Americas

In many countries in the Americas, including Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Peru, trade unionists and workers experienced violent attacks. In Honduras, it remained very difficult for workers to organise, as they faced intimidation and union-busting practices.

In Ecuador, peaceful mass protests were met with police brutality, leaving many injured or killed.

Haiti remained in acute political and institutional crisis, as the country was beset with violent civil unrest, and workers’ civil liberties and freedoms were severely curtailed.

In Peru, democratic protests against the parliamentary coup were heavily repressed by the police. In many countries in the Americas, trade unionists and workers experienced violent attacks.

Credit: IndustriAll

Right to strike

92% of countries violated the right to strike.

Right to establish and join a trade union

72% of countries excluded workers from the right to establish or join a trade union.

Right to trade union activities

88% of countries impeded the registration of unions.

Right to collective bargaining

76% of countries violated the right to collective bargaining.

Violent attacks on workers

Workers experienced violence in 8 countries.

Right to justice

In 72% of countries workers had no or restricted access to justice.

Murders

Workers were murdered in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala and Peru.

Right to civil liberties

Workers were detained and arrested in 15 countries.

Right to free speech and assembly

20% of countries restricted free speech and assembly.

In Europe, the average regional rating deteriorated, falling to 2.49. Collective bargaining rights were severely trampled in most countries, including the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, while workers in Poland and Turkey were faced with employers’ union-busting practices. In the United Kingdom, the right to strike was under attack with the introduction of a regressive bill. In Belarus and Kazakhstan, independent trade union movements continued to be heavily suppressed.

The government in France used violence, arbitrary arrests and has even requisitioned workers to prevent them from joining the mass opposition to its pension law. In Europe, the average regional rating worsened to reach 2.49 as basic rights were violated in most countries.

Right to strike

72% of countries violated the right to strike.

Right to establish and join a trade union

41% of countries excluded workers from the right to establish or join a trade union.

Right to trade union activities

38% of countries impeded the registration of unions.

Right to collective bargaining

54% of countries violated the right to collective bargaining.

Right to justice

In 31% of countries, workers had no or restricted access to justice.

Right to civil liberties

Workers were detained and arrested in 10 countries.

Violent attacks on workers

Workers experienced violence in 6 countries.

Right to free speech and assembly

13% of countries restricted free speech and assembly.