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Europe
Health professionals in the Algarve, Portugal strike over staff shortages and health funding
Doctors, specialists, nurses and other health professionals in the Algarve, Portugal held a 24-hour strike August 7, protesting severe staff shortages and substandard working conditions.
The members of the Southern Zone Doctors’ Union, Portuguese Nurses’ Union and Union of Public Service Workers accuse the government of a lack of investment in health, including a promised new central hospital. The shortage of around 1,500 nurses is severely compromising patient care. Increased workload is leading to burnout among staff. They also say the shortage of affordable housing discourages staff recruitment.
Airport workers in Portugal continue strikes over pay and conditions
Frontline personnel, including customer service staff, maintenance and cleaning workers and baggage handlers, at Lisbon, Faro, Porto and other Portuguese airports began a second four-day strike August 8.
Scores of passenger and cargo flights were cancelled or delayed. Further weekend stoppages are planned for the rest of the month.
The Metalworkers’ and Allied Industries Union and Transport Union members employed by Menzies Aviation, a multinational airport service giant in 65 countries with 2024 global revenue of $2.6 billion, demand a base salary above minimum wage, night-shift payments and improved working conditions.
Public sector workers at university in Ankara, Turkey walk out to demand better pay and conditions
Public sector employees at the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkey began an indefinite strike Thursday to demand a living wage and shorter working hours. They were supported by METU students, who condemned the workers’ miserable working conditions.
The Tez-Koop-iş union members refuse to adhere to the recently signed government Public Framework Protocol agreement for wages and benefits in the 600,000-strong public sector. The proposed wage increases mean workers will continue to become poorer in real terms in the face of the rising cost of living.
Leisure centre workers in Northern Ireland capital hold 24-hour walkout over pay
Leisure centre workers at 14 leisure centres and two gyms across Belfast, Northern Ireland held a 24-hour stoppage on Tuesday. The centres are owned by Belfast city council but run by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL).
The Unite and Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) members are seeking a £1 an hour pay increase to bring them up to at least the level of the living wage figure—£12.21 per hour for over age 21.
Discussions between GLL and Unite and NIPSA were scheduled for Thursday.
UK civil service pension administration staff to extend strike over union recognition
Around 150 staff working for the UK civil service pension provider MyCSP, who have been on all-out strike since July 7, are to extend their stoppage until September 26. It was scheduled to end this Friday.
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members are protesting over MyCSP’s refusal to recognise the PCS union for negotiations. MyCSP is currently in the process of TUPE (Transfer of Undertaking Protection of Employment) negotiations with Capita, a major outsourcing company.
The strikers have held picket lines at MyCSP offices on Tithebarn Street, Liverpool and Landmark House, Station Road, Cheadle in England.
Since the start of the dispute Capita has agreed to talks with PCS, but MyCSP continues to refuse to recognise the union for negotiations.
Staff at two UK universities to walk out this week over job losses
Academic staff at Bradford University are set to strike Thursday through Saturday. The University and College Union members already held six days of stoppages over plans to cut around 300 jobs to save £16 million, including closure of the Chemistry and Film and Television schools.
This week’s action will coincide with the beginning of the clearing process, when students are awarded places for the new academic year.
Around 340 professional services staff at Liverpool University in the Unite union are to walk out Thursday as part of an ongoing dispute over hybrid working. Currently staff are expected to attend in person two days a week, but management wants to increase this to three days a week.
As at Bradford, the walkout will coincide with the beginning of the clearing process. Strikes are also planned for September 16-19, coinciding with the start of the new academic year for new and returning students. Workers are taking part in an ongoing overtime ban.
Middle East
Ongoing protests by Iranian workers over living conditions
On Sunday, Social Security Organisation retirees held protests in the cities of Ahvaz, Karal, Rasht and Tehran. The protests highlighted ongoing electricity cuts and water shortages as well as insecure living conditions and poverty. The same day, retired steel workers held a rally in Isfahan protesting precarious living conditions.
Sunday also saw protests by radiologists in the cities of Kermanshah, Shiraz, Tabriz and Yazd. They were calling for professionalisation of the service and a fair pricing for imaging services.
Contract and casual workers at the Razi Petrochemical facility in Bandar Mahshahr resumed their protests on Saturday, calling for promised allowances including travel costs and cost-of-living supplements. Around 1,500 workers at the site have been calling for the payments for several months.
Protests across Iran continue as 70 percent of the population live below the poverty line. US-imposed sanctions make life increasingly harsh as the Trump administration attempts its reorganisation of the Middle East in the drive for global hegemony.
Africa
Nurses in Migori County, Kenya continue strike over pay and promotion
Nurses in Migori County, Kenya are continuing their strike begun August 8 to demand the implementation of the salary structure agreed in 2024, as well as promised promotions. The union delayed the strike from May 28.
The immunisation and antenatal care units at Migori County Referral Hospital were empty, with many patients resorting to private hospitals.
Nurses in Machakos County are also on strike over similar issues.
Workers in Taraba State, Nigeria begin indefinite strike over use of biometric verification
Workers in Taraba State, Nigeria began an indefinite strike on August 11 to register their opposition to the use of their biometric data, introduced by the government in 2014 to prevent fraud. This has led to salary delays and unauthorised deductions.
A statement by Nigeria Labour Congress Chairman Peter Jediel and Trade Union Congress Chairman Sule Abasu accused the Biometric Data Capture Committee of engaging in illegal practices that had a detrimental impact on their members.
NLC and TUC unions have been told to form strike committees across ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure effective enforcement of the strike.
Big5 Cookware workers in Free State, South Africa walk out over union recognition
Workers at Lesedi Aluminium/Big5 Cookware in Free State province, South Africa began an indefinite stoppage August 3.
The 270 National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa workers are demanding union recognition. The China-based company, the largest supplier of cookware products in the country, employs 300.
Before calling the strike and in line with the law, NUMSA took the dispute to the commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), where the company attempted a filibuster—claiming the union misnamed the company as Big5 Cookware (the brand name) while workers were employed by Lesedi Aluminium. CCMA granted a strike certificate.
Kalahari AutoForce drivers in Eastern Cape, South Africa walk out over pay and conditions
Truck drivers employed by Kalahari AutoForce in Eastern Cape, South Africa began a walkout August 6 over pay and conditions, organising picket lines.
The Tirisano Transport and Services Workers Union members are demanding a wage rise from their current R16,400 per month to R20,060. They also want better work schedules and the opportunity to drive long-distance outside Eastern Cape for higher wages. The company only employs long-distance drivers who live outside the province.
According to the union, the owner wanted workers to sign a contract transferring them to a different unregistered company, which they refused.
Municipal workers in Marabastad, South Africa march over pay and to demand reinstatement of sacked workers
Hundreds of South African local government workers held a protest march to Tshwane House in Marabastad, Pretoria on August 6, over pay.
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union members (SAMWU) are demanding the salary increases of 3.5 percent and 5.4 percent promised in 2021, and reinstatement of 43 workers sacked after a 2023 protest. SAMWU gave the municipality an ultimatum of seven days to respond.