91 trade unionists killed in 2007

Ninety-one trade unionists were murdered for defending workers' rights last year, with Colombia and Guinea the worst offenders,

according to a report released on Thursday by the International Trade Union Confederation.

The confederation, which includes 311 labor unions from 155 countries, said its 2007 survey “reveals an appalling record of union-busting, anti-union laws, intimidation and violence against workers' representatives.''

Colombia remained the most dangerous place for unionists, with 39 killed, down from 78 in 2006.

The confederation accused the regime of President Lansana Conte in Guinea of responsibility for the killing of 30 unionists during demonstrations in the west African nation.

The confederation also singled out Guatemala for “a disturbing upsurge in violence'' and highlighted crackdowns in Iran, Morocco and Myanmar.

Worldwide, the number of killings fell from 144 in 2006. The report also complained that governments used sweeping definitions of sectors providing “essential services,'' where the rights of workers to organize and strike are limited. They said new laws were allowing employers to skirt workers rights by replacing full-time staff with temporary and part-time employees.

“Several governments were only too ready to openly or covertly support unscrupulous employers who deny fundamental rights to their employees,'' said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.