101 Trade Unionists Were Murdered in 2009

Shocking report by ITUC is chilling

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has released its 2010 Annual Survey, and the results are a moral outrage:

"The ITUC’s Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights has documented a dramatic increase in the number of trade unionists murdered in 2009, with 101 killings – an increase of 30% over the previous year. The Survey, released today, also reveals growing pressure on fundamental workers’ rights around the world as the impact of the global economic crisis on employment deepened."

Watch the (shocking) survey video and share it with your networks:

The ITUC recorded "an extensive list of violations suffered by trade unionists struggling to defend workers’ interests, this time in 140 countries." Beyond beatings and 101 murders documented by the ITUC, trade unionists have been targeted other ways and in more countries than ever:

"A further ten attempted murders and 35 serious death threats were recorded, again mostly in Colombia and Guatemala. Furthermore, many trade unionists remained in prison and were joined by around hundred newly imprisoned in 2009. Many others were arrested in Iran, Honduras, Pakistan, South Korea, Turkey and Zimbabwe in particular. The general trade union rights’ situation has continued to deteriorate in a number of other countries, including Egypt, the Russian Federation, South Korea and Turkey."

For more information about the 2010 Annual Survey: