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Europe
Lieferando delivery drivers strike in Hamburg, Germany
More than 100 workers at delivery company Lieferando came out on a 36-hour strike in Hamburg, Germany last weekend. The local strike, called by the Food, Beverage and Catering Union (NGG), was announced as a warning action around national collective bargaining of wages and conditions.
The company employs around 6,000 in Germany, with 500 in Hamburg. The NGG has been calling for a national collective agreement for two years in the context of rampant inflation, but Lieferando’s parent company Just Eat Takeaway has opposed this.
The NGG accuses Lieferando of building a “shadow fleet” of subcontractors to force existing drivers out of their current contracts and onto worse terms with secondary companies. The union says more than 500 jobs have already been cut in Berlin in this way. In Austria, Lieferando terminated all drivers’ contracts in March, offering them employment as independent contractors instead.
German Lieferando drivers currently earn the minimum wage of 12.82 euros. They have been dependent on “order bonuses” for fast delivery, which can supplement wages by hundreds of euros each month. These are to be cut from August on grounds of road safety. The NGG is calling for a legally compliant tariff regulation instead.
Protests, strikes by home delivery drivers at Italian retailer Esselunga
Drivers employed by Deliverit, B&V Logistics, and Cap Delivery to make home deliveries for the Italian retail chain Esselunga have escalated their protests against working conditions.
After negotiations stalled, drivers in Lallio, Nembro and Curno came out on strike July 16 “to secure a genuine agreement that recognises professionalism, dignity, and fairer working conditions for those who provide an essential service every day.”
This strike follows other protest action and will be followed by a national strike.
A particular issue is compensation for floor deliveries, which drivers perform despite not being covered by the relevant collective bargaining agreement. In protest at the failure of negotiations, drivers stopped doing such tasks not covered contractually, and delivered only at street level.
Other issues include unequal treatment of workers, lack of financial compensation for non-municipal deliveries, the weight of loads, lack of adequate technological support, and safety.
Pierluigi Costelli of the CGIL union said they had asked for a 20 euro daily allowance, similar to most other couriers. The companies proposed only 4 euros more than the amount specified in the national collective bargaining agreement, “a compensation that to date hasn’t even been paid.”
The local action will be followed by a national strike on July 24.
Union ends metalworkers’ strike in Cádiz, Spain
The CGT union last week ended a strike by metalworkers in Cádiz, Spain. The strike was originally called by the majority unions in the sector, the UGT and CCOO, over a new collective bargaining agreement.
When workers rejected the sell-out agreement the UGT and CCOO had reached with the employers’ association FEMCA, the unions called off the action. Workers remained on strike for another 10 days.
Smaller unions including the CGT and the Metal Workers’ Coordinating Committee were able to assume leadership of the dispute thanks to their criticism of the CCOO and UGT, but continued to limit the action to metalworkers. Their concern remains providing a safety valve for the anger of workers in the face of management and union hostility.
Auxiliary workers at Navantia shipbuilders in Cartagena, Spain continue strike, hunger strike over conditions
Auxiliary workers employed by shipbuilder Navantia in the Cartagena shipyard in Spain are continuing their strike over conditions. They have been on indefinite strike for a month, demanding implementation of the shipyards bonus and regulation of workforce subrogation. Unions say that some workers are paid 1,000 euros a month.
The unions interceded to try to end the dispute. The CCOO and UGT met the employers’ organisation FREMM, along with representatives of the strike committee, on July 7. The seven-hour meeting reached a pre-agreement on negotiation of the shipyard bonus with a timetable.
The strikers rejected this pre-agreement and voted to continue their indefinite strike. About 20 workers began a hunger strike on July 8. FREMM has now withdrawn from the negotiations, accusing the workers of unspecified acts of violence. They employers say the unions must deal direct with Navantia over what they recognise as a wildcat strike.
