Americas
California farm workers strike over COVID-19; port workers in Belize and Montreal stage protests
Workers Struggles: The Americas
7 July 2020
Farm workers in Wasco, California began picketing after finding coworkers had been infected with COVID-19 while dockworkers in Belize and Montreal staged protests over cuts.
Growing protests across the America’s over coronavirus response
Workers Struggles: The Americas
30 June 2020
Film industry workers in Buenos Aires, workers at US Disneyland and warehouse workers in Quebec are just some of the thousands of workers launching protests and job actions over employers’ response to COVID-19 pandemic.
As COVID ravages Latin America, workers continue to protest response
Workers Struggles: The Americas
23 June 2020
Bridgestone workers in Argentina, hospital workers in Peru and delivery drivers in Brazil were just some of the workers joining protests this past week.
Argentine rubber workers; Mexican health workers strike over COVID-19 response
Workers Struggles: The Americas
16 June 2020
Rubber workers at the Bridgestone-Firestone plant in Llavallol, Argentina and Mexican health care workers staged strikes and protests over lack of adequate protection from exposure to coronavirus.
Protest in Panama against premature reopening in face of spreading COVID-19
Workers Struggles: The Americas
9 June 2020
Despite the highest level of COVID-19 cases in Latin America, the government of Panama is reopening the economy regardless of workers’ health concerns.
Protests as COVID-19 outbreak surges in Latin America
Workers Struggles: The Americas
2 June 2020
Health care workers in Argentina and Brazil have staged protests against government neglect as COVID-19 surges throughout the region.
Health care workers in Colombia protest over protective equipment
Workers Struggles: The Americas
26 May 2020
Colombian health care workers staged a protest last week in the capital Bogotá to protest lack of adequate provision of personal protective equipment.
St. Paul nurse fired by Allina Healthcare in dispute over lack of protective equipment
Workers Struggles: The Americas
19 May 2020
A registered nurse at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota was fired May 8 after raising concerns over lack of PPE and the shutting out of health care workers over discussion on safety issues.
Protest by El Salvador autoworkers over nonpayment of wages; actions continue over coronavirus response
Workers Struggles: The Americas
12 May 2020
Workers at the Yasaki auto parts factory in Santa Ana, El Salvador protested the nonpayment of wages while workers across Latin America continued protests over lack of protective equipment.
Chile protests resume as workers across the Americas protest lack of COVID-19 protection
Workers Struggles: The Americas
5 May 2020
Antigovernment protests resumed in Chile after a disruption caused by the pandemic, while workers across the Americas protested the inadequate government response to the health danger posed by the coronavirus.
Strikes continue at over 30 manufacturing plants along the US-Mexico border
Workers Struggles: The Americas
28 April 2020
Workers at maquiladora factories are demanding management shut down unessential industries and pay workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Protests across North and South America continue over lack of coronavirus protections
Workers Struggles: The Americas
31 March 2020
Health care workers in Mexico, Coca Cola workers in Chile, sanitation workers in North Carolina and Hamilton, Ontario, are among those staging strikes and protests against inadequate safety measures in face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Twenty-three die in Colombia prison revolt over coronavirus conditions
By Julian James, 24 March 2020
Amid fears of the rapidly spreading pandemic, prison riots erupted across Colombia and were brutally suppressed by prison guards.
Mexican medical workers protest lack of supplies
Workers Struggles: The Americas
24 March 2020
Medical workers in a number of cities in Mexico have staged protests over the lack of critical supplies needed to treat patients and protect doctors and nurses.
Uruguayan teachers strike; Saskatchewan teachers begin job action
Workers Struggles: The Americas
17 March 2020
Teachers in Uruguay staged a one-day strike March 11 over the government’s economic proposal, while 13,000 teachers across Saskatchewan began rotating jobs actions.
Brazilian postal workers take strike vote; Salt Lake City teachers rally at Utah capitol
Workers Struggles: The Americas
3 March 2020
More than 100,000 Brazilian postal workers are set to strike as teachers in the state of Utah rallied to demand education funding
Mexican media workers strike, Montreal stevedores authorize strike
Workers Struggles: The Americas
25 February 2020
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
British Columbia, Canada forestry workers betrayed
Workers Struggles: The Americas
18 February 2020
An eight-month strike by some 3,000 British Columbia forestry workers ended last week after the union agreed to the imposition of an alternate work shift schedule that raises issues of safety.
