International News

Pro&Con: A $10 hourly minimum wage would narrow chasm between working poor and their bosses

Wed, 04/11/2012 - 1:55pm

There are numerous ways to address the issue of economic inequality — an issue that has gained traction as the Occupy movement has spread beyond Wall Street. I believe we can do something to raise the wages of our lowest paid workers right now.

The Secret To Germany's Low Youth Unemployment

Thu, 04/05/2012 - 11:37am

Mass demonstrations across Spain oppose labor ‘reforms’

Mon, 03/12/2012 - 3:55pm
Protest against Spanish labor reforms via AFP

 

More than a hundred thousand demonstrators protested across Spain Sunday at labour reforms introduced by the country’s conservative government ahead of a general strike called for March 29.

Massive Crowds as Spaniards Protest Stripping of Labor Rights

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 3:05pm

Protesters take part during a rally against the economic policy of the Conservative Spanish Government in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012. The new conservative Popular Party government pledges new labor reforms to try to halt further job destruction as Spain already has the highest unemployment rate in the 17-nation eurozone with more than five millions unemployed and more than eleven million people at risk of social exclusion, as a result of the economic crisis. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

 

Up to a million Spaniards marched in cities across Spain Sunday in a massive protest at the new government's drive to strip them of their labor rights under the cover of austerity measures.

In echoes of Wisconsin, the labor 'reforms' proposed by Spain's conservative government would make it easier for companies to fire workers and pull out of collective bargaining agreements.

Union sues to block Indiana's right-to-work law

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 11:01am

Union members went to federal court Wednesday to ask a judge to block Indiana's new right-to-work law from being enforced, the first lawsuit and latest conflict over the divisive legislation.

Hundreds of thousands protest Spanish labour reforms

Mon, 02/20/2012 - 8:44am
Spain labor protests via AFP

 

 

Hundreds of thousands of people, many waving red and white union flags, protested across Spain on Sunday against sweeping labour market reforms that make it easier to slash pay and lay off workers.

'Sick of living like rubbish' in the UK

Sun, 02/19/2012 - 9:05am

Perhaps the most debilitating consequence of the eurozone's economic downturn and its debt-driven austerity crusade has been the soaring rate of youth unemployment. Spain's jobless rate for people ages 16 to 24 is approaching 50 percent; Greece's is 48 percent; and Portugal's and Italy's, 30 percent. In Britain, the rate is 22.3 percent, the highest since such data began being collected in 1992. (The comparable rate for Americans is 18 percent.)

Will American Anti-Labor Policies Infect Europe?

Fri, 02/17/2012 - 11:35am

I want to send a warning to working people in Europe: when you let your businesses save money by mistreating workers in other countries, it might teach them to think they can save money by mistreating you, too. Over here in the US we have learned this the hard way

The Dilemma of Cheap Electronics

Sat, 02/11/2012 - 8:51am

Bringing workplace standards and pay in Chinese factories up to American levels would, of course, raise the price of our electronics. How much is hard to say, but a financial analyst for an outsourcing company figures a $200 iPhone might cost $350 if it were built here.

Do we care enough about Chinese factory conditions to pay nearly twice as much for our phones, tablets, cameras, TVs, computers, GPS units, camcorders, music players, DVD players, DVRs, networking gear and stereo equipment?

Greek unions set to strike over new austerity demands

Tue, 02/07/2012 - 9:19am
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