held a warning protest against the poverty of the industry, in which work was suspended. For 15 minutes, 10.00 - 10.15 am – cashiers were closed, and buses stopped en route.

Above the cash registers and buses, notices were placed to inform people about the suspension of work for 15 minutes. In addition, passengers were notified verbally. According to reports, there were no complaints form passengers, and they even supported the initiative of the bus workers.

New equipment for maintaining buses which wear, takes about 80% of funds. For three years the price of fuel has increased by 1.5 times, a third - for parts, tires, and municipal services tax, extra-budgetary funds - by 1 / 4. Land tax has to be paid by many, which has risen 12.2 times.

If the measures put forward by members of the bus companies as part of preventive actions are not taken, then they are ready to further and take longer strike action.

On Friday, the action share of employees was supported by the majority of bus companies that are not even in a union. Only Vladivostok commercial buses operating on city routes refused to take part.


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PERFORMERS AT THE BALASHOV DRAMA THEATRE IN THE SARATOV REGION ON HUNGER STRIKE

This took place on July 8, reported to Interfax the chairman of the theatre trade-union, Anna Samson.

Theater workers oppose a 30 percent reduction in staff. Now in the theatre are working 109 people. Management want to fire 33 - on the pretext that there is not enough money in the budget. It has been reported that Russia’s Culture Minister Vladimir Senyukov has gone to Balashov.

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THREE PEOPLE BECOME VICTIMS OF CLASHES IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The number of victims of clashes with police which took place in the Dominican Republic accompanying a 24-hour general strike has risen to three. Now on the list of victims - three men.

Two of them were killed in the city of Santiago, located in the north. Also in the course of bitter clashes of protesters with the police 12 people were injured and 20 were arrested.
The unions, who organized the strike in protest against rising food prices, vehicle fuel and medicines, said that their call was supported by about 90% of the workers. Strikers demanded the authorities increase to 35% salaries of civil servants, but also advocated the allocation of additional funds to the education system, according to ITAR-TASS.


KAZAKHSTAN: THE SITUATION IS HEATING UP

Early in the morning of 10 July, about 5 am Astana time, riot police once again moved in and attacked the camp of hunger strikers, many of whom were sleeping, and brutally beat them. Some of the workers were arrested, some activists managed to escape, and those who could not stand up on their own because of the severe weakness due to prolonged hunger (the hunger strike has lasted almost two months), were forcibly placed in hospital under heavy police protection. According to the strikers, against their continued rally at Independence Square in Zhanaozen, a considerable force the Interior Ministry have been mvoing in, including special units with heavy equipment. In the next few hours, they may attack the protesting workers.

Today, the workers managed to get out of the hospital in Zhanaozen, Natalia Azhigalievu a detainee. She was literally lifted out through a window, bypassing the police guards. This was done to prevent the imminent arrest of the activist, as this is her 60th day on hunger strike. Against her as against Akzhanata Aminov and Natalia Sokolova a criminal case has been opened under Article 164 of "inciting social discord" and the secret services intend to put them in prison. Natalia Azhigalivoey’s state of health, according to representatives of independent trade unions, is very serious, as she already recognises the very few people that are present.

Participants in the meeting (5-6 thousand people), which lasts three days, including the striking workers and their families, are expecting over the next few hours, an attack by riot police with reinforcments and other special forces who have gathered around the parts of the city, accompanied with heavy equipment. The workers have publicly declared that, despite the crude blackmail of the authorities to use force to disperse their peaceful rally, they are not going anywhere, and will defend their right to the end. At the same time, through their independent unions, the striking oil workers appeal to the authorities and employers to avoid bloodshed and violence that can lead to casualties. Now the strikers were joined by new labour groups, which suggests that the repression has only spurred a new wave of the strike movement.

Source: socialismkz.info