Global briefs
SOUTH AFRICA: Congress of South African Trade Unions spokesman Patrick Craven said the union federation was "appalled" by the revelations of business executives' soaring pay, as revealed by the South African economy news agency Business Report. Heading the list was CEO Chip Goodyear of the mining company BHP Billiton, with a $4.5 million package. Mr Craven pointed out that these are "the same business leaders who complain about the dangers of wage inflation and do everything possible to prevent their workers from getting even modest real increases in pay".* * * SPAIN: In a dramatic demonstration of non-violent civil disobedience, three protesters chained themselves with metal tubes to the tracks being used by a train carrying military equipment to a NATO training camp near Zaragosa. The camp is to be the site of exercises for the new NATO Response Force. The activists, supported by other demonstrators who hung banners with the messages "Stop NATO" and "Let's Stop Wars", were able to halt the train for two hours before they were dragged away by police. The protesters demanded the closure of all NATO facilities in Spain, which they said are turning Spanish soil into "a gigantic training and military aggression platform", and their conversion to socially and ecologically positive uses. They called on supporters to "block the train of military expenses" by raising "conscientious objection" on their tax returns to that portion which funds the military.* * * GERMANY: Workers at GM's Bochum plant, who went on strike on October 14 after GM announced plans to cut 12,000 jobs, one- fifth of its European workforce, have returned to work. "We will do our utmost so that management does not implement its horror plans", said Workers' Council head Dietmar Hahn. On October 19, nearly 40,000 people demonstrated across Germany against the cuts and the possibility that one plant might actually close. As some 20,000 demonstrated in Bochum, GM workers and their families were joined by workers from other car plants, including Volkswagen and Porsche. The German workers received moral support from thousands of other European GM workers at factories in Poland, Spain, Britain and Belgium.* * * COLOMBIA: At least 700,000 Colombians participated in one- day nation-wide protests last month against the government of President Alvaro Uribe Velez. The one-day strike closed schools, hospitals and courts around the country, while marches were held in the state capitals. The participation of 300,000 marchers in Bogota made the demonstration the largest protest there in recent years. The national protest was called by a "Great Democratic Coalition" of labour unions, grassroots organisations, student associations, indigenous and peasant organisations and opposition parties. Demonstrators demanded a political solution to the armed conflict in the country and an end to the persecution of trade unionists. They also opposed negotiations for a free trade agreement with the US.