This article was written by James Parks from the AFL-CIO. I am re-posting to Daily Kos with permission to help spread the word on this important matter. -Richard
A total of 91 union members were killed worldwide last year, the same number as in 2007. But more than half (49) were killed in Colombia alone, 10 more than last year, making it once again the most dangerous country for trade unionists, according to the International Trade Union Confederation’s (ITUC’s) "Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights."
A total of 91 union members were killed worldwide last year, the same number as in 2007. But more than half (49) were killed in Colombia alone, 10 more than last year, making it once again the most dangerous country for trade unionists, according to the International Trade Union Confederation’s (ITUC’s) "Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights."
The Colombian government has not vigorously investigated or prosecuted the killing of trade union members. At the current pace of investigations and trials, it would take 37 years to prosecute the backlog of cases. And the caseload is growing—the rate of killings, which had fallen for a few years, jumped sharply last year by 25 percent, says José Luciano Sanin, director of Escuela Nacional Sindical (National Union School), a leading Colombian think tank.
The AFL-CIO and a broad coalition of groups have opposed congressional consideration of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement until workers can fully exercise internationally recognized labor rights without fear, the country makes deep and sustained progress on ending impunity and labor law reforms bring the country’s laws into compliance with International Labor Organization standards. The AFL-CIO Executive Council recognized the courage of Colombian workers by nominating Colombia workers’ rights activist Yessika Hoyos for the 2008 George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award.
The global economic collapse played a key role in the deterioration of workers’ rights in many countries, the ITUC report says. Much of the anti-worker repression across Africa, in particular, involved governments reacting harshly against workers seeking to improve wages as the global food crisis hit, with increasing numbers of families unable to feed themselves. Later in 2008, the effects of the global financial crisis began to hit, putting additional pressure on job security, wages and working conditions.
The report, which details abuses of fundamental workers’ rights in 143 countries, also documents the murder of nine unionists in Guatemala, which in recent years has seen an increase in violent attacks against trade union representatives and members. Four were killed in the Philippines as well as in Venezuela, three in Honduras, two in Nepal and one each in Iraq, Nigeria, Panama, Tunisia and Zimbabwe, where the Mugabe regime continued its reign of terror against the country’s union movement.
The ITUC found that governments were either directly or indirectly involved in many of the killings. A total of 50 serious death threats were recorded across seven countries as well, along with some 100 cases of physical assaults across 25 countries.
Says ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder:
Governments in every region are clearly failing to protect fundamental workers’ rights, and in several cases were themselves responsible for heavy repression of these rights. The fact that certain countries, such as Colombia, Guatemala and the Philippines, appear year after year on the death list shows that the authorities are, at best, incapable of ensuring protection and in some cases are complicit with unscrupulous employers in the murders.
More than 7,500 workers in 68 countries were fired for being involved in trade union activity, including 20 countries in Africa alone, the report says. More than 2,000 were fired in Turkey. Indonesia was the next highest with 600, with hundreds also dismissed in Malawi, Pakistan, Tanzania and Argentina.
Ryder adds:
Hundreds of millions of working people, in developing and in industrialized countries, are denied the fundamental rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining. For many, especially those in precarious employment, this denial wreaks havoc on their lives, as they work extremely long hours in hazardous or unhealthy situations with incomes so low that they are unable to support themselves and their households properly.
Lack of respect for workers’ rights has increased inequality around the world, and that inequality helped trigger the global recession.
The report also pointed to some positive changes for workers in the United States and Australia. Changes in government in both countries "brought the promise of new protections for working people in two countries with extremely poor records in recent years," the ITUC said in a statement.
To read the full report, click here.