Report released on murder, violence and intimidation against trade unionist in the world

By Rhodé Marshall
19 September 2007

The Annual Survey of Trade Unions Rights Violations has revealed in a 379 page report that 144 trade unionists in 2006 were murdered while defending workers rights, 800 endured being beaten and tortured.

The report was published by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) which researched the violations on a global scale.

“Workers seeking to better their lives through trade union activities are facing rising levels of repression and intimidation in an increasing number of countries,” says the ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.

Ryder says there has been an increase of about 25% unionists being killed compared to 2005. “In many of the countries highlighted in the report, repression continued during 2007.”