A ‘Robin Hood’ Tax on Banks Could Raise Billions to Fight Poverty

A “Robin Hood” tax on banks’ financial transactions could raise hundreds of billions of pounds (dollars) to fight poverty, protect public services and tackle climate change, according to a campaign launched Feb. 10 by an unprecedented coalition of 50 domestic charities, and agencies, unions, faith organizations and green groups. The campaign is calling on the leaders of U..K.'s political parties to support a global tax on the banks to help repair the human damage caused by the global economic crisis.

Alistair Constance, a founder of Ethical Currency, which already levies a voluntary rate of 0.005 percent on all currency transactions, said: “Billions of pounds whiz round the global financial system every day. A tiny tax on each transaction is absolutely practical and will hardly be noticed by those paying it. But it could still raise billions to help make the world a better place.”

The market for financial transactions has exploded in the last decade and is now worth 60 times global GDP. Before the financial crisis, banking was the most profitable industry in the world, with profits five times that of the pharmaceutical industry and three times bigger than privatized utilities, according to consultants McKinney & Company. At the same time, the financial sector is not taxed as much as other sectors.

Greek Unions Strike in Showdown with Government’s Austerity Plan

A strike by civil servants on Feb. 10 grounded flights and shut many state schools and offices in the first big test of the socialist government’s resolve to tackle a debt crisis that has shaken the countries linked to the euro currency. Unions oppose plans to freeze public wages, slash the salary supplements that many Greeks get on top of their basic wages, and replace only one in five people leaving the civil service.

The public sector strike comes a day after the government announced fresh measures to further cut the public wage bill and raise taxes, defying unions with plans to save 800 million euros ($US $1.1 billion) this year. The Greek government’s colossal debt has compelled other euro-linked countries to consider bailing out Greece or face an additional financial crisis on top of the one they are recovering from.

EU leaders will be meeting in Brussels to discuss Greece’s financial situation, and big-time investors are expecting an agreement on the size of a bailout. But a major condition of a bailout is if the Greek government holds fast to its austerity plan.. ADEDY, which represents a half a million workers, said it was likely to join a Feb. 24 private sector work stoppage or stage another strike in March.

South African Unions Show Solidarity with Burmese Strikers

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has declared its solidarity with the 2,000 workers from three factories in Burma, who have gone on strike for better wages and for the reduction of hours from the current 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. They have also demanded that their workplaces and dining halls be made more hygienic with better sanitation. COSATU calls upon the workers and democrats around the world to express their support for “these brave striking workers” and to demand that all governments “refuse to have any relations with this anti-worker dictatorship.”

There are 50,000 to 70,000 workers in Hiking Thayer, the biggest industrial zone in Burma, with over 800 storages, garment factories, foodstuff units, a wood industry, as well as chemical and general merchandise factories. Up to two million men, women, children and the elderly are forced to work for the Burmese military, constructing roads, dams, railways and army camps.

In November 2000, the International Labor Organization (ILO) took the unprecedented step of calling on all governments to adopt sanctions against Burma. It accused the Burmese military regime of a “crime against humanity” for its systematic use of forced labor, but it had very little effect on the behavior of the Burmese military junta.

Teamsters Win Right to Represent 7,600 Workers at Continental Air

After several failed attempts over 12 years, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) finally succeeded on Feb. 12 in winning the right to represent 7,600 ground workers at Continental Airlines. Until the IBT victory, Continental ramp workers were also among the largest single group of non-union employees in the airline industry. Now, they have made the nation’s fourth largest airline a union shop, from top to bottom.

For the Teamsters, who organized 43,000 new members in 2008, their success relied heavily on hundreds of trained and dedicated rank-and-file members who attended an “Organizers’ Boot Camp.” The union had to win a majority of votes of all workers in the bargaining unit, including those who did not show up to vote.

“Wages for the ramp workers start at about $10 an hour,” said Chris Moore, chairman of the Teamsters Aviation Mechanics Coalition, “but only about half work full time. After more than10 years, lead agents earn a little more than $21 an hour,” he said. With their new bargaining rights, Continental’ ground crews hope to recover some of the lost ground of the past few years.

Mexican Court Rules Against Strike of I,100 Copper Miners

A Mexican appeals court allowed the Group Mexico mining company to fire 1,100 striking workers, members of the National Union of Mine and Metalworkers, at the Cananea copper mine. The strike at the massive pit began in July 2007 over health and safety concerns. Workers were also upset that their union leader, Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, was forcefully removed from his position by the government in 2006. Gomez, who is now living in Canada, spoke out against the Mexican government and Grupo Mexico in response to a tragic mine accident that left 65 miners dead.

In a big win for the company, the court ruled with Grupo Mexico, which had argued that the mine was inoperable and “in force majeure” because of damage sustained from neglect and sabotage since the strike began in July 2007. “The collective bargaining with the mining union from today on, no longer exists,” said the company’s lawyer, Cristina Rocha. The union’s lawyer, Carlos de Buena, conceded that the court’s decision was final.

The union, which represents the 1,100 strikers, says it will not give up “Of course we will not leave the mine installations,“ union spokesman Javier Zuniga told reporters. “We will respond with our hands to any aggression by the security forces…We are on red alert. “Zuniga said.

Opal Boss Unveils Plan to Slash 8,300 Jobs

Opel boss Nick Reilly presented a plan for the future of the ailing General Motors unit, with a forecast loss of 8,300 jobs from a total work force of about 50,000. Fewer than half the cuts, or 3,911, would take place in Germany, Reilly said. While management would lose 650 positions, manufacturing would bear the brunt of the cuts.

Reilly also confirmed that a plant in Antwerp, Belgium would be shut down, with the loss of 2,377 jobs. Spain will lose 900 jobs, while more than 500 are slated to be cut in Britain. A study by independent auditors, demanded by German authorities, said “the plan is financially sound and offers a realistic roadmap to renewed business success.”

General Motors had originally decided to sell Opel/Vauxhill, but changed its mind after its own rescue by the U.S. government and now has plans to turn Opal around by itself. GM needs €3.3 billion ($4.5 billion) to finance its Opal rescue plan, and hopes o get €2.7 billion where Opel and its British sister brand, Vauxhall, have operations.

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