Washington firm defends Bahraini government in labor rights dispute

Washington law firm Sorini, Samet & Associates is set to represent the Bahraini government as it fights a labor complaint associated with the firing of hundreds of workers and union leaders for participating in strikes and other pro-democracy actions. The terminations are an under-reported aspect of the government’s brutal crackdown on the Shiite protest movement The complaint was filed by the AFL-CIO under the US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement. It alleges that Bahrain has violated labor protections that are laid out in the Free Trade Agreement between the countries, and demands the Obama administration formally intervene under the terms of the trade agreement to pressure Bahrain to stop retaliating against trade unionists -- and also to serve notice that the US is withdrawing from the deal in 180 days.

Washington firm defends Bahraini government in labor rights dispute salon.com Tue, Jun 14, 2011