Trade unions

Trade unionists are at the forefront of the struggle for human rights. Many have lost their lives or risked their liberty in their attempts to claim basic human rights. These include freedom of association, the right to organise and engage in collective bargaining and freedom of speech.

Trade unionists are ordinary men and women. They have deeply held convictions, political beliefs and commitment to trade union ideals. These can make them prime targets of government repression. They have to deal with their organisations being banned, harassment, political killings and 'disappearances', arbitrary detention, torture, exile and murder.

Jailed Trade Unionist needs urgent medical help

Mansour Ossanlu, leader of the Union of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat-e Vahed), was arrested on 10 July 2007 in connection with his trade union activities. Two years on and his health is seriously deteriorating. Please send an appeal to the Iranian authorities

Good news: Gambian journalists released

Six Gambian journalists convicted of sedition and defamation have been released. Amnesty believes the journalists, including three executive members of the Gambian Press Union, were imprisoned solely for peacefully expressing their views. Thank you to everyone who took action on this case. Find out more | Read the Gambian Press Union statement (pdf)

Thirty years of solidarity

2009 marks 30 years of Amnesty's Trade Union Network. We are celebrating the anniversary throughout the year, with a series of events, publications, and commemorative resources.

• Read the 30th anniversary blog
• Read statements from trade unionists and add your voice
• Find out about Amnesty's new partnership with the Trades Union Congress