July 5, 2011—In an interview published by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) today, senior Bahraini trade union officials have called for the reinstatement of some 2,000 workers sacked for supporting the country’s pro-democracy movement, as well as an end to violent attacks on trade unions.

	GFBTU leaders Abdulla M Hussain (left) and Ebrahim H Abdulla explain why the unions are taking part in the “national dialogue” launched by the authorities following the suspension of a state of emergency on July 1. Photo courtesy of ITUC

Ebrahim H Abdulla and Abdulla M Hussain of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) explain in the interview why the unions are taking part in the “national dialogue” launched by the authorities following the suspension of a state of emergency on July 1.

Despite repeated calls by the International Labor Organization to reinstate the sacked workers and stop the anti-union repression, none of the workers have yet been given their jobs back, and a concerted government-orchestrated media campaign against the GFBTU continues to cause serious concerns for the safety of union representatives.

“The Bahraini authorities face yet further international isolation and pressure unless the campaign of state-sponsored intimidation stops,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. “The national dialogue process has to tackle the fundamental problems created when the government reacted so violently against those calling for more democracy and then targeted the trade unions and other legitimate parts of civil society. The entire international trade union movement stands with our Bahraini colleagues, and we will continue to press the authorities to stop repressing workers and hold genuine talks with the trade unions.”

Cross-posted from ITUC Online, July 5, 2011