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UNI and its 20 million members support the right to strike! Today 18 February has been designated a global day of action in defence of the right to strike!

The day of action has been called by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and Global Unions in response to the dramatic attack on the recognition of the right to strike in the global ILO conventions. The employers at the ILO fronted by legal mercenaries are set on erasing that recognition: anti-union Walmart punches have landed at the ILO.

Taking away the right strike means an end to the respect for the human rights in business. We have no choice but to take a stand.

UNI General Secretary, Philip Jennings said, “The employers at the ILO are out to smash the ILO recognition of the global right to strike. This is just the start of an employer led assault on ILO labour standards, its compliance mechanisms to keep our workplaces safe, free from fear and with decent living standards.”

This is a battle the unions will win. For example, in a landmark ruling earlier this month, Canada’s Supreme Court has affirmed that the right to strike is an essential part of a meaningful collective bargaining process and is protected in the Canadian constitution. The Court found that a law which denied the right to strike for a number of public sector workers, with no alternative mechanism, was unconstitutional.

We will report on actions taken by unions around the world.

Please send images and details of your actions to richard.elliott@uniglobalunion

Tweet using #Right2Strike

For more information on events see the ITUC website