ITUC Annual World Survey: Onslaught Against Trade Unions Claimed 91 Lives
Friday, 21 November 2008
Introduction
The publication of this year's ITUC Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights Violations reveals an appalling record of union-busting, anti-union laws, intimidation and violence against workers' representatives in 2007.
A worldwide total of 91 trade unionists were murdered for defending workers' rights, with Colombia, where 39 lost their lives, by far the worst offender yet again. Second-worst was Guinea, where the regime of President Lansana Conte was directly responsible for the killing of 30 unionists during brutal repression of union-organised public demonstrations against corruption and violations of fundamental rights.
Disturbing trends
The survey also notes a disturbing upsurge in violence in Guatemala as trade unions were increasingly targeted, with four unionists murdered and a worsening climate of threats and harassment.
The survey, which covers worker rights violations in 138 countries, reveals a number of disturbing trends, including collusion between some governments and employers to deprive working women and men of their legitimate rights to union membership and representation. Serious and systematic harassment and intimidation was reported in 63 countries.
Iran
Seventy-three unionists were sent to prison in 2007, including 40 in Iran alone, where systematic suppression of workers organising in transport, education and other sectors continued. Fourteen unionists were jailed in Morocco and seven in Burma, where the junta targeted union activists as part of its brutal crackdown on any moves for democracy and human rights.
Africa
In Africa, employers in several countries used defective labour legislation to instigate and encourage splits in trade unions and create employer-controlled groups to displace legitimate worker representation.
Outright hostility to union organization again featured in Zimbabwe and Swaziland, which also featured on a list of countries where Chinese-owned and funded projects were cited for poor working conditions and exploitation of the workforce. Along with Guinea, the Survey records killings of trade unionists in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Asia
Migrant workers also suffered in Asia, with government suppression of the migrant workers' union in South Korea and denial of organising rights to migrant workers in Brunei, Thailand and Singapore. Union activity was severely curtailed under the military regime in Pakistan, and effectively banned altogether in Bangladesh.
China once again featured strongly due to widespread violations, and the North Korean dictatorship also maintained the total ban on legitimate union organization. Murders of trade unionists were once again reported in Cambodia and the Philippines.
Latin America
Latin America remained the most dangerous continent for union activity in 2007, with assassinations, abductions, death threats and assaults in a number of countries.
Read more indepth survey analysis here