The number of trade unionists murdered around the world increased by 30% in 2009, according to an annual survey released on June 9 by the Brussels-based International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The majority of the 101 murders cited in the report took place in Latin America, with 48 in Colombia, 16 in Guatemala, 12 in Honduras, six in Mexico, four in Brazil and three in the Dominican Republic.

"Colombia was yet again the country where standing up for fundamental rights of workers is more likely than anywhere else to mean a death sentence, despite the Colombian government's public relations campaign to the contrary," ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder said. "The worsening situation in Guatemala, Honduras and several other countries is also cause for extreme concern." (ITUC announcement, June 9)

From Weekly News Update on the Americas, June 20.

See our last post on the labor struggle in Colombia.