The CCOO is also keen to regain control. While still speaking of workers being in a situation into which “they have been forced,” the union has also called the protest a “resounding failure” that has “crossed” limits. The CCOO also criticised strikers’ attitude to Navantia workers and their protests in front of union headquarters in Cartagena.
Crane operators in Seville, Spain strike over wages, conditions
Nearly 350 construction crane operators held a three-day strike this week over wages, bonuses and improved conditions.
The CCOO and UGT members are demanding an increase in bonuses commensurate with the responsibilities of the job, a hazard bonus, a performance bonus in line with the productivity demanded of them, retirement at 60, adjustment of the workday for work-life balance, and a pay rise “proportionate to the effort and specialisation of the work.”
The crane operators protested June 24 over the same issues. The unions met the employers’ association Gaesco at the regional Andalusian mediation service SERCLA last week without agreement.
The unions are linking the productivity bonus and wages to “company requirements.” Gaesco has attacked the strike call for imposing “national level” negotiations on what should be discussed at state level. The employers pointed to the role of the unions in implementing the existing arrangements, saying that “the same union organisations that signed the State Agreement are the ones that are paradoxically pushing for its non-application.”
Packaging workers in Valencia, Spain strike over redundancy deal
Workers facing redundancy at the Canet d’en Berenguer factory of packaging company Obeikan MDF in Valencia, Spain have begun an indefinite strike. The strike was called over the failure of redundancy package negotiations after the Saudi Arabian multinational announced the Canet factory would close.
The company has proposed the bare minimum severance pay for the 153 workers, while imposing a phased lay-off scheme to divide workers. A skeleton workforce will be retained until December. The majority facing shorter term lay-off includes union representatives.
The CCOO union held four consultation meetings with the company without development. The CCOO union members have called for compensation above the legal minimum, “commensurate with the damage caused,” a halt to the unfair phased lay-off model, and specific measures for vulnerable workers and workers over 55.
Union calls off Limagrain strike in France against 2 percent pay offer, accepting “2 percent envelope”
The CGT union has called off a strike for wages at the Limagrain agricultural cooperative site in Ennezat, Puy-de-Dôme, France after accepting a 2 percent overall payroll increase.
Around 100 workers at the Ennezat site began strike action July 7, when the company proposed a 2 percent pay increase, effective this month. Limagrain said that for a worker on minimum wage, this represented just over €35 gross.
The unions rejected this. While they insisted on a minimum of 2.5 percent, they acknowledged that, like the 2-3 percent rises of recent years, this did not keep pace with inflation. CGT represent Julien Medvès said “we lost 2 percent in 2022, 3 percent in 2023, and 2 percent in 2024… with inflation at 2.3 percent [this year] and a mutual insurance that increases by 10 percent, we are still losing out.”
Three days later the CGT accepted “an average 2 percent pay increase” across the Cooperative. Medvès said this “2 percent envelope” meant 60 euros gross for those earning up to 2,500 euros, 45 for 2,500-3,500 euros, and 40 for those on salaries above 3,500 euros.
Konecta call centre workers strike again over wage disparity
Call centre workers for Konecta in Le Mans, France, have stopped work for a second time over pay disparities. They previously came out on June 27, demanding a wage increase and denouncing “unjustified” wage gaps.
About 50 of the company’s 330 workers were on strike, particularly protesting the company’s “target-based bonuses.” Konecta works chiefly in the healthcare, automotive and insurance sectors. One call centre worker told press that “Depending on which client you work for, there can be pay gaps of up to 600 euros per month between two people doing the same job.”
Belgium: doctors strike against proposed reforms to health service
Doctors across Belgium came out on their first strike in more than 20 years last week against reforms to the health service. Health Minister Franck Vandenbroucke’s proposals focus on the contracting model, additional medical fees, process for suspending a practitioner’s medical licence, and financial interventions by the National Institute for Health Insurance (INAMI).
