Strikes

Germany: Train Strikes Planned throughout Country

Date: March 9th, 2011 |

Germany’s largest union of train drivers, Union of Locomotive Drivers (GDL), has announced a new wave of strikes to demand better pay and working conditions. Though the strikes are mostly targeted at freight trains, passenger trains will also be disrupted. Each stoppage will be announced only 12 hours ahead of the planned strike, and it [read more]

Greece: Workers Strike to Protest Austerity Measures

Date: February 15th, 2011 |

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Transport workers in Athens staged a 24-hour strike Feb. 14 in an almost daily series of strikes and demonstrations against economic reform. The country’s largest labor unions have called for a general strike Feb. 23, which could shut down many services and jam transportation networks. Unemployment is at a seven-year high and many Greeks oppose [read more]

Czech Republic: Doctors to Strike over “McDonald’s” Wages

Date: December 22nd, 2010 |

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Come spring it might be a good idea not to get sick and need a doctor here, because 4,000 doctors, a quarter of the nation’s hospital physicians, have signed resignation letters in protest over low pay. The starting salary for doctors is about 4 euros per hour ($5.25), roughly the same as a McDonald’s employee, [read more]

Spain: “State of Alarm” Puts Stop to Air Traffic Controllers Strike

Date: December 8th, 2010 |

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A 24-hour air traffic controllers strike created chaos throughout Spain Dec. 3-5 and prompted the government to declare a “state of alarm” that threatened jail time for controllers who would not report to work. The state of alarm is usually reserved for major disasters and had not been implemented since the return to democracy in [read more]

France: Airline Employees to Strike Over Tax on Perks

Date: November 3rd, 2010 |

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Strikes against pension reform have been common across France for several weeks now, but an unrelated strike by airline employees is planned for Nov. 5-8. The unions representing airline staff are protesting new legislation that will require airline personnel to pay tax on discounted plane tickets and other perks not provided by their employer. The [read more]

Argentina: Strikes Disrupt Travel to and from Buenos Aires’ Airport

Date: February 15th, 2011 |

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Strikes at or near Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza International Airport have disrupted travel four times in first forty days of 2011, the most recent occurring Feb. 11 when protesters blocked the highway leading to the airport. The resulting traffic jam backed up three miles with some travelers walking the remaining distance hauling their luggage. The strikers [read more]

Bahamas: Unions Threaten General Strike

Date: January 5th, 2011 |

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Simmering tensions between the prime minister and union leaders raised the possibility of a general strike sometime in the coming weeks. Should the strike occur it could involve all sectors of the economy and disrupt travel throughout the islands. Union leaders are invoking the country’s last general strike of 1958 that shut down New Providence [read more]

Greece: More Strikes Over Austerity Measures Disrupt Travel

Date: December 15th, 2010 |

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The seventh general strike this year shut down all air, rail and ferry services Dec. 15 with Athens taxi drivers and transport workers joining in to paralyze the city. Journalists also walked out for 24 hours to cause news blackouts. More strikes were planned for later in the week and disruptions could continue. The labor [read more]

United Kingdom: London Tube Strike Set for Nov. 28-29

Date: November 17th, 2010 |

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The fourth 24-hour strike of the year on the London Underground will create transit chaos if it goes ahead as planned Nov. 28-29. Union members walked out for 24 hours most recently Nov. 1 and service wasn’t back to normal until the morning of Nov. 4. The Nov. 28 strike is likely to happen because [read more]

United Kingdom: London Firefighters to Strike on Bonfire Night, Diwali

Date: October 27th, 2010 |

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London’s firefighters plan to strike for two days Nov. 5-7, timing their walkout to coincide with the annual “Bonfire Night” holiday, and by coincidence, with the Hindu holiday of Diwali, which is celebrated with fireworks. Fire department statistics show that Bonfire Night produces five times as many small fires as usual and twice the number [read more]

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