The Andes
Colombia: peace process in jeopardy?
Colombia's government announced that it will resume aerial bombardment of FARC positions after an ambush of troops by guerillas who seem to have violated a declared ceasefire.
Tag: labor
East Asia
Sichuan repression signals fear of social explosion
Deadly repression of a mass protest march over regional development issues in Linshui, Sichuan, comes as wildcat strikes are hitting China's mineral sector.
Mexico
Mexico: Zapatistas support striking farmworkers
Zapatista leaders in Chiapas declared support for striking farmworkers in Baja California's San Quintín Valley, who clashed with police at a march for a $13-a-day minium wage.
The Caribbean
Haiti: new general strike shuts down capital
Political and economic issues combined to generate an effective two-day general strike that was honored in the capital and some other parts of Haiti.
Mexico
Mexico: authorities ‘rescue’ maquila workers
The Mexican government said it raided an assembly plant in Jalisco and saved 129 workers from labor abuse, although there are now some questions about the action.
The Caribbean
Haiti: union and maquilas negotiate on pay
Union organizers say three apparel companies have finally agreed to pay the legal minimum wage and even to provide some of the retroactive pay owed to workers.
The Andes
Peru: youth protest labor law
Thousands of youth marched on Peru's Congress to demand repeal of a new labor law cutting benefits to young workers. Street clashes with police left 20 detained.
Central America
Costa Rica: state to compensate Nemagon victims
After decades of effort, some 14,000 ex-banana workers are finally getting compensation for their exposure to a dangerous pesticide in Costa Rica.
The Andes
Colombia: US embassy staff beat GM protesters
On a day when US labor activists charged that GM has bribed Colombian officials, US embassy personnel in Colombia were assaulting injured GM workers at a protest.
Central America
Central America: refugee ‘crisis’ plan gets a debut
Using the pretext of last spring's uptick in immigration by Central American children, the US is pushing for still more of its failed "drug war" and "free trade" policies.
Central America
Latin America: GAO reports on FTA labor violations
The US has been requiring its "free trade" partners to meet certain labor standards. A US government report raises questions about the policy's effectiveness.
Southeast Asia
Philippines: justice deferred in 2004 massacre
A decade after striking workers were massacred at Hacienda Luisita in Central Luzon, nobody has been brought to justice. Survivors now demand resignation of President Aquino.