More killed as poll shows half of Chile has joined protests
By Andrea Lobo, 7 February 2020
The demonstrations last week, as well as the ongoing walkouts at high schools signal a still latent social explosion.
Brazilian oil workers strike against mass layoffs, privatization threat
By Gabriel Lemos, 4 February 2020
The strike at the state-owned giant Petrobras comes amid strikes by other sections of public sector workers against Bolsonaro’s privatization program.
Ontario teachers broaden strike actions; Brazilian oil workers strike
Workers Struggles: The Americas
4 February 2020
Tens of thousands of teachers in Canada’s largest province are continuing their fight against the right wing government of Bill Ford, while workers at Brazil’s Petrobras have taken action over the privatization drive by the Bolsonaro administration.
Kitchener-Waterloo bus strike enters second week in Canada
Workers Struggles: The Americas
28 January 2020
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Venezuela’s Maduro offers Trump a “win-win” bargain
By Andrea Lobo, 21 January 2020
In an interview with the Washington Post, the Venezuelan president “suggested that a bonanza could be waiting for U.S. oil companies” if the White House ends sanctions.
French oil refinery workers join strikes; nurses walk out in Northern Ireland
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
10 January 2020
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Montreal Airport refuelers on strike
Workers Struggles: The Americas
7 January 2020
Workers in charge of refueling jets, employees of Swissport, have been on strike since December 31 over pay after overwhelmingly rejecting a management offer.
Two-day national postal workers strike in Mexico
Workers Struggles: the Americas
31 December 2019
Mexican postal workers are protesting the failure of management to live up to previous wage agreements as well as deteriorating working conditions.
Las Vegas apartment fire kills 6, injures 13 and displaces over 50 residents
By Jacob Crosse, 23 December 2019
Residents of the Alpine Motel Apartments reported no fire alarms or sprinklers went off, forcing them to leap out of windows to escape.
Ontario teachers plan new work stoppage
Workers Struggles: The Americas
10 December 2019
The walkout by Ontario public high school teachers and school support staff set for December 11 follows the first province-wide teachers strike held last week.
Coup regime in Bolivia announces “final phase of pacification”
By Andrea Lobo, 2 December 2019
Bolivian workers, peasants and youth have resisted with enormous bravery, while the MAS and trade unions have submitted to the coup.
Over 250 students arrested in Michigan by ICE in fake university scam
By Jacob Crosse, 29 November 2019
After arresting 161 students in January and February earlier this year, US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement revealed that they had detained an additional 91 students in an ongoing sting operation conducted by the federal agency.
In defiance of repression, Colombian workers mount second national strike in the past week
By Evan Blake, 28 November 2019
In the face of intense police repression that has already killed four protesters, workers and youth took to the streets to voice their hostility to the right-wing Duque administration.
National strike shakes Colombia’s right-wing government
By Evan Blake, 22 November 2019
In the latest eruption of the global class struggle, hundreds of thousands marched in over 100 cities demanding the ouster of President Duque.
Strike looms at Canadian National Railway
Workers Struggles: The Americas
19 November 2019
Some 3,000 conductors, trainspersons and yard workers were poised to strike Tuesday as contract talks between the Teamsters and Canadian National Railway reached an impasse over the weekend.
Dominican health workers strike, Chilean copper miners protest subcontracting
Workers Struggles: The Americas
12 November 2019
Healthcare workers in the Domincan Republic held a one day strike November 7 to press wage demands while Chilean copper miners are set to strike against the abuse of subcontract workers.
US-backed Colombian military kills eight children in bombing, attempts cover-up
By Andrea Lobo, 11 November 2019
The brazenness of military repression to defend the highest levels of inequality in the world is the result of over a century of imperialist oppression.
Ontario elementary teachers return big majority for strike authorization
Workers Struggles: The Americas
5 November 2019
Some 83,000 members of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario have given a 98 percent strike authorization vote as talks continue with the provincial government.
US detains record number of child migrants at the southwestern border
By Meenakshi Jagadeesan, 31 October 2019
According to new figures released on Tuesday, the United States has detained over 76,000 minors attempting to make the dangerous crossing at the US-Mexico border. This is a new record, 52 percent more than the detentions last year.
Teamsters warn of possible strike at CN Rail
Workers Struggles: The Americas
29 October 2019
Conductors and other railroad personnel gave a 99 percent strike mandate after months of negotiations have not resulted in an agreement.
Mass protests spread to Bolivia after a disruption in electoral broadcasts
By Andrea Lobo, 25 October 2019
Workers and youth have joined mass protests across of hundreds of thousands across all the major cities, including working class areas and pro-Morales strongholds like Cochabamba.
Dockworkers, miners initiate national strike as military kills 11 in Chile
By Eric London, 22 October 2019
Tens of thousands of workers declared strike action in response to a military crackdown resembling the military coup of 1973.
Buenos Aires metro workers strike over asbestos in trains
Workers Struggles: The Americas
22 October 2019
Workers are set to carry out a series of strikes and protests over the refusal of management to take any serious steps toward the removal of asbestos from trains.
Chilean railway workers walk out; strike vote by Vancouver BC transit workers
Workers Struggles: The Americas
15 October 2019
Workers at Ferroarriles del Pacífico struck eight cities in Chile over wages while 3,200 transit workers in Vancouver have voted to authorize strike action after months of futile negotiations.
Public employees union blocks strike by 55,000 Ontario education workers
Workers Struggles: The Americas
8 October 2019
A deal reached just before a midnight Sunday strike deadline by the Canadian Union of Public Employees ended the threat of a walkout by school support workers across the province that could have cancelled classes for up to 2 million students.
BC municipal workers authorize strike
Workers Struggles: The Americas
1 October 2019
The threatened strike by municipal workers in Coldstream, British Columbia comes as 1,000 hotel workers are continuing their strike in Vancouver and 3,000 BC forestry workers remain on strike against Western Forest Products.
Argentine teachers set for national strike; Vancouver B.C. hotel workers walk out
Workers Struggles: The Americas
24 September 2019
Argentine teachers have set a September 25 date for a nationwide strike to press wage demands while 1,000 hospitality workers in Vancouver, British Columbia have launched an indefinite strike
Regional strike against mining project fuels divisions within Peru’s crisis-ridden government
By Armando Cruz and Cesar Uco, 22 August 2019
Thousands of people joined the strike, confronting military police, blocking the Pan-American highway and the streets of Arequipa’s capital city and shutting down a major port.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro threatens Glenn Greenwald, ratchets up fascist rants
By Miguel Andrade, 13 August 2019
Bolsonaro is engaged in the buildup of a fascist movement based on the security forces, and feels emboldened by the wide consensus in ruling circles around his economic agenda.
Argentine teachers strike, Michigan road workers walk out, Blackjewell miners protest and BC forestry strike continues
Workers Struggles: The Americas
6 August 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
One year after its conference to “refound” the Fourth International
Argentina’s Partido Obrero splits with longtime leader Jorge Altamira
By Bill Van Auken, 5 August 2019
Amidst all of the charges and counter-charges within the PO, what emerges most clearly is that both factions base themselves entirely upon a petty-bourgeois nationalist orientation.
US Secretary of State Pompeo announces “new era” of US-Latin America reaction
By Andrea Lobo, 25 July 2019
Pompeo boasted about extraditing Assange, while demanding greater spying, anti-immigrant crackdowns and alignment with the US drive against its geopolitical rivals.
Two-day strike by Peruvian doctors
Workers Struggles: The Americas
23 July 2019
Doctors struck to press demands for increased funding for healthcare, salary increases and an end to supply shortages.
Argentine bus drivers carry out one-day strike, judge orders fines for American Airlines workers over protest actions
Workers Struggles: the Americas
16 July 2019
Bus drivers across Argentina carried out a one-day strike on July 11 to press wage demands.
Costa Rican public health workers strike over pay cut, government policies; truckers block highways
Workers Struggles: the Americas
9 July 2019
Three Costa Rican public health unions began strike action July 4 against government policies while Costa Rican truckers blockaded highways over imposition of a value added tax.
Chilean unions scramble to quell mass strike movement
By Andrea Lobo, 2 July 2019
The trade union bureaucracy led by the Chilean Workers United Center and its pseudo-left apologists are working to divide and end the strike movement.
Uruguay workers in one-day national strike
Workers Struggles: The Americas
2 July 2019
A June 24 strike called by the PIT-CNT trade union federation took place in the context of a worsening economic crisis that has seen continuing attacks on workers.
Ten years since the US-backed coup in Honduras
By Bill Van Auken, 28 June 2019
While Democrats posture as defenders of immigrants, Obama, the “deporter-in-chief” presided over a coup that devastated Honduras, driving its people from the country.
