Killings of trade unionists up by 25% & more from Eric Lee

[Omaha Steve]

In this week's mailing:

* Killings of trade unionists up by 25%
* Canada: Wood workers strike following 65 deaths on the job
* USA: After 62 years, NFFC freezes out the union
* Campaign updates: UK, Albania
* Communicating labour rights course
* "I just got elected - now what?"

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: http://survey07.ituc-csi.org/

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

Canada: Wood workers strike following 65 deaths on the job



Striking forestry workers in British Columbia.

Canadian wood workers in British Columbia, members of the United Steelworkers (USW) have been on strike since 21 July in a dispute centering on work hours, safety and contracting out.

Over 65 forestry workers have been killed on the job since January 2005. Hundreds more have been seriously injured. The union and its global union federation (BWI) are asking for our help to put an end to these unnecessary and tragic deaths. Please take a minute to learn more and sign up to the online campaign: http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=1074&Language=EN

USA: After 62 years, NFFC freezes out the union

Since 1945, workers at National Frozen Foods (NFFC) in Chehalis, Washington have been represented by the Teamsters union. But this summer the company terminated its contract with the Teamsters and illegally declared bargaining at an impasse. The union filed unfair labour practice charges against the company and together with its global union federation (ITF) is calling for an international online campaign of protest. This is not just a company which wants to get rid of its union -- it is also accused of breaking child labour laws. To learn more and to send off a message, please go here.

Campaign updates: UK, Albania

UK: Workers in north London care homes, employed by Fremantle Trust, are on strike today. For the very latest news, visit their website.

Albania: 1,255 of you responded to our appeal to support the BWI campaign following the attacks on unions in this country. There's an update online.

Communicating labour rights course

The International Labour Organization's International Training Center in Turin, Italy will be holding its first ever course on the subject of communicating labour rights. Check out the course description.

"I just got elected - now what?"

This is the title of a new book we're offering as our LabourStart book of the week. (The subtitle is "a new union officer's handbook".)

According to the publisher, "This is an aggressive new guide to building a strong and effective local union. Don't buy this book if your goal is simply to be a local union officer like "Old Joe" was before you, doing things the way they’ve always been done and skating by as things just bump along."

Do buy it if you want strong and effective local unions -- and by buying this book using this link, you support both a unionized bookshop and you contribute to LabourStart.

Thank you - and have a great weekend.

Eric Lee