The Association of Medical Unions (ABSyM-BVAS), which represents 60 percent of general practitioners and specialists, warns that the proposals will undermine doctors’ autonomy and will increase pressure on hospitals.
The issue is divisive, as there is universal recognition of the need for reform. Some medical unions see Vandenbroucke’s proposals as a step towards accessible healthcare and opposed the ABySM-BVAS strike call.
The plans have funding implications. A spokesperson for University Hospital Brussels (H.U.B.) said it was concerned at the approach to additional medical fees, which can be charged on top of the official rate. More than 80 percent of H.U.B. patients “receive care without any additional fees,” the spokesperson explained, saying that reform of the fee model would mean a loss of funding for hospitals. This is under conditions where “we already know that 80 percent of hospitals are in deficit.”
The strike was more strongly supported in the French-speaking south of the country.
More stoppages by teachers at UK school trust over plans to extend working day
Teachers at 14 schools run by the Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT), held further stoppages from Monday to Thursday this week. It follows action last week and in June.
The action by National Education Union (NEU) members is in response to OGAT’s plan to increase the school day by 30 minutes at all 28 sites run by the trust from September this year.
The schools affected are: Outwood Academy Grange, Outwood Academy Freston and Outwood Academy Hemsworth in Wakefield; Outwood Academy City, Sheffield; Outwood Academy Danum, Doncaster; Outwood Academy Easingwold, North Yorks; Outwood Academy Foxhills, North Lincolnshire; Outwood Academy Shafton, Barnsley; Outwood Academy Hindley, Wigan; Outwood Academy Kirby, Outwood Academy Portland and Outwood Academy Valley, Nottinghamshire, Outwood Academy Redcar, Redcar and Cleveland and Outwood Academy Newbould, Derbyshire.
NASUWT members at some of the schools have also taken action over the same issue but are not involved this week. A meeting of OGAT management and the unions under the auspices of the government mediation service, ACAS, took place on July 10. However, no resolution was achieved, and the dispute continues.
UK education union employees walk out over restructure
Around 400 staff working for the UK National Education Union (NEU) struck on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Unite union members are opposing the NEU’s proposal to carry through a restructure with no meaningful consultation. The NEU staff voted by an 85 percent majority for the action.
A Unite union press release on the eve of the stoppage noted, “Staff are demanding guarantees around workload, downgrading of roles, fixed-term contracts and avoiding forced redeployment. Workers want an end to last-minute announcements, rushed decisions, and a total lack of respect for staff voices.”
Health care staff at Northumbria, UK hospital trust strike over pay
Hundreds of healthcare assistants (HCAs) working for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in north-east England began a two-day walkout Wednesday.
The hospitals involved are Alnwick Infirmary, Berwick Infirmary, Hexham General Hospital, North Tyneside General Hospital, Wansbeck General Hospital and Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital.
The Unison union members had been paid on NHS Agenda for Change Band 2 in spite of preforming duties such as taking blood that would have entitled them to being paid on the higher Band 3.
In 2024, the Trust accepted the HCAs should be paid on the Band 3 level. What is still in dispute is the amount of back pay owed to them for the time they were performing Band 3 tasks.
Cleaners at London financial services company strike over redundancies threat
Cleaners at the London Bridge and Canary Wharf offices of financial services company Ernst and Young (EY) began a four-day walkout on Tuesday.
The cleaners are employed by outsourcing company Mitie to provide cleaning services at the EY offices. Picket lines were mounted at the two sites in the capital.
The International Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) union members voted by a 98 percent majority to walk out against Mitie’s plans to cut the workforce by 37 percent. IWGB says the workers are already overworked and suffer physical health problems as a result.
The workers are paid £13.85 an hour, EY partners have an average salary of around three quarters of a million pounds. A further stoppage is planned for July 20-22.
Forklift truck drivers at UK glass bottle factory to strike over union recognition
Forklift truck drivers employed by Lockwood Haulage at the Ardagh glass bottle manufacturing company in Knottingley in the north of England are set to walk out Friday.
