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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 fightback against austerity... The stories continue

07 July 2014

PSI is deeply concerned about the continued attacks against public services and the austerity measures taken in Greece. We have heard that the Greek government plans to lay off some 6.500 public sector workers by the end of the year, in line with the Troika’s demands.

Harris v. Quinn: PSI stands with all unions in the USA in the fight for social justice

03 July 2014
Scenes showing home care workers and their clients outside the Harris v. Quinn press conference at Supreme Court - Washington, DC - Photo by David Sachs / SEIU

Public Services International (PSI) condemns the continuing attacks on trade union rights for public sector workers in the USA. The conservative majority of the US Supreme Court this week, in Harris v. Quinn, attacked the rights of home care workers and invites further legal challenges. This decision is the result of years of plotting, manipulating and massive financing from neo-conservative pressure groups. It demonstrates the growing corporate power in the USA, and confirms their strategy of undermining all trade unions.

Korea: Health unions strike and rally against health privatisation

27 June 2014
PSI Women's Committee hold banners in solidarity with Korean health workers

Korea health unions KHMU and KPTU-HealthSol held a strike from 24-30 June, and protest rallies on 27 and 28 June after the Korean government's announcement to allow for deregulation and privatisation of the health services in the country.

Tax justice, trade and right to strike top PSI agenda

24 June 2014

PSI's annual Executive Board meeting featured a series of guest speakers and intense discussion on tax justice, free trade issues and the right to strike.

Global campaign in support of the right to strike for all workers

24 June 2014

At the International Labour Conference (ILC) in June 2014, during the discussions in the Committee on Application of Standards (CAS), the Employers’ Group persisted to deny that the right to strike forms part of ILO Convention 87, thus undermining decades of jurisprudence and the application of international law.

The Workers’ Group unanimously rejected the demands of the Employers’ group. The conflict over the right to strike has been referred to ILO’s Governing Body, which could call on the International Court of Justice to produce an advisory opinion and put an end to the dispute. A decision is expected in November 2014.

New legal report: Right to strike backed by international law

19 June 2014
ITUC

A new 122-page ITUC legal report, confirming that the right to strike is protected under international law, was released on 3 June 2014 as employers try to overturn decades of jurisprudence at the International Labour Organisation. Employer representatives at the ILO are continuing their efforts to strip back ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association, which guarantees workers the right to take strike action, as the UN agency holds its 103rd International Labour Conference in Geneva this month.

Electricity employees in Jordan sign agreement with national power company

16 June 2014
Ali Al Hadid, President of the union, celebrates the successful negotiations with members of the union board

After a three-week strike, workers at the Jordan Electric Power Company went back to work on 4 June following the successful negotiation of an agreement with the company. Mr. Adnan Sawairi and Mr. Jamal Kamo, Heads of labour and energy parliamentary committees, had supported the workers since the first day of the strike.