Hundreds sacked for striking
Wednesday 06 April 2011
Printable
EmailBahraini firms have laid off hundreds of employees who took industrial action in support of civil rights last month, including many trade unionists.
The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) and the opposition Wefaq group reported on Tuesday that over 200 employees of Batelco, Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Services and APM Terminals Bahrain have been sacked for participating in the strikes.
The GFBTU launched industrial action on February 20 and again from March 13-22 after the government imposed martial law and invited Saudi and United Arab Emirates troops into the country to crush street protests demanding reforms to boost citizens' rights and restrict the powers of the ruling Khalifa family.
On Monday the International Trade Union Confederation issued a statement condemning Bahraini authorities for penalising workers simply for exercising their legitimate rights to strike and to freedom of expression and assembly.
Bahrain has detained over 300 opposition activists since last month's crackdown.
Dozens have "disappeared."
If you appreciated this article then please consider donating to the Morning Star's Fighting Fund to ensure we can keep developing your paper.
Editorial
Twigg needs to branch out
Stephen Twigg has won some initial support from teaching unions NUT and NASUWT for aspects of his plans for education in England.
Features
Education for all: let's make it a reality
How high-quality primary schooling could help solve global poverty
Confronting the Tories' broken ideology
Unison leader asks what kind of society we want our children to grow up in