8 December, 2011The strike against US-based Freeport-McMoRan by the ICEM-affiliated PT Freeport Workers' Union runs into its 11th week. The union plans another notice to extend the strike to January 15, 2012.

25 November, 2011The month long strike by members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) at Xstrata smelters in Rustenburg ended on November 25 with an agreement that a joint task team would investigate wage disparities and address these with immediate effect once the investigation is complete.

25 November, 2011Wage increases of 3,8 percent for 75,000 steelworkers, and permanent status for trainees. That is the result of negotiations between IG Metall and employers in the steel sector in the three German states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Bremen.

22 November, 2011360 representatives from IMF affiliates in 47 countries are on their way to IMF meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, December 5-8.

29 December, 2011On December 19-20 the two largest Russian union federations held a conference in support of the bill to completely ban agency labour.

23 December, 2011German trade unionists picket GEA headquarters demanding justice for 62 GEA workers in Turkey locked-out since July. It is the 4th action in recent months to demand respect for labour norms by the multinational.

21 December, 2011Although no legally-binding agreement could be reached at COP17, countries officially met one of the industrial workers' demands, the creation of a Green Climate Fund. The workers now need to influence the design of the fund.

20 December, 2011While thousands joined the United Steelworkers (USW) on December 17 at a solidarity rally to support 1,051 locked-out members at Cooper Tire and Rubber since November 28, workers at other Cooper Tire facilities in Europe showed their support.

19 December, 2011Whilst delegates at COP17 agreed to extend the Kyoto Protocol to 2017, at best this protocol, the only legally binding agreement to reduce emissions, is on life support, with Canada being the first to pull the plug.

8 December, 2011Members of the International Association of Machinists voted on December 8 to accept an agreement with Boeing that includes a firm commitment to future manufacturing in Puget Sound and Portland.