Most schools are occupied by pupils demanding a series of practical changes in: a) infrastructure (such as heating, insulation etc), b) provision of free books (as entitled by the free education scheme of the country), c) staff (too few teachers for too many schools). A few high-schools are occupied as a move of total negation of education (to these refers the Nuclei of Fire communique that has caused a sensation in the national media). http://libcom.org/news/high-school-occupations-snowball-response-repression-greece-04112009

Six trade unionists in Kanaky (New Caledonia) have been sentenced to jail and a further 18 union activists recieved suspended sentences! Gerard Jodar, leader of the Union of Kanaky and Exploited Workers (USTKE), was sentenced to one year prison. Mr Safoka, who works closely with Mr Jodar, has also been condemned to one year in jail. Two other union activists were given ten months of jail, another one six months, another one four months. The convictions stem from a industrial dispute with Air Caledonie in May, when hundreds of people stormed Magenta airport.

Speaking to reporters, the USTKE founder and leader of the Labour Party, Louis Kotra Uregei, questions the type of justice that send unionists to prison. “I strongly condemn this type of decision and I’m calling on those who have trusted us and trust us to fight alongside us so that this country one day frees itself of this colonial justice.” There will be a massive marches in Nouméa this Saturday to demand the freedom of all the political prisoners.

Links: USTKE (in French) http://www.ustke.org/

Wildcats; over 15,000 Bangladeshi garment workers "go berserk" and attack factories over non-payment and low wages Two major outbreaks of garment workers' fury have occurred this week. http://libcom.org/news/wildcats-over-15000-bangladeshi-garment-workers-go-berserk-attack-factories-over-non-paymen

On Sunday night (May 10) at the Rupashi Sweater factory in Narayanganj (a river port town in central Bangladesh and centre of jute and textiles industries) bosses were attacked by a group of workers demanding their unpaid wages. When they turned up for work on Monday morning, workers found themselves locked out of the factory.

The workers then marched to other factories - shouting slogans for higher wages - and brought out thousands of other workers. (Some reports indicate that two groups of workers clashed at one factory - whether because they refused to join the demonstrators and/or because they were hurt when the factory was attacked is unclear. Photos suggest the clash may have been between workers and security and management personnel of the factory attacked.)