Roff's Labour Histories
Robin
Jane Roff reminds us that today's labour struggles are based on
struggles of the past. Here are her reports on significant moments in
labour's histories around the world. Robin is a labour researcher based
in Vancouver Canada. Her reports can be heard in Friday editions of
RadioLabour news.
Too often as we hear about the current struggles of working people we forget our past. And a past forgotten is a future lost. We forget how brave women and men fought to win improved working conditions for themselves and better lives for their families. Here in the first of a series of reports on labour history around the world is Robin Jane Roff. She reports on the time in 1971 when workers employed by the Valika Group of Industries in Karachi, Pakistan stood up for their rights, and what happened next.
Cuban
Revolutionary Radio Station, 1958
The international labour movement is built on the past struggles
of working men and women. Here is Robin Jane Roff with her regular
feature on events in the history of the movement. In this week’s report
she tells us about the birth of a radio station that helped Cuban
workers fight off a brutal dictatorship and its fake unions.
Malaysian
Rubberworkers Strike, 1999
Rubberworkers in Malaysia are in a constant struggle to improve
their indecently low wages, poor working conditions and inadequate
housing. Robin Jane Roff looks back at a historically important strike
of the rubber workers in April 1999 which set the stage for today’s
struggles.
US Trade Union
Education League
The First
Strike: Egypt, 1,000 BCE
The labour movement in Egypt has been struggling for a long time,
a very long time. Here is Robin Jane Roff with a report of a worker’s
strike 3,000 years ago.
Valika Workers, Pakistan, 1971
Too often as we hear about the current struggles of working people we forget our past. And a past forgotten is a future lost. We forget how brave women and men fought to win improved working conditions for themselves and better lives for their families. Here in the first of a series of reports on labour history around the world is Robin Jane Roff. She reports on the time in 1971 when workers employed by the Valika Group of Industries in Karachi, Pakistan stood up for their rights, and what happened next.
February 7, 2010
Cuban
Revolutionary Radio Station, 1958
The international labour movement is built on the past struggles
of working men and women. Here is Robin Jane Roff with her regular
feature on events in the history of the movement. In this week’s report
she tells us about the birth of a radio station that helped Cuban
workers fight off a brutal dictatorship and its fake unions. February 21, 2010
International Women’s Day
Some countries around the world have minimized the political and economic aspects of International Women’s Day. They’ve changed it into another sort of Valentines Day or Mother’s Day with flowers and chocolates with little discussion of the status of women in their societies. But we should remember that the Day grew out of the political and economic struggles of women around the world. We should remember its history. Here is Robin Jane Roff with a report on the history of International Women’s Day.March 7, 2010
Privatizing Water in Bolivia, 2000
When unionists fight for decent public services they fight not only for themselves, but for everybody in society. An example of this is the trade union fight, led globally by Public Services International - the PSI – to fight the privatization of water systems in countries. The pressure to privatize, especially in developing countries, often comes as blackmail from the World Bank. The Bank says “privatize your water system” or we’ll stop loans to the country. Robin Jane Roff reports on what happened when the World Bank tried this in Bolivia, in 2000.March 21, 2010
The On-to-Ottawa Trek, 1937
When we consider the recent protests in Greece, Panama, France and many other countries we should remember that working men and women have always had to fight for their rights. During the Great Depression for example working people had to fight back as best they could. Here is a report by Robin Jane Roff about thousands of workers marching towards Canada’s capital, Ottawa, in 1935.April 4, 2010
French Student-Worker Strikes, 1968
2010 was a year of general strikes in France. IT reminded many of 1968 when students and workers declared a general strike and brough down the government of Charles DeGaulle. Robin Jane Roff reports on the 1968 strikes.May 16
Poland's Solidarnosc
One of the most significant events in trade union history in the past 50 years was the establishment of the first independent union in the USSR. Robin Jane Roff reports on the rise of the union called Solidarity in Poland.June 6, 2010
Malaysian
Rubberworkers Strike, 1999
Rubberworkers in Malaysia are in a constant struggle to improve
their indecently low wages, poor working conditions and inadequate
housing. Robin Jane Roff looks back at a historically important strike
of the rubber workers in April 1999 which set the stage for today’s
struggles.August 22, 2010
Public Employee Strike, South Africa, 1987
No matter how it ends, the current strike of public employees in South Africa will forever effect the country. As Robin Jane Roff reminds us other strikes in the country have proven to be important agents of change. She tells us about a strike of gold and coal miners in 1987 which helped to bring down apartheidAugust 29, 2010
Allende Coup in Chile, 1973
September 11th is a date now engraved in many minds as the day a bunch of deranged terrorists falsely pretending to represent Islam killed almost 3,000 people at the World Trade Centre in New York. But as Robin Jane Roff reminds us September 11 is also the day some 3,000 people were killed when Chilean President Salvador Allende was removed from power in a bloody coupSeptember 12, 2010
Birth of the United Nations, 1945
Sixty-five years ago delegates from all around the world met in San Francisco in the United States, to create a global body dedicated to world peace and development – the United Nations. The UN includes the body which focusses on issues related to work in the world – the International Labour Organization – the ILO. Robin Jane Roff reminds us of the birth the UN when the world was still trying to survive the effects of two world wars.October 24, 2010
US Trade Union
Education League
In November, 2010 in the United States the right wing won
control of the country's lower federal
legislative body – the House of
Representatives. Only one member of this legislative body calls himself
-
openly – a democratic socialist. But as Robin Jane Roff reminds us,
there was a
time in the US when the democratic left
had a bigger role. This was especially evident in the 1920s when
radical labour
educators were creating socialist labour colleges and movements. One such educational movement was the Trade
Union Education League – TUEL - led by William Foster.
November 7th, 2010
The First
Strike: Egypt, 1,000 BCE
The labour movement in Egypt has been struggling for a long time,
a very long time. Here is Robin Jane Roff with a report of a worker’s
strike 3,000 years ago.November 21, 2010
The Death of Lenin
87 years ago, on
January 21, Vladimir illyrich Lenin died. Lenin was the Marxist leader
of the Russian Revolution of 1917. He left behind a controversial
legacy. Robin Jane Roff reports.
January 21, 2011
The 1988 seafarers strike in Britain
In
the late 1980s seafarers in Britain began to be hit harshly by the effects of
globalization as shipping companies cut wages. The seafarers, organized by the
National Union of Seamen, went on strike, February 4, 1988. Robin Jane Roff
reports,
February 4, 2011
Anniversary of Hungary's first blue collar union
Out of labour struggles can come great and positive changes for a country. Here is Robin Jane Roff with a report on the creation of the first blue collar union in Hungary on February 25, 1989.
February 25 , 2011
1963 New York newspaper strike
In 1963 an historic strike by newspaper ended after 114 days on the picket line. The strike has lessons for the use of digital technologies today.
April 1 , 2011