Trade unions
commemorate
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| Trade union
rights recognised at international level |
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| The international protection of trade union rights came
in response to the horrors of World War II, and from the conviction that lasting world
peace depended upon social justice. In the post-war years, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) adopted two conventions setting international standards on basic trade union rights - ILO Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and the Right to Organise (1948) and the closely linked ILO Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949). Taken together these two conventions provide the key definition of trade union rights throughout the world |
 Union Rights are Human Rights! |
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| Trade union
rights defined ILO Convention No. 87 |
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| The two conventions cover the basic principles of trade
union rights - The right to organise (87) - the right of workers to form and join independent trade unions of their choice - is the most fundamental of all trade union rights. Without this basic right there can be no other trade union rights. The right to strike is an essential means available to trade unions for the promotion and protection of their members' interests. Collective bargaining (98) to determine the terms of employment of union members is the central function of trade unions. It is the main reason why working people join trade unions. The right not to be discriminated against at work for trade union activities is an essential aspect of the right to organise. |
 Click here for the International
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Trade union rights are human rights The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights |
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| Additional international recognition of
trade union rights came in the 1948 United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
As the first comprehensive statement of human rights, the declaration is considered a key
definition. Among the rights contained in the declaration are the right to form and join trade unions - establishing trade union rights as human rights - as well as other worker rights, such as free choice of employment, equal pay for equal work, paid holidays and reasonable working hours. |
 Universal
Declaration of Human Rights
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Basic trade union rights are still under threat in many countries from governments and employers alike, and must be defended with vigour and commitment. |
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| Governments must be urged
to sign-up and implement ILO Convention No. 87 and Convention 98. Trade unions should
press governments to commemorate 50 years of Convention No. 87 by fully implementing both
conventions and ratifying them if they have not done so. Employers must be pressed to honour the principles of Conventions Nos. 87 and 98 - even if they are operating in a country which has not ratified them. All member countries of the ILO are bound by the constitution to respect the principles of freedom of association. |
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Unions around the world are defending the basic right to organise. |
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| Trade unions can celebrate 50 years of ILO
Convention No.87 by organising special activities to commemorate the anniversary and
giving as much publicity as possible to the Convention and the basic union rights
contained in it. They can also participate in important days in the human and trade union rights calendar such as:
Trade unions are also joining in the international celebrations of 50 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. |
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International Confederation of Free Trade
Unions (ICFTU)
Boulevard Emile Jacqmain 155, B - 1210 Brussels, Belgium.
For more information please contact: ICFTU Department of Trade Union Rights
Tel. 32.2.224.02.03 Fax: 32.2.224.02.97 E-mail: turights@icftu.org
