Furious US unions urge Obama to tear up Bahrain trade deal

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, which represents 11 million workers and is the biggest federation of trade unions in the United States, has called on Barack Obama’s administration to tear up its free trade deal with Bahrain in response to the brutal repression of peaceful protests in the Gulf state,

by Keith Richmond
Friday, May 6th, 2011

The AFL-CIO has filed a petition with the US Office of Trade and Legal Affairs to suspend the trade accord, signed in 2006, which waives tariffs on industrial products and consumer goods worth $1.5 billion a year.Jeff Vogt of the AFL-CIO said: “Scrapping the deal would send a strong message to the leaders of Bahrain that their actions are moving in a very dire direction.”

King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa appears set on smashing the General Federation of Bahraini Trade Unions which launched a wave of industrial action in response to the government’s imposition of martial law after peaceful protests calling for democratic reforms in the kingdom

The only place you can read all of Tribune's articles as soon as they are published is in the magazine. To find out more about subscribing from as little as £19, click here.

About The Author

Keith Richmond is deputy editor of Tribune
  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mohamed-Nasor/100001882492267 Mohamed Nasor

    I would like to express our deep appreciation for the Amerian Labor and whole amarican people for their stand with Bahrain, the freedom, the democracy and humanity is never driven by the Obama Adminstration, it is driven by the Amarican people, so thank you for your support and PLEASE do fight for this to materialized, because the people in Bahrain are simply dying….

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mohd-Alabbas/100001988293298 Moh’d Alabbas

    we as bahrainis would like to express our gratitude and appreciation for you effort and this really shows how good and honest you are. although we are sure that it was Obama’s administration who gave the green light in the first place to Bahraini and Saudi troops to crackdown armless peaceful protestors demonstrating in Pearl roundabout, we always separate between US gov and American people. We have faith in you.

  • Anonymous

    Its not peacful protest my dear!! they killed two policeman, they blocked the financial destrict which represent 25% of bahrain income, they occupied the main hospital in bahrain, the attack the bahrain university,killed indian and pakestani people and the worst thing that they did is getting the children from the school into the strike and rally!! they stooped the school and universities!! is that what they call it peacful protest???they override by car policeman!! they used the molotove cocktails!!! is this peacful protest!! for the God sake please dont rush and judge what is going in Bahrain!! they dont represent the baharain citizens for any video or picture please contact me at
    nemohotnews@gmail.com

  • Anonymous

    Its not peacful protest my dear!! they killed two policeman, they blocked the financial destrict which represent 25% of bahrain income, they occupied the main hospital in bahrain, the attack the bahrain university,killed indian and pakestani people and the worst thing that they did is getting the children from the school into the strike and rally!! they stooped the school and universities!! is that what they call it peacful protest???they override by car policeman!! they used the molotove cocktails!!! is this peacful protest!! for the God sake please dont rush and judge what is going in Bahrain!! they dont represent the baharain citizens for any video or picture please contact me at
    nemohotnews@gmail.com

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4LMR6V5UB3ULLZNIJ5KNJLFYQ4 Dave Tar

    This is what we expect from the US unions. We need to support the other unions who are under pressure from illegitimate rulers like the ones in Bahrain. With more than 2000 people sacked for no reason other than asking for their rights and unions leaders arrested and tortured, Bahrain is an island that has turned to be a big prison for democracy seekers. The videos coming out of Bahrain are shocking. Such regime should NOT be rewarded but rather punished. THANK U for standing up for the people of Bahrain.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4LMR6V5UB3ULLZNIJ5KNJLFYQ4 Dave Tar

    Always expect such comments from government web thugs. The whole world KNOWS what is going on in Bahrain. Thanks to YouTube, Facebook and twitter. STOP the killings, the arrest and torture.

  • Anonymous

    Many thanks to American labor, and I would like to present our demands here:

    We are asking for:

    1- foreign troops get out.

    2- Stop killing us by Saudi and Bahraini army.

    3- The release of innocent detainees.

    4- Real democracy.

    5- Elected government.

    6- Our Army And Police to be Bahrain citizen, not from Pakistan, not from Yemen, Not from Syria.