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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 response of public sector workers to the 16 April earthquake in Ecuador

21 July 2016

Through the testimonies collected, it was found that these workers are not seen as victims, although they also lost their homes, clothes and food. In addition, they had to leave their families to meet their obligations in the public sector.

Turkey: thousands of public workers arrested and removed from their jobs

20 July 2016
Workers removed from their jobs after attempted coup in Turkey

It is with much concern that PSI has received news from Turkey indicating that thousands of public workers have been arrested, suspended and removed from their jobs over the last few days, as a follow-up to last weekend’s attempted coup.

Nigerian public workers rally against state policy on wages and privatisation

08 July 2016
Workers rally in Oyo, Nigeria

Oyo state public service workers held a rally on 15 June to protest unpaid salaries and proposed privatization of some schools.

Call for support to the academics threatened to be imprisoned

08 July 2016
Academics for Peace

Turkish scholars have been subject to heavy pressures and constraints since the declaration of the petition “We’ll not be a party to this crime” launched by the Academics for Peace initiative in mid-January.

All-Ukrainian Protest March

07 July 2016
All-Ukranian protest march 6 June

On 6 June over 50 thousand trade union members and workers from all over Ukraine gathered in Kyiv for the All-Ukrainian Protest March. Under the slogan «EUROPEAN PRICES - EUROPEAN WAGES!», they rallied near the Parliament and Government houses, protesting against the shock increases in gas price and communal tariffs.

The All-Ukrainian Protest March will be held in Kiev

05 July 2016
Flag of Ukraine

The All-Ukrainian Protest March, a joint protest of trade unions representing 8 million workers in Ukraine, will be held at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in Kiev, on 6 July 2016, at 10:00 am.

Algeria: national strike declared by the federation of municipal workers

05 July 2016

The Federation of Municipal Workers, member of the National Autonomous Union of Public Administration Personnel (SNAPAP) and the Autonomous General Confederation of Workers in Algeria (CGATA), is on strike since 27 June. So far the participation rate is estimated to 65 to 70% of the workforce.

KCTU President sentenced to 5 years

04 July 2016
Seoul, Korea - court

On 4 July in Seoul, the court sentenced Mr Han, Sang-gyun, President of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), to imprisonment for a term of 5 years and an additional fine of 500,000 KRW (392 EUR).

Urgent action: solidarity with Vice President of KPTU in Korea

01 July 2016
Cho Sung-deok

PSI calls all its affiliates to support the Korean Public Services and Transportation Workers Union (KPTU) Vice President, Cho Sung-deok, who is facing trial in Korea and for whom the prosecutor’s office requested a prison sentence of 5 years.

Trade union leader killed in Guatemala

30 June 2016
Brenda Marleni Estrada

Brenda Marleni Estrada, trade union leader from Unsitragua Histórica, was killed in Guatemala City on Sunday June 19, after receiving five shots by unknown individuals. Brenda served for several years as part of the team of advisers and also occupied the sub-coordination of the Legal Council Commission in her union.

AFT urges Mexican government to end violence against teachers in Oaxaca

28 June 2016
Photo: Democracy Now

The American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten has made the following statement after police violence against a teachers' protest in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Korean unionists protest against government plans for performance-related pay and dismissals

23 June 2016

On June 18, PSI affiliates (KPTU, FKPIU, KHMU) and other public and financial unions held a national rally protesting the government's unilateral imposition of a performance-related salary and dismissal system on the public institutions.

Turkey: DISK Secretary General detained by police

17 June 2016
Arzu Çerkezoğlu and Rosa Pavanelli in a demonstration in 2015

DISK Secretary General, Arzu Çerkezoğlu, was detained by police in Istanbul airport on 17 June, purportedly for “insulting Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan”. Though later released, this does not change the fact that trade union rights and civil liberties are violated on a daily basis in a country “candidate” to join the EU.

Korean workers and activists demonstrate in Geneva

15 June 2016

Workers and human rights activists from Korea demonstrated on 15 June 2016 in front of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, while awaiting the report from the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association after his visit to Korea on 20-26 April this year.

Petition against violations of trade union rights in Algeria and Egypt

07 June 2016
Yamina Maghraoui talks about the situation in Algeria

During the 105th International Labour Conference (ILC) from 30th May to 11th June, the Arab Trade Union Confederation distributed a petition asking for solidarity support against trade union rights violations in Algeria and Egypt.