Home > Labour News > Demonstration by Thousands of Workers in Stockholm, Sweden

Demonstration by Thousands of Workers in Stockholm, Sweden

Jamshid Kargar

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 21:32:00

On September 18th, 2007, thousands of workers took to the streets in Stockholm, outraged by the recent right wing policies of the government where working class benefits have been cut, including sick pay and unemployment benefits.

Protestors included rank and file union members, senior citizens, women’s groups, environmentalists, refugees and immigrant groups as well as others from left organizations. The general proclamation were to bring down the government, the workers calling for general strike, and the formation of a workers party, despite the condemnation by union leaders and the Social Democrats who denounced protests that are ‘violent’ in nature.

Speeches by representatives from miners, teachers, women’s networks, and train drivers among others, were enraged at the Union Organization for even questioning the right to strike, rather than fighting for labour rights, as well as calling for the bringing down of the government itself.

Also, there was a huge frustration towards all the do-nothing unions and in this case the LO (Labour Organization) leadership which are trying to sell out the rights of the workers. General Strike – which was yelled by the workers in the demonstration is a clear indication of the frustration. Whether this demonstration is able to promote itself to the wider movement which has the ability to challenge all policy-makers from the right-wing to the left-wing but it could also be a real threat to all the leadership within the Unions. A similar situation occurred in the province of Ontario in Canada during the regime of Premier Mike Harris from the early 90’s to the early part of the millennium, during the Days of Action, when tens of thousands of workers were shouting for general strike, and then the entire campaign was flattened by the Union leadership.

This September’s demonstration which occurred mainly in Stockholm, but also in other cities, promised more. The working people of Sweden will support neither the leadership of the right-wing government nor the union leadership. They will continue the fight back for their livelihood which is ever-being stripped away by the deprecating policies of the Swedish government.

E-MAIL THIS

PRINT THIS

Recent Articles:

Workers and their Families Suffer Immigration Raids

Approximately 3,000 demonstrators took to the streets in Postville Iowa, a number greater than the actual population of this small town in Iowa, United States, supporting the workers who, back in May 2008 were arrested and charged with identity...

Working Teen Killed by Capitalism in Manitoba, Canada

On July 25th, 2008, a 15-year-old boy was killed at a construction site in Stony Mountain, Manitoba when he was literally buried by hot asphalt.

Wages of the Kian Tyre Workers Not Paid

The struggle of the Kian Tyre workers still goes on.

Fourteen Thousand Strike in Vietnam

With consumer prices rising steadily in Vietnam, 14,000 Hwa Seung Vina footwear workers are demanding an $18 raise and rejected the compromised raise from management of $12.

Strike Against German Airline Lufthansa

July 28, 2008 - Approximately 5,000 freight, catering and maintenance staff walked off the jobs at midnight after the Verdi service union representing 52,000 workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of an indefinite strike.

Worker Unrest in China

Social uprising in China continues as migrant workers have rioted for three days in eastern China after a migrant worker was beaten up by security guards.

Strikes Continue in Peru

Miners began another strike at Shougang Hierro Peru on Monday July 13th, 2008.

Wildcat Strike in Vietnam

Six thousand workers have begun a strike as of July 3, 2008 at a Vietnam textile plant called Chutex group demanding pay raises.

Nationwide Strike of Miners in Peru

On June 30th, 2008, a national strike began by more than 28,000 miners of more than a dozen mines with demands for increased wages, a shorter work day, and better pensions including a demand that Congress pass legislation that afford them a bigger...

Mineworkers Walk off Job in Peru

For the third time in fourteen months Peruvian mineworkers have staged a national strike for better pay and benefits.

Workers Killed and Injured on the Job

June 9, 2008, Stelllenbosch, South Africa: Five workers have died and thirteen have been injured when a sub-contractor was demolishing a wall at an old wine cellar in Stellenbosch in the wine region of South Africa.

Diamond Workers Strike in Namibia

June 2008 – Approximately 200 workers of Lev Leviev Diamonds (LLD) factory have been striking for four days without the support of their union.

The Unbridled Savagery of German Capitalists on the Way Paved by Trade Unions

The 21st century is a disgusting comedification of the tragedy of the exploitation of labour power by capital. The form of such a farce is different in different parts of the world. In Iran, the tragic comedy is made up of the owed back wages to...

Shoe Workers Strike in Vietnam

Hai Phong City, Vietnam – nearly than 7,000 shoe workers walked off the job with demands for higher wages.

Petrotrin Oil Workers Work Stoppage

May 8, 2008 – It is now the second day of a strike for 6,000 workers of Trinidad and Tobago’s state-owned Petrotrin in protest to health and safety issues and fears of job cuts.