French unions to mobilise
French trade unions are preparing action against the latest phase of government austerity. September may experience an explosion of strikes and protests similar to last year's.
The government has pledged to cut the budget by 60 million francs and prune the public sector by 10,000 next year. At least 2500 teaching jobs will go, the first employments cuts in education for 15 years. The announced cuts are only the tip of the iceberg. Eliminating 10,000 public sector jobs will produce just 2.5% of the cuts required for France to meet the Maastricht criteria for a single European currency.
South African platinum miners win
Twenty-five thousand striking platinum miners employed by Impala Platinum around Johannesburg, who downed tools on August 1 demanding pay rises of between 8.5 and 12%, won increases of 7.5-10%.
US Democrats roasted
The August 8 opening of a campaign office in New York for Bill Clinton's re-election was not the celebration intended. At least half of the hundreds who turned out were there to protest against the brutal federal welfare bill and Clinton's stated intention to sign it. Prominent Democrats were drowned out by chants of "Veto, Veto, Veto". Banners proclaiming "Veto the Welfare Bill" spoiled the carefully planned television event.
Korean political prisoners
Amnesty International has demanded that South Korean President Kim Young-sam immediately release all prisoners of conscience and stop arresting people for expressing their opinions. The call was made to coincide with the 51st anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese rule on August 15.
AI reported that more than 200 people have been arrested under South Korea's National Security Law since the beginning of 1996, mostly for membership of youth, student and socialist groups and for dissemination of material deemed to "praise" and "benefit" North Korea.
Indian fishers take action
On August 7, eight million Indian fishers and allied workers launched nationwide actions to protest the Indian government's policy of throwing open the industry to foreign industrial fishing at the expense of small and traditional fishers.
Thomas Kocherry, chairperson of the National Fisheries Action Committee Against Joint Ventures, began a hunger fast in Bombay. The Central Trade Union Federations, the National Centre for Labour and the National Alliance of People's Movements carried out support actions across the country.
The policy threatens food security within India — where fish is one of the chief sources of protein for some 300 million people — the livelihood of small and medium scale community-based fishers and allied workers and the sustainability of the resource beyond the short term.