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Trade union rights news

All work has dignity, and all workers deserve to be treated with respect by their employers. Trade unions play a decisive role in improving working conditions, safety and wages – yet some governments and employers systematically abuse the right of workers to join existing unions or form new ones. PSI works actively to support the right of workers to free collective bargaining, and to help stop abuses when they occur.

Trade union rights in Liberia: PSI meets the Ambassador to the UN in Geneva

17 February 2017

On February 17, PSI Deputy General Secretary, David Boys, Health Officer, Baba Aye, and Trade Union Rights Officer, Camilo Rubiano, met with the Ambassador of Liberia to the UN organizations in Geneva, Mr. Paul Wolokollie Tate, to discuss the situation of Joseph S. Tamba and George Poe Williams, President and General Secretary of NAHWAL, respectively.

GLU: Massive Open Online Course on decent work in global supply chains

23 January 2017

The new online course organized by the Global Labour University is online now!

Algeria: Trade union leader sentenced to six months’ imprisonment

10 January 2017
Sonelgaz building, Batna, Algeria

The President of National Autonomous Electricity and Gas Trade Union (SNATEG), Mellal Raouf, has been sentenced to 6 months in prison for denouncing a case of corruption at SONELGAZ – the national electricity and gas company in Algeria – involving the overbilling of more than 8 million users.

Violation of workers’ rights in Korea - general strike of 30 November

30 November 2016

Workers in Korea are facing difficult times. The rampant violation of trade union rights by the government include reprisals, dismissals and even the incarceration of trade union leaders and members. PSI, its affiliates, and other global union federations have been working throughout the year on many solidarity actions and campaigns to support them.

PSI affiliate in Jordan protests against the Jordanian electricity company

23 November 2016

PSI affiliate in Jordan, the General Trade Union for Workers in Electricity (GTUWE) implemented a sit-in on 9 November 2016 in front of the electricity company in Ras Al Ain to protest against the Jordanian electricity company’s rejection of the workers’ demands.

UNISON Petitions Liberian Government: Demands Reinstatement of Tamba and Poe Williams

18 November 2016

In a letter to the president of Liberia, submitted at the country's Embassy in London on November 18, Dave Prentis, UNISON's General Secretary expressed “grave concerns over the situation of workers in the health sector in Liberia”, drawing particular attention to the dismissals of Brothers Joseph S. Tamba and George Poe Williams.

Algerian unionists strike and rally for better working conditions

15 November 2016

After a three-day strike on 25-27 October, PSI affiliate in Algeria, SNAPAP, organised a protest rally in Tizi-Ouzou on 31 October 2016.

EU: whistleblowers need wide and comprehensive legal protection - Sign the petition!

07 November 2016

On 17 October a platform for a EU-wide whistleblower protection was launched by 44 organizations calling on the European Commission to urgently take action on bringing forward proposals on EU-wide legislation on whistleblower protection with a broad scope of groups and areas of activities protected.

Chadian Health Workers Strike for Payment of Salaries and Against IMF-inspired measures

01 November 2016
André Kodmadjingar (VOA)

Health workers in Chad commenced an indefinite strike last week. The workers who are members of L’Union des Syndicats du Tchad, le Syndicat National des Enseignants et Chercheurs du Supérieur and la Confédération Indépendante des Syndicats du Tchad are demanding the payment of backlogs of salaries, and suspension of public finance recovery measures in the health sector.

Firefighters’ freedom of association undermined in Fiji: Communities placed at risk

27 October 2016

The government of Fiji initiated a series of unprecedented attacks to take away firefighters’ right to freedom of association. These developments are not only a concern regarding the rights of fire fighters to join an independent union, but also for their occupational safety and the safety of the wider community.

Audio: RadioLabour interview with NAHWAL leaders

18 October 2016

In 2014, at the height of the Ebola crisis, the Liberian government fired 22 union leaders. It still has not reinstated two of the fired leaders: Joseph Tamba, the president of the National Health Workers' Association of Liberia and George Poe Williams, the General Secretary . A RadioLabour interview with Mr Williams.

Whistleblowers need EU protection – lives, environment and money at stake

17 October 2016

On 17 October a platform calling for EU-wide whistleblower protection is launched by the first 44 signatories of a joint statement. It will be open for additional organisations and individuals to sign after the launch. The LuxLeaks trial and others have brought the lack of protection of whistleblowers at EU-level into sharp focus.

AFT and United Nations Staff Union Urge New UN Secretary-General To Support Workers and Their Labor Rights

12 October 2016
Antonio Guterres - UN Secretary General

In a letter sent to Antonio Guterres of Portugal, who was elected on 7 October as secretary-general of the United Nations, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten noted his humanitarian work as the U.N. high commissioner for refugees and his support for Portuguese workers and their labor rights as prime minister of Portugal.

Ukranian unions celebrate World Day for Decent Work

09 October 2016

On 7th October, Ukrainian trade unions, along with their counterparts from other countries, celebrated the World Day for Decent Work. The Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU) marked this day by picketing the buildings of the central authorities in Kiev.

Stay strong, Korean public workers! Stop labour repression!

06 October 2016

Trade unions in Korea are campaigning for the Park Geun-hye government’s proposed legislation for a discriminatory performance-related pay and termination system for public sector workers to be cancelled. They held a huge general strike and rally on 27 September and are now asking for international solidarity support.