The worst forms of trade union repression are being conducted by the authorities and business leaders of Bahrain, punishing workers for protesting and carrying out a general strike on 13-22 March 2011. The general strike led by the national trade union centre, General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU), was called in support of pro-democracy protests in the Persian Gulf island-state.

The crackdown was immediate, with a campaign of mass sackings, intimidation, and violence against all workers involved, although the agreement to end the strike included a promise to GFBTU, an affiliate of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), by authorities that strikers would not suffer repercussions.

As trade unionists around the world condemned the violent repression, the worst estimates then were that over 1,000 workers would be sacked for strike activity, including staff at Alba Aluminum Bahrain BSC, Bahrain Telecommunications Company, Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Services, and APM Terminals Bahrain at the Khalifa Sea Port.

Now, more than 2,600 workers have been sacked for their involvement in the uprising, including over 100 government workers in recent weeks, including health, education, and municipal workers. Reacting to international pressure, the Bahraini authorities have promised the reinstatement those illegally sacked. However, GFBTU reports that only 134 workers have been reinstated, with many only brought back in return for promises never again to join political activities – or a trade union.

Jailed trade unionists and others are being passed through tribunal hearings in which they are not given an opportunity to mount a defense.

The global union federation for teachers, Education International (EI), has issued a new appeal to Bahraini authorities to release Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi 'Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb, Vice-President and President of the Bahraini Teachers Association (BTA), who face trial by a military tribunal. Send appeals to the Bahraini authorities on EI’s site here. 

Six members of the GFBTU Executive Board remain dismissed, as well as 44 executive board members of GFBTU-affiliated unions.