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Europe
Hundreds of airport workers across Spain strike for improved pay, working conditions and job security
Ground handling staff employed by Azul Handling and Menzies Aviation began strikes at airports throughout Spain on August 15 and 16 respectively, leading to flight delays and cancellations.
The workers carry out check-in services, baggage handling, cargo and freight handling, passenger assistance, aircraft servicing and other airport services. Azul Handling (Ryanair) stoppages are planned for every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until December 31. Menzies Aviation workers will strike on August 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31.
The General Union of Workers (UGT) members complain of late and short wages, staff shortages, pressure to work extra hours and take holiday when not required, unstable hours and job security for part-time workers, missing bonuses and many other issues with pay and working conditions.
UGT accuse the employers, particularly Ryanair, of undermining the strikes by misusing the “minimum service level” regulations. Menzies Aviation workers in Portugal are also conducting weekend stoppages throughout August.
Guards in Belgian prisons stop work over chronic staff shortages and dangerous overcrowding
Guards at Ghent Prison in Belgium began a strike Sunday in protest at stressful and dangerous working conditions due to long term staff shortages and overcrowding. Wildcat strikes have also taken place for the same reasons at Haren prison in Brussels, the largest in the country.
The General Union of Public Services and Confederation of Christian Trade Unions members demand a commitment to both staff and prisoner safety.
Bus workers at North East Stagecoach, England walk out over pay
Around 600 bus workers including drivers, cleaners and engineers working for North East Stagecoach, England were on strike Monday and Thursday this week. Bus routes in the Newcastle area were affected.
The Unite union members, who rejected a 5 percent pay rise offerm are seeking parity with Stagecoach staff in north-west England. Drivers employed by Stagecoach North West in Manchester are paid £17.54, while those in the north-east are on £15.01 an hour.
The bus workers were due to walk out August 11-12 after rejecting a 3.3 percent offer backdated to April. These stoppages were suspended after the company improved its offer by adding an additional 1.7 percent from January. However, the new offer was rejected, and this week’s walkouts went ahead.
Refuse workers in Sheffield, UK mark one-year anniversary of strike for union recognition
On Tuesday, refuse workers employed in Sheffield by the French-based multinational Veolia company marked a year of being on strike. Veolia is under contract to Sheffield City council to collect domestic waste.
The Unite union members began their walkout after Veolia refused to recognise Unite for negotiations. Unite has a majority membership after workers switched from the GMB union over poor representation. Veolia reneged on an agreement in principle, made in December last year, to recognise Unite, while the GMB threatened industrial action if the agreement went ahead.
Around 6,000 Sheffield residents signed a petition in support of the striking refuse workers and on July 9 Unite organised a lobby of Sheffield City council, which the council ignored.
To mark the anniversary of the dispute, the Veolia workers held a mass picket at 6am on Tuesday at the Lumley Street depot followed by a solidarity rally at nearby Tinsley Road.
Ambulance emergency call staff trainers in north-west England strike over cuts to pay
UK staff working for the North West Ambulance Service, who provide training to emergency call handlers and NHS 111 (phone line health advice) staff, plan to walk out Friday.
The Unison union members are protesting an imposed abolition of a recruitment and retention premium, which will mean them losing up to £3,000 a year. They are scheduled to walk out again August 26-28.
Housing staff at a London borough council walk out over redundancies
Staff working for Tenancy Services in the housing department at Hackney borough council in London walked out on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Unison union members voted by over 90 percent for the stoppages after Hackney announced a restructuring plan, which would mean the department losing 89 out of 100 jobs. Unison says getting rid of the dedicated roles would lead to tenants receiving a poorer service.
Further stoppages are planned for August 26-28.
Workers at Northern Ireland agri-business company walk out over pay
Workers employed by farm cooperative Dale Farm in Northern Ireland began a three-day stoppage on Wednesday.
Drivers and engineers, Unite union members, voted by around 90 percent to strike, demanding pay comparability with similar companies in the province. The action is expected to impact the collection of milk from farms. Three more days of stoppages are due next week, with an escalation of action if needs be.
Canteen staff at UK refinery in Fawley strike over pay
The mainly female canteen staff at Fawley refinery in Hampshire, England walked out on strike all this week.
The Unite union members, employed by Compass Group to provide catering services at the refinery, are demanding a pay increase. They are currently only paid just above the minimum wage. Compass, the world’s largest catering provider, earned over £1 billion in profits in the six months to March 2025.
The workers held previous walkouts in July. Further stoppages are planned for August 26-28 and September 1-5.
Middle East
Continuing protests across Iran in response to deteriorating economic conditions
The second week of August saw a continuation of protests and strikes across Iran. Demonstrations took place against ongoing electric power outages in the cities of Babolsar, Chabahar and the Golestan and Salehiyeh districts of Tehran.
In Kashan, citizens held protests over the high levels of water bills.
Widespread strikes of oil workers took place at several facilities including the Pars Oil and Gas Company, the South Parrs Gas Complex, the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, the Fajr Jam Gas refinery and the Lavan Island facilities. They were protesting pay and working conditions.
Despite high temperatures, retirees held protests over the diminishing spending power of their pensions. Cities involved included Ahvaz, Isfahan, Kermanshah and Tehran.
Radiographers in more than a dozen cities, including Isfahan, Mashhad and Tehran, held protests over their working conditions. Protests took place outside prosecutor’s office in Tehran by investors in the “Hakim” housing project, who have been defrauded of their savings.
Living conditions for most Iranians continue to deteriorate, with 70 percent living below the poverty line. Sanctions by the Trump-led US administration, seeking to reorganise the Middle East as part of war preparations against China, greatly exacerbates the economic crisis.
Africa
Nurses’ stoppage in Migori county, Kenya to demand implementation of 2017 collective bargaining agreement
A stoppage by nurses in Migori county, Kenya, has disrupted medical services.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses members walked out August 11 to demand the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed in 2017. The CBA includes promotion opportunities, and the payment of uniform allowances.
Nurses in Trans Nzoia county also walked August 12 to demand a CBA for 2025-29.
Police arrest traders in Kampala, Uganda for protesting high taxes and uncollected refuse
Traders in Kampala, Uganda staged a protest August 19 against high taxes imposed by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and delayed collections of their litter. Police arrested anyone blowing a whistle or urging others to join the sit-down action.
Traders also demanded the resignation of URA Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki.