European Union leaders all agree that deep cuts are needed—but they are sharply divided over how to slash Greek workers’ living standards.
The first round of the French regional elections last Sunday saw a heavy defeat for the ruling right wing party of Nicolas Sarkozy.
Hundreds of thousands of Italian workers held a four-hour general strike on Friday of last week against the policies of right wing prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
On the eve of Greece’s third general strike last week, Panepistimiou Street in Athens was packed with several hundred people, huddled around lit braziers.
Europe is in turmoil. Bosses are desperate to force workers to pay for the economic crisis.
More than half of France’s oil refineries were on strike as Socialist Worker went to press.
More than 250,000 public sector workers in Ireland are on a work to rule.
A strike by German Lufthansa airline pilots stopped more than 800 flights on Monday.
Goodluck Jonathan has been sworn in as acting president of Nigeria after three months with no leader. The only caveat is that "the president will automatically resume office… once he is well enough". The story of the missing president has continued since November, leaving Africa's most populous country with no functioning government. This is doubly strange as Nigeria is a major regional power sitting on large oil reserves.
Five Turkish trade union federations held a one-day general strike in solidarity with 12,000 Tekel workers on Thursday of last week.
The Turkish TUC has called a national day of action in support of the ongoing Tekel workers’ action in the capital, Ankara.
"Never again will the American taxpayer be held hostage by a bank that is too big to fail. If these folks want a fight, it’s a fight I’m ready to have."