Striking Chilean copper miners defy police violence
By Rafael Azul, 21 June 2019
Last Tuesday, police attacked striking copper miners at the Chuquicamata mine in Chile.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Mass demonstrations in defense of education in Brazil, Honduran educators and doctors strike
4 June 2019
Mass protests are continuing in Brazil against education cuts by the right-wing Bolsanaro administration while striking Honduran teachers and doctors held protests against privatization of healthcare and education.
Chilean professors call for strike, teachers in Honduras begin nationwide walkout
Workers Struggles: The Americas
28 May 2019
Members of Chile’s College of Professors have set a June 3 strike date, meanwhile Honduran teachers declared a nationwide walkout over threats to privatize education.
Three-day strike by Mexican teachers against “education reforms”
Workers Struggles: the Americas
21 May 2019
Last week teachers all across Mexico took part in strikes and protests to oppose continuing attacks on public education being overseen by the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
One-day general strike in Colombia
Workers Struggles: The Americas
30 April 2019
Workers mobilized in opposition to the National Development plan being proposed by President Ivan Duque that would mean significant attacks on workers.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Argentine newspaper and casino workers strike
23 April 2019
Workers at Clarín and sports daily Olé walked off the job April 17 over the firing of 56 of their colleagues while workers struck all Buenos Aires-area casinos for 48 hours over threatened closures.
Mexican teachers protest while DHL and Amazon pilots protest stalled talks
Workers Struggles: The Americas
16 April 2019
Workers in a number of towns in Chiapas are protesting education “reforms” under the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador while air cargo pilots protested outside Amazon’s offices in Florence, Kentucky.
Guatemala and El Salvador discuss amnesty for war criminals
By Andrea Lobo, 9 April 2019
The ruling class is calling for forgiving and forgetting the mass murder, torture and other crimes carried out by US-backed dictatorships.
US independent trucker group calls for shutdown, protests in Argentina against austerity
Workers Struggles: The Americas
9 April 2019
A group of US owner-operator truckers has set April 12 for a protest over rates and regulatory issues, while tens of thousands in Argentina marched to protest the Macri government’s anti-worker economic policies.
New York Times laments stalled Venezuelan coup
By Bill Van Auken, 5 April 2019
The Times has a filthy record of supporting US wars for regime change and right-wing coups across the planet.
Mexican paper workers strike, demand ousting of company union
Workers Struggles: The Americas
2 April 2019
Paperworkers in the state of Tamaulipas struck March 29 to demand the expulsion of the Fasim union, which they accuse of siding with their employer, Absormex.
Argentina: Patagonian teachers vote to strike
Workers Struggles: The Americas
26 February 2019
Workers in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz have voted to strike over pay increases and staffing shortages caused by the layoff of thousands of teachers.
Colombian teachers in 24-hour national strike over attacks on public education
Workers Struggles: The Americas
19 February 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Series of regional strikes hit Argentina
Workers Struggles: The Americas
12 February 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Brazil service workers on strike, Ford workers end job action
Workers Struggles: the Americas
29 January 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Teachers protest in Venezuela, contract talks begin with US oil refiners
Workers Struggles: The Americas
22 January 2019
Teachers in Venezuela participated in strikes and protests last week over pay, which is being decimated by hyperinflation; some 30,000 US oil refinery workers face a February 1 contract deadline.
Six-hour strike by Honduran public health workers over wage demand
Workers Struggles: The Americas
15 January 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Almost 200,000 teachers prepare job actions against Ontario government
Workers Struggles: The Americas
14 January 2019
Teachers across the Canadian province of Ontario are escalating protests against Conservative Premier Doug Ford who has limited wage increases for all provincial public sector workers to 1 percent per year.
Chilean port workers resume protests over firings
Workers Struggles: The Americas
8 January 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Argentine teachers protest and strike over night school closures
3 January 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Ontario Tories to block power workers strike; Mexican teachers strike to demand bonus
Workers Struggles: The Americas
18 December 2018
Thousands of teachers in Baja California struck to demand payment of their year-end bonus last week while the Ontario Tory government has recalled the provincial legislature to illegalize a threatened strike by power workers.
Ford executives in Argentina convicted on 1970s torture charges
By Bill Van Auken, 13 December 2018
The Ford directors fingered militant workers to the military dictatorship’s police and helped set up a torture center inside the automaker’s Argentine plant.
