BAHRAIN: Wave of Sackings, Threats and Violence against Workers and Union Representatives International Trade Union Confederation http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/ituc040411.html

In Bahrain as well as in the rest of the Gulf states, the Tunisian and Egyptian method just doesn't work to attain even the minimum goal of the majority. Calling for negotiation as the ITUC does below, needless to say, is no solution in this case since the Bahraini ruling class has full support of the Gulf and Western ruling classes for its repression, so it has no incentive whatsoever to negotiate. -- Ed. 4 April 2011: The ITUC denounces the wave of massive sackings, threats and violence against workers and their trade union representatives in Bahrain, in reprisal for their participation in legitimate strike and protest action for greater democracy in the country.

"The international trade union movement is extremely concerned at the large number of workers, including trade union representatives, who are being heavily penalised by the authorities simply because they exercised their legitimate rights to strike and to freedom of expression and assembly, following the widely-supported call for strike action by the national trade union centre GFBTU," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. "These dismissals are nothing less than a 'political purification' in workplaces. This is totally unacceptable and illegal."