Trade unionists in Turkey and Iran were met head on with violence and repression as they attempted to participate in this year’s May Day celebrations.

Some 10,000 dock workers across the west of the US took action on 1 May to call for an end to the Iraq war.

A shipment of arms bound for Zimbabwe has been reported to have left Angola after unloading a cargo of building materials.

Transport workers in Albania are holding weekly rallies in protest over the government’s unwillingness to discuss key concerns and negotiate a settlement with the union representing them.

Global Unions extended its international reach on 1 May when it launched a website for the group, which brings together the world’s trade union organisations.

An ITF film documenting the fight for fundamental trade union rights in Iran led by union leader Mansour Osanloo, who remains in detention, will be shown at a May day event in Switzerland tomorrow.

The ITF has cautiously welcomed indications from the Chinese Foreign Ministry that a shipment of arms intended for Zimbabwe is likely to be returned to China; last Friday dockers in South Africa refused to unload a vessel carrying the cargo.

Transport access and its role in preventing deaths in childbirth is to be among the key themes at next year’s ITF women’s conference.

US civil aviations union have outlined their commitment to defend the rights of aviation workers following an official announcement last week that two major US airlines – Northwest and Delta – plan to merge.

The plight of bus union leader Mansour Osanloo, who has been among those facing anti-union repression at the hands of the Iranian authorities, was highlighted at a recent Amnesty International conference in Nottingham, UK, earlier this month.