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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.

The right to strike re-affirmed at the ILO

26 February 2015
Dismissed Turkish health workers demonstrating

After more than two years of conflict, the right to strike was re-affirmed at the International Labour Organization on 25 February during the Tripartite Meeting on the Freedom of Association.

Turkish health workers attacked and arrested for protesting dismissals

25 February 2015
Dr Arzu Çerkezoğlu, DISK Secretary General and Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary

Police brutally attacked a group of dismissed health workers at the Maltepe university hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday 25 February after they tried to enter the hospital's offices.

In Switzerland and around the world, unions say “Hands off the right to strike”

20 February 2015
Banner Hands off our right to strike held by demonstrators

On 18 February, global day of action for the right to strike, global union federations and Swiss trade unions in Geneva organised demonstrations and a press conference.

Global Day of action sends a strong signal to employers – hands off our right to strike!

20 February 2015

PSI affiliates joined the ITUC, ITF, EI and other Global Unions’ affiliates around the world for the Global Day of Action for the Right to Strike on 18 February.

Korea: Hands off our right to strike!

20 February 2015
Korea - Hands off our right to strike

Before the start of the Lunar New Year, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) held a day of action in defence of the right to strike. The two national centres jointly held a press conference in Seoul, calling for recognition of the right to strike in Korea and around the world.

Korean school teachers injured during police raid

19 February 2015
Police removing striking worker from sit-in

Striking elementary school teachers have been injured during a violent police raid in South Korea on 17 February, just a day before the Lunar New Year holiday.

The right to strike in the public sector in Brazil

14 February 2015
Pedro Armengol

This is an extract from the ICTUR magazine International Trade Union Rights (Issue 4, 2014) – Focus on the right to strike. This article is written by PEDRO ARMENGOL, Deputy Secretary of Labour Relations with the CUT in Sao Paulo, Brazil.