The members of the Unite union are protesting Lockwood’s refusal to recognise Unite in consultations. Until March, the forklift truck drivers were employed by logistics firm GXO, which recognised Unite.
Another stoppage is planned for July 21. The stoppages are expected to disrupt the supply of glass bottles to Ardagh’s major clients, including Coca Cola, Diageo and Heineken.
Wildcat strike by construction workers at UK nuclear power station over working conditions
Several hundred construction workers at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station walked out in unofficial action on Tuesday.
The site in Somerset in south-west England is being developed by French utility company EDF. Tuesday’s walkout was prompted by allegations of bullying by project supervisors. An unofficial walkout took place the previous week over working conditions, including the site being overrun by rats.
Middle East
Struggles by Iranian workers continue
On Saturday, around 400 workers at the Arak Aluminium Company resumed their strike after the company failed to respond to their ultimatum.
Their July 8 ultimatum was that their demands be met, including the restoration of production bonuses and rice rations. They are also protesting the dismissal of colleagues and failure to implement a job classification plan.
Around 600 workers employed by Iran Project Management Industrial (IPMI) have filed a complaint over unpaid wages. The workers, who are employed at the South Pars gas field on Phase 14, are owed three months’ wages and benefits. At a July 8 meeting between IPMI CEO and the workers, the CEO promised that workers would receive the arrears by the end of July.
Around 70 percent of Iranian workers live below the poverty line as the country undergoes economic collapse. The situation is exacerbated by sanctions imposed by the US and the recent Trump-orchestrated bombing raids. The US seeks to reorganise the Middle East in its favour before turning its attention to war on China.
Lebanese civil servants strike suspended for talks
On Wednesday, Beshara Asmar, the president of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers announced suspension of the strike by Lebanese civil servants.
Walkouts over pay and end-of-service benefits started at the beginning of July. Asmar made the announcement after meeting with the Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun. Aoun said he would discuss the civil servants’ demand at a cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday.
Africa
Union members begin indefinite strike in Ogun State, Nigeria
Members of unions belonging to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ogun State began an indefinite strike July 15. Their grievances include the failure to pay in their pension deductions and non-implementation of the national minimum wage.
The NLC issued a statement urging the government to talk to them without delay, while claiming that they would continue the strike until all their demands have been met. Workers throughout Nigeria have been fighting to achieve a liveable minimum wage for many decades and have been betrayed by the NLC many times over the years.
Doctors in Ondo State, Nigeria hold three-day strike to oppose neglect
Medical doctors belonging to the National Association of Government General and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) began a three-day warning strike on July 8.
The doctors complain of gross neglect of their welfare. According to a statement by the NAGGMDP’s state chairman, Richard Obe and secretary, Adekunle Owolabi, some local government areas have only “one medical doctor.”
Complaints include tax increases without prior consultation and non-payment of salaries and allowances. Eight new doctors who were employed in October, 2024 have never been paid at all.
“Other [grievances] include unpaid hazard allowances for October to December 2023 and January 2024, outstanding promotion arrears from June to December 2024, and salary shortfalls and unpaid allowances for other members.”
Public sector workers in the City of uMhlathuze, South Africa walk out over pay and conditions
Municipal workers at the City of uMhlathuze, South Africa walked out three weeks ago over unpaid overtime and unfair labour practices. Other issues include health and safety concerns and lack of personal protective equipment.
South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) President Nelson Mokgotho met regional leaders to push for negotiations with municipal officials, planned for Monday. The municipality appealed unsuccessfully to the labour court to declare the strike illegal. Refuse is piling high in the streets.
Public sector workers have also been on strike over pay and conditions at Nkomazi Local Municipality, KwaDukuza Municipality and Ratiou Local Municipality, but COSATU and SAMWU are keeping the stoppages separate.