The world’s employer groups are trying to kill the right to strike. Join the global action on 18 February to stop them. The right to strike is a powerful and fundamental foundation of democracy and economic justice. When employers refuse to negotiate with workers, when populations rise up against dictatorship, people can withdraw their labour to balance the dominance and privilege of the few with the power of collective action. Time and again this fundamental right is all that stands in the way of injustice and exploitation. The world’s employer groups are now trying to kill the right to strike. They want a global workforce that is powerless and passive. They want to remove the final bulwark against dictatorship. They intend to change the balance of power in the workplace and in society for the worse, and forever. Virtually every country in the world recognises that workers have the right to take strike action. Some 90 countries have it enshrined in their national constitutions, putting the rights established over many decades at the International Labour Organisation into law. Employers are trying to turn back the clock on over 50 years of international legal recognition of the right to strike, starting at the ILO and moving from there to pick apart national laws that guarantee this most fundamental of legal rights. They have tried to paralyse ILO procedures, holding its vital work to ransom in order to get their way. They have created a stalemate at the world’s labour body, and working people are paying the price as ILO judgements on vital employment issues are blocked. There is a way out of the deadlock. The ILO’s rules say that when a dispute between employers, workers or governments cannot be settled at the ILO itself, then the International Court of Justice (ICJ) must be asked to rule on the dispute. But the employer groups are trying to block the rule of law by opposing the ICJ. They don’t want justice to prevail. They prefer to try and blackmail their opponents into submission. Many governments support the union movement’s demand to follow the ILO Constitution and take the case to the ICJ. But some are sitting on the fence. Those governments, and all the employer groups, must be called to account for their refusal to respect international law and the crucial role of the ILO. We must raise our voices to make this public. For many people, procedures at UN bodies like the ILO are a long way from the daily challenges they face in their working life or in their quest to get a decent job. But if the employers succeed in eliminating the right to strike, the consequences will be severe for working people, and indeed for all who oppose despotism and slavery. Only in the most totalitarian of dictatorships is the right to strike denied. If the employers get their way, it will be denied everywhere. All the achievements gained by organised labour in the past century will be at risk – reasonable working hours, fair pay, holidays and weekends, health and safety at work and freedom from exploitation and discrimination. Throughout history, when employers and governments have refused dialogue and negotiation and instead imposed their will, workers have still taken the step and faced the risks of withdrawing their labour. That will not change. Workers will continue to take strike action when they have to – but the employer agenda would make them criminals. Taking away the right to strike would turn us all into slaves. We will not allow that to happen. The ITUC General Council has designated 18 February 2015 as a day of action to defend the right to strike. All affiliates are requested to join in the 18 February actions, including the following suggestions: • Engage workers and the public in defence of the right to strike. • Obtain a public commitment from your Government to protect the right to strike and refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice. • Publicise the support or opposition of your Government and report it to the ITUC for global exposure. • Expose the opposition of your employer group to the right to strike and their consequent support for oppression of workers. Seek the public support of responsible employers who respect fundamental rights.
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 03:17:12 +0000
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