Swaziland: Dozens Arrested at Peaceful Democracy Assembly
The ITUC has condemned the arrest of as many as 50 pro-democracy campaigners by the Swaziland police today, and called on Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini to cease harassment and detention of trade union and civil society representatives opposed to the unilateral rule of the country’s autocratic King Mswati.
Japanese Prime Minister Backs Call for APEC Labour Forum
In a meeting today with a delegation of the ITUC Asia Pacific Labour Network (APLN), Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan stated that he would work to achieve agreement on establishing a Labour Forum to enable trade union representation in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
Swaziland: International Solidarity Actions around Independence Day
Trade unions and other civil society groups around the world are organising solidarity actions starting on 6 September, Swaziland’s independence day, to highlight the ongoing repression of workers’ rights and the autocratic nature of the Southern African kingdom. King Mswati controls virtually everything in the country, press freedom is non-existent and meetings organised by civil society groups are often violently dispersed by the police. The country has existed under a “state of emergency” since 1973.
Turkey: Trade Unions Worldwide Show Their Solidarity with Sacked Turkish UPS Workers
In response to reported intimidation and sackings of workers who opted to join Turkey’s TÜMTIS trade union, an international action day coordinated by the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) is being held today. Since April 2010, 157 employees of UPS Turkey have been dismissed without any application of the procedures specified by Turkish law.
Pakistan: More Aid Needed as Flood Disaster Affects 17 Million
The ITUC is calling for a major increase in international aid to flood-ravaged Pakistan, as estimates of the number of people affected and damage to homes, buildings and infrastructure continue to increase. The United Nations has warned that the area affected is still growing from the current estimate of 160,000 square kilometres, with some 1.2 million homes destroyed or badly damaged and over 17 million people “significantly affected”.