strike. This was the second big workers’ demonstration to be held within the past two weeks in Spain. On 26th January 1965, some 2,000 Madrid metal-workers demonstrated in front of the state-run trade unions’ headquarters, launching anti - regime slogans, calling for free trade unionism and an increase in the minimum daily wage to 175 pesetas. According to a governmental source, 22 people were detained for further interrogation on this occasion and they will have to stand trial. Over one thousand Spanish workers employed in Germany participated on 7th February 1965 in a silent march through the main streets of Frankfurt, for the release of political prisoners in Spain, for the right to strike and for democracy. They also called for the re-establishment of the free trade union movement in Spain, under the auspices of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. G. Powe
JAPAN :
Workers demand
safe conditions
BOUT one thousand six hun-
dred Japanese workers of
Hosokura Mine in Miyagi prefecture
downed tools for two hours and held
a rally in protest against labour acci-
dents on February 15th.
The walkout and rally were staged
to protest against the management
over the death of two workers
through gas poisoning while doing
repair work at the lead smelting shop
of the mine.
Meanwhile, on February 12th
some one thousand two hundred
workers of the Miike smelting in
Ohmuta city in Fukuoka prefecture
likewise walked out for two hours
and held a rally. One worker of the
smelting works was poisoned by
arsenic gas on January ist. Workers
called the strike and rally in order
to protest against the neglect of
safety maintenance on the part of the
management.
J. Westby