The World of Labor September 22, 2007
By Harry Kelber
New ITUC Report Reveals Worldwide Murder of Trade Unionists
An appalling total 0f 144 trade unionists were murdered for defending
workers' rights in 2006, while more than 800 suffered beatings or torture,
according to the Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights Violations by the 168
million-member International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The 379-page
report details nearly 5,000 arrests and more than 8,000 dismissals of
workers due to their trade union activity; 484 new cases of trade unionists
held in detention by governments are also documented in the report.
"Workers seeking to better their lives through trade union activities are
facing rising levels of repression and intimidation in an increasing number
of countries." Most shocking of all is the increase of some 25 percent in
the number killed compared to the preceding year," said ITUC General
Secretary Guy Ryder.. "In many of the countries highlighted in the report,
repression continued during 2007," he added.
Colombia remained the most perilous place in the world for union activity,
with 78 killings, almost all of which were carried out with impunity by
paramilitary death squads linked to government officials or acting on behalf
of employers. Of 1,165 murders documented between 1994 and 2006, only 56
perpetrators have been brought to trial and a total of 14 have been
sentenced.
Not on-line yet, but check this site for good reporting on the Labor Movement:
http://www.laboreducator.org/notewar.htmpnorman