Killings of trade unionists up by 25%

144 trade unionists were murdered for defending workers' rights in 2006, while more than 800 suffered beatings or torture, according to the Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights Violations, published by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The report details nearly 5,000 arrests and more than 8,000 dismissals of workers due to their trade union activities. 484 new cases of trade unionists held in detention by governments are also documented in the report.You can read the full report online, country by country, in English, Spanish, French and German, here.

This report is required reading for all trade unionists - please spread the word.