International Day of Trade Union Action

International Day of Trade Union Action in solidarity with Zimbabwe workers

Brussels, 18 September 2006 (ICFTU OnLine): ): The ICFTU is calling for an international day of action on Friday 22nd September to protest against worsening anti-union repression in Zimbabwe. Further to the ICFTU appeal of 14 September (see previous online on http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Language=EN&Index=991225021 ) , the International trade union movement has been informed that the 30 ZCTU activists arrested in Harare on 13 September were taken to court on the evening of the 15th. They were all released on bail of 20,000 Zimbabwe dollars, and are due to appear in court on 3 October on public order charges. Information has been released confirming the severity of the injuries caused to the top leaders of the ZCTU. President Lovemore Matombo has a broken arm and has bruising and swelling all over his body. First Vice President Lucia Matibenga has whip marks all over her back. Her neck is swollen and her ear drums have been damaged so much her hearing is impaired. Secretary General Wellington Chibebe has serious cuts to the head, three broken bones, and severe bruising and swelling all over his body.Wellington Chibebe's injuries were so severe he was unable to attend the bail hearing, but is also due to appear in court on 3 October.

The ICFTU has expressed its revulsion at what it describes as an intolerable situation in a new protest letterPresident Mugabe ( http://www.icftu.org/www/PDF/ZIMBABWE-ICFTUProtestZCTULeadersFOLLOWUP.p df ), demanding that all charges be dropped. The authorities have been told that all the details of the case will be included in the complaint the ICFTU is currently preparing for submission the International Labour Organisation, to illustrate the extent to which the government holds in contempt the internationally recognised labour standards it claims to uphold, namely ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, and ILO Convention 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining.

Trade unions around the world are being called on take part in the International Day of Action by organising protests at Zimbabwean embassies and other activities to highlight violation of workers' right by the regime.

The ICFTU represents 155 million workers in 241 affiliated organizations in 156 countries and territories: Http://Www.Icftu.Org ICFTU is also a member of Global Unions: http://www.global-unions.org

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