News from around the world

In mid-March China Labor Bulletin reported “After a month in which there were virtually no worker protests in China because much of the country was on lockdown, workers are beginning to take collective action again. Many protests have been related to the economic distress caused by the coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic.” One of the the most mobilized sectors is that of taxi-drivers. We republish CLB’s report below.

In France, Amazon continues to operate as if nothing had happened, despite the mobilization of the staff and warnings from trade unions, the inspectorate and the occupational health authorities, as well as criticism from the Ministers of the Economy and Labour.

Our sister magazine in French Inprecor is a monthly printed magazine. Lockdown and thus closure of the print shop means the new issue cannot be printed. Therefore it is exceptionally available in PDF format.

The Fourth International and its organizations around the world are reacting to this crisis with periodic statements.

On 9 April Olivier Besancenot "the most famous postal worker in France” tweeted:

It is clear that we are about to experience a massive social crisis far beyond anything experienced thus far in Pakistan. Haqooq-e-Khalq Movement is announcing an emergency #LabourReliefCampaign to help vulnerable workers.

This petition has been launched by Turkish activists.

Borders are killing, open the borders!

For a free world without borders, exploitation, and exile.

On Saturday 29 February Emmanuel Macron called an emergency cabinet meeting, allegedly to discuss the Coronavirus emergency. However he also used it to decide that parliamentary debate on the much-contested pension reform would be cut short by using the constitutional clause “49-3” thereby meaning the reform would be adopted without a vote.

This open Letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres was sent by Nazneen Habib and Jahan Ara, sisters of Baba Jan, on the eve of his visit to Lahore.