Bahrain: Authorities Must Immediately Stop Violent Repression and Open Dialogue
The ITUC has demanded that the Bahraini authorities immediately cease their violent repression of peaceful demonstrations, and start talks with the trade union movement and other civil society groups on the concrete demands which they and the demonstrators have expressed.
G20 Must Act for Jobs, Regulation and Financial Transactions Tax
The international trade union movement is calling on G20 Finance Ministers, meeting in Paris on 18 and 19 February, to take action to avoid a jobless recovery or, worse, a return to recession as austerity measures begin to bite. They are also being urged to push forward a progressive agenda on financial regulation and tax, especially through the introduction of a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT). Unions and civil society allies are taking part in an international day of action today to boost support for the introduction of an FTT.
ITUC Condemns Police Crackdown on Peaceful Demonstrators in Bahrain
The ITUC has condemned the violent crackdown against peaceful protesters in Bahrain and called on the authorities to respect freedom of expression and assembly. At least two protestors have been killed, and thousands continue to occupy the Pearl Roundabout in the capital Manama. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has also slammed the use of disproportionate force against the demonstrators.
ITUC Deeply Mourns the Death of Israel Salinas, General Secretary of CUTH
It is with great sadness that the ITUC has learned of the passing of brother Israel Salinas, general secretary of the Honduran trade union centre CUTH. The trade union leader died on 14 February in a plane crash when travelling from San Pedro Sula airport to Tegucigalpa on a Central American Airways flight.
Japan: Public Workers’ Rights Still Not Recognised
Serious restrictions on public workers’ rights are disclosed in a new report by the ITUC on core labour standards in Japan, published to coincide with the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) review of its trade policies.