Strike Action on 8th March International Women's Day

[Riklet]

Nothing on here so far that I could see yet. But I think this is going to be a big thing in various countries. Definitely not just women striking, as some links seem to suggest.

UK link with some info. Does anyone know of any solidarity actions or anything else going on?

General strikes and strike action called in Spain and in Italy. Guide from CNT in forrin.

I will be striking this Thursday with the general strike called here, my union is one of the ones supporting it. There are some striking for 24 hours and the main unions have called for 2 blocks of 2 hour stoppages. Currently undecided about whether to strike the whole day or not, but legally we don't have to tell work here in advance although they have requested we let them know (undecided over this).

There is ongoing pending industrial action at my workplace. Redundancies. Lots of grumbling and moaning. And a divided position on this strike. Lots of people don't support it, don't see it as relevant to them or organised and clear enough to be worth supporting. Plenty of others support it, or are changing their minds. I'd really appreciate any good information, stats, arguments etc that could be use to build last-minute support!

 

[Baronage-Phase]

Happy International Women's Day to everyone.

Don't know how effective it will be but Mary McAleese made some very pertinent comments about the mysogyny within the Catholic church.

Video link in the article..

Catholic Church resembles ‘a male bastion of patronising platitudes’, McAleese says

 

[Gramsci]

My partner is Spanish. Told me that in Spain it's been big this year.

 

[Riklet]

Been pretty huge yeah. 5 million or more on strike apparently.

Huge demos and discussion across society, action all across the country generally. And plenty of loud messages about precarious work conditions and the impact of austerity and the financial crisis. It all happened quite quickly too imo, and although various groups organised it initially until trades unions joined in it has been quite locally and informally organised. Didnt hear much about the whole thing until like a bit over a week ago.

This morning everyone in admin went out together and left the two bosses together in an empty room for 2 hours (pretty sure one is furious). Not everyone did the strike at my work but lots did, and striking aggressively for change is refreshing rather than defence and 'we are being forced into it'. Still, lots of women who couldn't or couldnt afford to or were scared to across Spain in general, but this will go down in history. And plenty of young women will get lots of confidence out of this.

Got some good photos of Madrid demo will try and upload soon.

 

[ddraig]

 

[ska invita]

I wonder what it would take to happen in the UK... What happened in Spain to make it so widely supported?

 

[kalidarkone]

I'm wondering how the NHS could be involved in this?-haven't heard anything through the unions-probably too radical?

I'm being encouraged to strike on Friday but won't be because the effect of me doing so would be very disproportionate to the amount of trouble it would cause me my colleagues and patients. However I would strike if it was organised with my union (GMB). It puts me in a terrible ethical dilemma that I can hardly think about by myself.

 

[Cold Harbour]

I'm wondering how the NHS could be involved in this?-haven't heard anything through the unions-probably

I was at the TUC Women's Conference today and earlier this week. No mention of strikes, although PCS are balloting all civil service members for a big one soon apparently (unrelated to IW's Day though obvs).

 

[cathal marcs]

I wonder what it would take to happen in the UK... What happened in Spain to make it so widely supported?

In short, the lack of class politics.

Anyway, here is my tuppenceworth.

Despite the huge number at the protests, there exists a myriad of opinions as the amount of people who I know who vote PP and Ciudadanos (and will no doubt vote them again) went to a march in their towns. Likewise, the day was celebrated by figures like Ana Botín, Queen Letizia, and Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations.


In regard to the numbers and how radical the day was there are two things that ought to be differentiated.


1) The Strike, which was not so popular, but more radical and had teeth to it.

2) The protest marches, that were extremely popular and filled the streets.


How this grows over the long term and the impact it will have on the lives of working women doesn’t fill me with optimism. The Spanish left very rarely talk about class, even Podemos have tried to style themselves as neither left or right wing etc. This absence of class politics has meant cross-class, intersectional transversal politics have filled the void and all the main parties except Vox are arguing about who is the most feminist. Even more alarming is the fact that Manuela Carmena held an event to celebrate the day with top females in the world of business and commerce like the President of Microsoft in Spain Pilar López. The look on the face of the waiting staff says it all.