Protest at Sunday's fake election in Honduras

Solidarity with workers in Honduras

Public letter

28 November 2009

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber and many other trade unionists co-signed a letter published in the Guardian on Friday 27 November, calling on Governments not to recognise Sunday's fake election in Honduras. The TUC has echoed the calls of the Honduran trade union movement for tougher action against the dictatorship that seized power earlier this year.

The full letter reads:

'Latin America faces the greatest threat to its democracy in decades (International, 7 November). The military coup that overthrew elected president Manual Zelaya and seized power in Honduras in June is now seeking to legitimise its illegal government through the international recognition of elections on 29 November. Such recognition would give a green light to opponents of democracy throughout the continent that military coups will be tolerated. Free and fair elections on November 29 are impossible. Human rights, freedom of assembly and of the press have all been under attack in Honduras. Repression under the coup regime has seen at least 20 people killed, more than 600 people injured and 3,500 people detained.

'The legitimate Honduran president, Manual Zelaya, has called for supporters of democracy not to recognise the elections under the military coup regime. Nearly all of Latin America's governments have declared that they will not do so. Worryingly the US has indicated it will recognise these illegitimate elections. We call on all governments, including the Obama administration, to not recognise the elections on 29 November under the military coup regime.'

The trade union signatories, as well as Brendan Barber, were

• Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson, Joint General Secretaries, Unite the Union
• Sally Hunt, General Secretary, UCU
• Alan Ritchie, General Secretary, UCATT
• Mick Shaw, President, FBU
• Matt Wrack, General Secretary, FBU
• Gerry Doherty, General Secretary, TSSA
• Bob Crow, General Secretary, RMT
• Luke Crawley, Assistant General Secretary, BECTU
• Steve Hart, Regional Secretary, Unite the Union

Other signatories included: Colin Burgon MP Chair, all-party parliamentary groups on Cuba and Venezuela, Jon Cruddas MP, Ken Livingstone, Baroness Gibson Chair APPG on Latin America, Jamie Hepburn MSP (SNP), Adam Price MP (Plaid Cymru), Caroline Lucas MEP Leader, Green party, Bruce Kent, David Hare, John Pilger, Lowkey (Musician), Brian Eno, Dr J Buxton Centre for International Co-operation and Security, University of Bradford

The full list of signatories is on the Guardian's website.