Peruvian voters approve referendum proposals touted as answer to corruption
By Cesar Uco, 13 December 2018
President Vizcarra is seeking to use the referendum to refurbish the image of a bourgeois state that had lost all credibility in the eyes of the working class and the poor
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Chilean public workers and airline workers strike
11 December 2018
Public workers in Chile held a nationwide walkout December 6 to protest layoffs at the same time that airport workers for LATAM airline in Chile walked off the job in a pay dispute.
Chilean port workers strike over working conditions
Workers Struggles: The Americas
27 November 2018
Temporary port workers in Valparaíso, who are aptly called precarious, staged a November 22 walkout to press for better conditions including improvements in pay.
Strike call in Dominican Republic over fuel price rise, crumbling infrastructure while nurses press demands
Workers Struggles: The Americas
20 November 2018
Social organizations in the Dominican Republic have called for a 24-hour strike November 27 over issues including fuel price increases and the decrepit state of infrastructure.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
13 November 2018
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature
Work stoppages by Argentine air cabin crew members lead to flight cancellations
Workers Struggles: The Americas
6 November 2018
A surprise walkout by workers at three airlines on November 2 over downsizing led to number of flight cancellations at Jorge Newbery terminal outside of Buenos Aires.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Public workers protest in Venezuela; Canada Post workers continue rotating strikes
30 October 2018
Thousands of public sector workers rallied in Venezuela last week to protest falling living standards, while the Canadian Union of Postal Workers is continuing its strategy of impotent rotating one-day strikes in order to dissipate worker anger without seriously impacting mail delivery.
Mexican professors strike, Argentine teachers to hold one-day national strike
Workers Struggles: The Americas
23 October 2018
Professors at the Autonomous University of Morelos State and Zacatecas are continuing strike action while teachers in Argentina will hold a one-day strike and mobilization October 24.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
16 October 2018
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature
Chilean teachers in two-day national strike; BC forestry workers set to walk out
Workers Struggles: The Americas
9 October 2018
Tens of thousands of teachers struck across Chile on October 3 and 4 to press demands, including economic grievances, while 2,000 forestry workers in northern British Columbia in Canada are preparing to go on strike.
Costa Rican public workers’ strike enters its fourth week
Workers Struggles: The Americas
2 October 2018
The striking workers are resisting government austerity measures in the teeth of savage state repression.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Costa Rican workers and students protest fiscal “reforms;” Sun-Maid workers continue strike in California
18 September 2018
Costa Rican public sector workers, backed by students and others, protest anti-worker fiscal reforms last week; meanwhile 500 Sun-Maid workers are fighting management’s concession demands.
Brazil’s Workers Party drops Lula as candidate for president
By Miguel Andrade, 12 September 2018
Faced with a legal deadline, the PT substituted ex-São Paulo Mayor Fernando Haddad for the jailed former president.
Venezuela and the hypocrisy of US imperialism
By Bill Van Auken, 11 September 2018
While the US ruling establishment promotes aggression against Russia with claims of election “meddling,” it plots the overthrow of elected governments and military invasions.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Teachers in Argentina vote for limited strike actions
11 September 2018
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Argentine government announces “emergency” measures to face deepening recession and growing unrest
By Andrea Lobo, 5 September 2018
In his speech Monday, President Macri declared that the market had supported Argentina for two years and warned that “poverty will increase.”
Anti-Venezuelan pogrom in northern Brazil highlights official promotion of the country’s far-right
By Miguel Andrade, 28 August 2018
At least 1,200 Venezuelans were chased to the border, after dozens of Brazilians torched a camp where Army soldiers were screening migrants.
Venezuela’s Maduro government imposes capitalist shock therapy
By Bill Van Auken, 22 August 2018
Aimed at staving off an economic collapse, the plan places the full burden of the crisis on the backs of the Venezuelan working class.
Argentina on the brink of financial meltdown
By Cesar Uco, 22 August 2018
Following the collapse of the Turkish lira, Argentina has undertaken mega-devaluations, threatening an economic collapse.
Despite overwhelming strike vote
Trade union at Escondida copper mine in Chile seeks to shut down 18-month struggle
By Andrea Lobo, 15 August 2018
Against the efforts by the trade unions to isolate miners from a joint struggle across Chile and internationally, workers must form rank-and-file committees to take the fight in their own hands.
Venezuelan bus drivers protest shortages, census
Workers Struggles: the Americas
7 August 2018
Bus drivers held a demonstration in front of Venezuela’s Ministry of Transport building in Caracas, Venezuela August 3 to protest shortages of supplies and parts.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
31 July 2018
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Follow the WSWS