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Labour/labor unions
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By Michael Allen on April 24, 2009
Egypt’s first independent union was launched this week in a potentially significant move for the country’s labor movement and for freedom of association under an increasingly authoritarian regime. The Solidarity Center reports that the 27,000-member Real Estate Tax Authority Union was formed when workers voted to form a union following a national strike and a [read full story]
Posted in Egypt, Labour/labor unions, NGOs/Civil society, National Endowment for Democracy, authoritarianism, dictatorships | Tagged Egypt, Freedom House, freedom of association, Labour/labor unions, National Endowment for Democracy |
By Michael Allen on April 23, 2009
Despite Maoist threats and intimidation, Nepal’s unions are striving to promote democracy and workers’ rights, writes the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center’s Tim Ryan from Kathmandu.
In 2006, the country’s trade unions mobilized to oust an autocratic monarchy, but efforts to incorporate the former Maoist insurgents into the political process have stalled democratic progress in the world’s youngest [read full story]
Posted in Asia, Human rights, Labour/labor unions, NGOs/Civil society, democracy promotion | Tagged civil society, Labour/labor unions, Nepal, promoting democracy, trade unions |
By Michael Allen on March 19, 2009
Police have released democracy activists Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, Dolly Ibefo Mbunga and Donat Tshikaya following international protests at their detention. Eyewitnesses said the three men were beaten, handcuffed and “thrown” into police vehicles when they were arrested on 15 March in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The men were arrested at the offices [read full story]
Posted in Africa, Human rights, Labour/labor unions, National Endowment for Democracy, corruption | Tagged corruption, Human rights, Labour/labor unions, National Endowment for Democracy |
By Michael Allen on March 18, 2009
Chinese labor activist Yao Fuxin, a leader of the largest worker protests in communist Chinese history, has been released from jail after serving a seven-year sentence for subversion of state power.
Yao was unrepentant over his role in organizing the 2002 demonstrations in Liaoyang which mobilized tens of thousands of laid-off workers seeking improved benefits from [read full story]
Posted in Asia, China, Human rights, Labour/labor unions, protests | Tagged china, Human rights, Labour/labor unions, protests |
By Michael Allen on February 27, 2009
Democracy activists are expressing concern at the detention of Madock Chivasa, chairperson of Zimbabwe’s Youth Forum and spokesperson for the National Constitutional Assembly, after he was arrested Thursday evening along with several other activists.
Five members of the Chivasa family were severely assaulted last year by over 30 ZANU-PF members, using staves, shamboks and whips.
The arrest [read full story]
Posted in Africa, Elections, Human rights, Labour/labor unions, NGOs/Civil society, dissidents | Tagged dissidents, Elections, Labour/labor unions, NGOs/Civil society, Zimbabwe |
By Michael Allen on February 18, 2009
Economic austerity will not stop Canada establishing a new non-partisan democracy promotion agency, insists Steven Fletcher, the government’s minister of state for democratic reform.
The government made a commitment in the Throne Speech at the opening of parliament to establish a body that would “support the peaceful transition to democracy in repressive countries and help emerging [read full story]
Posted in Democracy assistance, Labour/labor unions, NGOs/Civil society, Women, democracy promotion, promoting democracy | Tagged Democracy assistance, democracy promotion, Labour/labor unions, NGOs/Civil society, Women |
By Michael Allen on February 11, 2009
On February 15, Venezuelans will vote on a constitutional amendment to eliminate president term limits, allowing President Hugo Chávez to seek a third term. The proposed amendments look likely to be approved, but a spate of layoffs by the PDVSA state oil company may have an impact.
“There is a double discourse here — President Chávez [read full story]
Posted in Labour/labor unions, Venezuela | Tagged chavez, Labour/labor unions, referendum, venezuela |
By Michael Allen on February 10, 2009
The news that a pro-Palestinian blogger has been kidnapped by security forces has drawn attention to the role of bloggers in Egypt’s protest movement. Recent cases involving pro-Hamas activists also highlight the fact that not all of the country’s bloggers are well-meaning digital democrats.
Young Egyptian activists are using Facebook and similar social networking technologies to [read full story]
Posted in Blogs, Egypt, Labour/labor unions, democracy promotion, promoting democracy, protests | Tagged Blogs, democracy promotion, Egypt, Labour/labor unions, promoting democracy, protests |
By Michael Allen on February 9, 2009
The Latin America and Caribbean Network for Democracy has expressed its deep concern at the “serious threat to freedom of religion and worship” in Venezuela following recent attacks against the Maripérez Synagogue and the Catholic Church. The network states that recent official statements by President Hugo Chavez and other government figures have “brought violence against [read full story]
Posted in Cuba, Labour/labor unions, Latin America and the Carribean, NGOs/Civil society, Venezuela, authoritarianism | Tagged authoritarianism, cuba, Labour/labor unions, Latin America and the Carribean, NGOs/Civil society, venezuela |
By Michael Allen on February 6, 2009
Russia’s sovereign democracy appears less robust than its adherents suggest in the face of economic crisis, intra-elite divisions, and growing social unrest. The regime’s nervousness is evident in a recent spate of attacks on independent journalists, civil society and union leaders, activists suggest.
“The authorities are working to neutralize their potential opponents in the future confrontation [read full story]
Posted in Labour/labor unions, NGOs/Civil society, Russia, authoritarianism, economic crisis | Tagged authoritarianism, economic crisis, Labour/labor unions, NGOs/Civil society, putin, Russia |
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