A serious escalation in the campaign against the trade unionists in Bahrain

“The big companies” give the Secretariat of the General Federation of Labor the option of resigning or prosecuting
First published on June 13, 2011
Bahrain Center for Human Rights is deeply concerned over the ongoing campaign on the on the trade union movement and unions in Bahrain. The latest was the threat by the big companies’ joint committee in Bahrain, to prosecute the Secretariat of the General Federation of Trade Unions members if they refused to resign voluntary.

“The big companies” give the Secretariat of the General Federation of Labor the option of resigning or prosecuting
First published on June 13, 2011
Bahrain Center for Human Rights is deeply concerned over the ongoing campaign on the on the trade union movement and unions in Bahrain. The latest was the threat by the big companies’ joint committee in Bahrain, to prosecute the Secretariat of the General Federation of Trade Unions members if they refused to resign voluntary.
It is noteworthy that the committee gathers big companies which are owned by the government and it has full or substantial part of its shares.
The committee has threatened the Secretariat of the Union members in a letterletter sent by its president asking them to resign or they it raise criminal and civil actions against them, the compensation estimated by the committee to 16 million Bahraini dinars [1].
This, however, synchronizes with the extensive campaign of segregation and harassment directed at the trade unions leaders in Bahrain, and it is a part of an ongoing campaign against unionism and workers which until the 9th of June 2011 resulted in the dismissal of 1858 workers from both public and private sectors, according to the General Federation of Workers Trade Unions in Bahrain [2], whereas the actual number is more than that, this statistic includes the workers who registered with the General Federation only.
The violations against workers and trade union movement in Bahrain involve dismissing union leaders and undermining the role of trade union organizations, which could threaten the existence and the independence of trade unions in Bahrain.
The total dismissed Union leaders reached 52 unionists until Sunday 12nd June 2011, 8 of them are members of the Secretariat of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, the list also included another 44 dismissed trade unionists , who are the chairman of the trade union at Bahrain Petroleum (BAPCO) and 9 members of its Board of Directors, chairman of the trade union at Gulf Aluminum Rolling Mill Company, Al Darfala (GARMCO) and 9 members of its Board of Directors, chairman of the trade union at Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) and 7 members of its Board of Directors, chairman of the trade union at the telecommunications company (Batelco) and 2 members of its Board of Directors, chairman of Gulf Air’s trade union and 2 members of its Board of Directors, chairman of the trade union at Air Hosts and 2 members of its Board of Directors, chairman of TRAVCO’s trade union and 2 members of its Board of Directors, chairman of the trade union at Bahrain Aviation Fuelling Company (BAFCO), chairman of the trade union at Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) , a member of Board of Directors in Hotel’s Association Board, a member of Board of Directors in Bahrain National Gas Company’s (Banagas) who is currently detained. Most of these dismissals were based on the unionist participation in the demonstrations and rallies demanding reform and democracy in Bahrain, which began on 14 February.
The companies managements hampered on the dismissed unionist activities by not allowing them to enter the union’s headquarters which are usually located in the companies buildings, which led to disrupting many of the labor issues that were pursued by trade unions, as well as, some companies has failed to abided the prior agreements on contributions of members of the trade unions which deducted the workers’ wages upon and agreement signed by the worker. Also, Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) has stopped the workers deducted contributions and transfer it to the union accounts.
In the same context, The General Federation of Workers Trade Unions in Bahrain is going through a large campaign of defamation and threaten on Bahrain’s TV and through newspapers and statements by the representative members of the parliament who are close to the government[4], one of them demanded to punish the leaders of the trade union movement by “adhere the law strictly without indulgence or gracious or sympathy” and the deterrent is “the language of force, handcuffs and swords” [4], The Labor Minister accused the union in participating in a conspiracy against the Kingdom of Bahrain [5].
The International Trade Union Confederation and The European Trade Union Confederation issued several statements to the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, expressing their concerns for the trade unionists personal safety in Bahrain due to this campaign [6].
The Committee on Freedom of Association working under the International Labor Organization has confirmed in more than one range that the trade unions should be able to exercise their activities in a climate full with freedom and security to have useful contribution and confidence source [7], Also, the committee stressed that there could not be a free union movement unless there is a regime that guarantees the fundamental rights, including the right of trade unionists to hold meetings within the union’s headquarters and exercising freedom of opinion rhetorically and in the press [8]. Based on this, the violation against trade union action is in contrary with Bahrain’s obligations to the International unionism:
1. ILO Declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work, including convention (98) Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining, and Convention (No. 87) Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, which emphasize that the state should provide enough guarantees to the trade union to practice their duties without any pressure, knowing that Bahrain has signed an agreement in March 2010 with ILO on Decent Work Agenda, which emphasizes the need to apply the basic principles at work [9].
2. Convention (No. 111) concerning Discrimination in respect of Employment and Occupation, ratified by Bahrain in 2000.
Due to this data, we appeal the unions and trade union organizations to issue statements and appeals to Bahrain’s government calling for:
1. Return all the dismissed to their jobs, including union’s leaders.
2. Provide official protection to The General Federation of Workers Trade Unions and all other trade unions.
3. Enable trade unions to exercise their trade union role and defend its interests and rights of workers within international standards.
4. Urge Bahrain to ratify international conventions No. (87) And (98) concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize and Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining.