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Latin America
Peruvian peasant miners strike, blockade roads
Peasant and First Nation small miner operators are demanding legislation that protects their small businesses against corporate and illegal mining operations. They are striking and blocking roads.
The striking miners began blocking roads on June 29, 22-hours a day, lifting the blockade two hours daily to allow the movement of food and fuel into the mountain communities.
At issue is legislation approved last year creating tradable mining permits for “informal” mining groups which are associated with highly exploitative labor practices, contraband and lead pollution in the water supply.
The latest version of this legislation provides for the inheritance of permits and their sale with no government restrictions, further affecting the lives of peasant and indigenous townspeople.
The demonstrators represent small-scale miners defending their own operations and demanding clear criteria that protects the environment and shuts the door to uncontrolled mining. Under Peruvian law, land ownership is limited to the surface; minerals and water under the surface is state property.
Ecuadorian students and teachers march in defense of public education
On July 11, Ecuadoran educators and students marched in defense of public education in Ecuador. The protests were triggered by recently approved legislation, a so-called Public Integrity Law, that attacks workers rights and imposes a fascistic agenda on educators.
The new law severely restricts what can be taught at schools and criminalizes protests by students and educators.
In addition to demanding that this law be declared unconstitutional, the demonstrators also called for budget increases to address the current crisis in public education.
Argentina: Buenos Aires hospital workers rally for higher wages, better conditions
On July 10, hospital workers employed by the government-owned Garrahan Children’s Hospital in Buenos Aires, carried out a 10-hour strike and rally demanding higher wages and protesting the appointment of a new director for the hospital by the Millei administration.
The strike, which included both doctors and health workers, was the latest in a two-month long struggle to defend the hospital. At issue are wages, outdated medical equipment and medications in short supply. Strike leader Norma Lezana declared that more than 224 “highly qualified” health workers and over 20 medical residents have quit their jobs due to wages that have not kept up with inflation.
Garrahan is the largest children’s hospital in Argentina, one of the largest in South America. In addition to medical attentions, it is also a center of research.
Doctors and health workers plan to strike again this Thursday, July 17, and march and rally across from the Casa Rosada, the offices of the president of Argentina.
Paraguayan nurses protest in defense of healthcare
On July 9, hundreds of nurses and health workers employed by the public health system protested in Asunción. The demonstrators represented workers from cities across the country—San Pedro, Alto Paraná, Canindeyú, Concepción, Villarica, Misiones, Pilar and Encarnación. The massive mobilization began at 7am, with workers braving the winter cold.
One of the main demands was strengthening health services across the country, providing up to date equipment, sufficient vaccines and medications, and improvements to health infrastructure. Of particular concern was repairing the degraded system of neonatal care.
Health workers also demanded wage increases and the creation of 1,000 new permanent jobs. Many health workers earn below the country’s minimum wage while working long hours. They are also demanding social security pensions for contingent workers.
Mexico: national strike by healthcare workers
On July 8, health and nursing workers in Mexico City, Oaxaca and other Mexican states (including Chiapas, Veracruz, Zacatecas and Baja California Sur), engaged in a national protest strike against the Health Care branch of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS—Bienestar). The strikers denounced the use of contingent temporary workers, the closure of clinics and various contractual violations. Also at issue were unpaid wages and very long working hours in deteriorating clinics and hospitals.
In many areas workers have had to brave extreme heat of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
In Mexico City, demonstrators were attacked by the municipal police, with agents violently dragging away demonstrators blocking a street, while the health workers chanted “we are not law-breakers!”
United States
California garbage haulers join growing national strike against Republic Services
Republic Services trash haulers in California’s Bay Area joined a growing nationwide strike by the company’s workforce to demand wages and benefits comparable to competitors Capitol Waste and Star Waste Systems. The Bay Area drivers voted by 90 percent to join the strike, which is already in progress among 2,000 workers in other states and Canada after months of failed negotiations.
Teamsters trash haulers for Republic in Boston were the first to hit the picket line on July 1. Since then, workers in Stockton, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Ottawa, Illinois; and Lacey, Washington joined the strike. Other drivers who transfer garbage from Republic collection locations to landfill sites have refused to cross picket lines.
The Teamsters currently represent 8,000 Republic Service workers. Some of them are recently organized and seeking a first-time contract.
Republic has responded to the strike by flying strikebreakers into selected locations to relieve the accumulation of trash in neighborhoods. Negotiations were slated to resume on July 14.
Republic Services is the second largest trash collection company after industry giant Waste Management. CEO Jon Vander Ark made just under $13 million in total compensation in 2024. The company is 35.1 percent owned by Bill Gates’s Cascade Investment.
Drivers who supply Mid-Atlantic 7-Eleven stores authorize strike
Over 200 drivers for Genesis Logistics Mid-Atlantic region voted to grant strike authorization after Teamsters Local 322 failed to reach a first-time agreement over wages, benefits and working conditions. Dwayne Johnson, secretary-treasurer of Local 322, said the company has responded with “retaliation, intimidation, and blatant lawbreaking,” that has resulted in the firings of union supporters.
Workers voted by a 90 percent margin to join the Teamsters back in April of this year. Local 322 at this point is only demanding Genesis return to the negotiating table and has not set a strike date.
Genesis Logistics is a DHL supply chain subsidiary. The workers supply 7-Eleven stores throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
Canada
Rio Tinto steelworkers begin strike in Quebec
Following up on a 98 percent strike vote, 181 members of the United Steelworkers struck the Rio Tinto metallurgical complex in Sorel, Quebec on July 11. The workers produce high-quality titanium dioxide, pig iron, steel and metal powders. They are fighting for a significant wage increase to make up for high inflation in recent years, during which the company has reaped high profits. In addition, the strikers are rejecting concession demands by the company over vacation time.
Toromont Industries workers strike in Bradford, Ontario
A strike by 120 skilled and semi-skilled workers is continuing into its second week at Toromont’s Caterpillar component remanufacturing plant in the town of Bradford, just north of Toronto. The facility was opened last year and restores “near end-of-life” machinery for use in construction and mining operations. The workers, members of Unifor, are fighting for a first collective agreement with the company and are seeking industry standard wages, benefits and working conditions.
British Columbia Cascade Aerospace workers strike
Two hundred and eighty interior technicians, sheet metal mechanics, maintenance staff and planning clerks in Abbotsford, British Columbia are entering the second week of a strike in pursuit of a wage increase that would bring workers pay up to the level of comparable jobs in the aerospace sector. The workers, members of Unifor, maintain, repair and overhaul large military and civilian aircraft including the Canadian Armed Forces C-130 Hercules fleet and civilian planes and helicopters used in airlifts, search and rescue operations and wildfire suppression.