The Bahraini authorities refused for the second consecutive year to grant a permit for staging a Labor Day demonstration, organized by the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU).

In an interview, the delegate of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, Hans Christian, said that the Secretary-General of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU), Sayed Salman Al-Mahfood, has represented the GFBTU in a strong, dynamic and exemplary way, both nationally and internationally.

In a videotaped meeting held on the sidelines of the GFBTU general conference, Maria Andre, Director of the Bureau for Workers' Activities at International Labour Organization ILO, said: "I could see that you are not going to fail on the struggle for more democracy in this country, but also for more industrial democracy and social partnership and a development whose fruits are shared by everyone."

Nader Tadros, the Middle East and North Africa Regional Program Director at the American Center for International Labor Solidarity, stated that the third general conference of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) and the peaceful transfer of power in it represent "hope in the region."

The third general conference of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions issued a statement voicing solidarity with the five dismissed unionists, and binding the new secretariat with placing the case of the dismissed as a top priority.

The election results of the new General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) secretariat showed that four women were among the winners, including a fresh face, Zainab Abu Deeb from ASRY trade union, as well as three others, Soad Mubarak, Najat Abdul Hussain, and Khatoon Al-Aradi.

Mr. Sayed Salman Al-Mahfouz, Secretary General of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, whose term has ended, called on all parties to launch initiatives to reach an agreement that can put an end to this crisis that "has exhausted all of us."

Cathy Feingold, AFL-CIO Director of International Affairs, delivered a recorded speech on the occasion of the third general conference of the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions that kicked off its first session on Saturday.

Bahrain Mirror: Sayed Salman Al-Mahfouz, the Secretary-General of the General Federation of Bahraini Trade Unions (GFBTU), discussed the latest updates of the trilateral agreement that stipulated rehiring 165 dismissed workers.