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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.

Argentina: 30,000 Health professionals strike

22 March 2019
Health professionals in Argentina demonstrate against budget cuts in the health service.

The Trade Union Federation of Health Professionals of Argentina (FeSProSa) organised a two-day strike on 6-7 March “against adjustment and dismissals”. Nearly 30,000 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals downed tools in over 600 health facilities across the country.

PSI supports KCTU’s general strike for ratification of ILO Core Conventions without regression

05 March 2019

Social dialogue towards ratification of ILO Core Conventions 87 (freedom of association) and 98 (collective bargaining) in the Republic of Korea appears to be moving in the direction of actually weakening fundamental labour rights.

South Korean government responds to workers’ demands for justice for young worker Kim Yong-gyun

04 February 2019

The South Korean government has announced today a series of measures in response to the tragic death of 24-year-old power plant worker, killed in an industrial accident resulting from the “outsourcing of danger” and lack of safety measures at Taean Power Plant.

Guatemala: Union leaders imprisoned for having negotiated a collective agreement

30 January 2019

PSI is calling on all affiliates to join the LabourStart campaign in support of Dora Regina Ruano and Luis Alpirez Guzmán, Organizing Director and General Secretary of PSI's affiliate the National Union of Health Workers of Guatemala (SNTSG).

Historic national general strike in India

08 January 2019
Demonstration by Power Employees & Engineers National strike on 8th January at Nashik and Pune, Maharastra

The Forum against FTAs has issued a Solidarity Statement in favour of the workers, trade unions and independent federations across India joining together in a historic general strike on 8-9 January. The Forum believes India's flawed trade and investment policies have contributed to deepen the crisis that workers are currently facing.

PSI extends full support to nationwide strike in India

08 January 2019

On 8-9 January, Indian workers and their trade unions are holding a two-day nationwide general strike to protest against "anti-labour, anti-people and anti-national policies " of the Modi government. PSI extends full support and solidarity to its affiliates, other unions and the workers of India participating in the strike action.

Global unions condemn conviction of union leaders in Cambodia

18 December 2018

PSI, together with five other Global Union Federations, strongly condemn the sentence against the six independent trade union leaders in Cambodia and call for the convictions to be immediately voided.

Turkey: Solidarity fund for trade unions

20 April 2017

In the aftermath of the failed coup that took place last July, the Turkish government has arrested and detained thousands of workers and trade unionists. Public employees have been summarily suspended or dismissed. PSI calls on affiliates to contribute to a solidarity fund to help trade unions and workers operate under these difficult conditions. #SolidarityTurkey

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.

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.

Respect the right to organise - Reinstate Liberian trade union leaders NOW!

06 October 2016

The Liberian regime has no respect for basic Human Rights; or Workers Rights!



In Liberia, the government has arbitrarily fired health workers who were on the front lines of the fight against Ebola; simply because they were trying to ensure adequate protection and working conditions for public workers. Before you consider traveling to or investing in Liberia, think about whether you really want to support a regime which treats health heroes as disposable goods.



Learn more about how to stand up for the rights of Liberian workers by watching the video above and signing the petition below!

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.

The right to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association for disenfranchised workers

25 May 2016
construction worker

In his upcoming report to the UN General Assembly to be presented in October 2016, the Special Rapporteur will examine the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association (FOAA) for disenfranchised workers.

Tunisia : General strike due to negotiations deadlock

20 May 2016
Union protestors in Tunis

On 19 May, health workers in Tunisia, members of PSI affiliate Fédération Générale de la Santé (FGS), organised a general strike in all the country’s hospitals (general, regional and teaching hospitals) following the deadlock in negotiations between the union and the Tunisian Health Ministry.

Collective bargaining - a policy guide

08 December 2015

How can governments advance the effective recognition of this fundamental right? Which policies and institutions promote collective bargaining and how might they be established?

Trade Union Violations in the Africa & Arab regions (AFRECON)

24 September 2015

Trade union rights violations are widespread in Africa and the Mena region, ranging from highly restrictive legislation on the right to organize in the public sector, interference in collective bargaining agreements, heavy fines and imprisonment for trade union activities and strikes.

Banner: Right to strike

13 February 2015

Use these banners in your Right to Strike activities on 18 February and until 21 March.

PLADA - Development platform of the Americas

30 January 2015

This document was published by the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) through the Union FES Project, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Programme of Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) of the ILO.

Stand for democracy at work on Human Rights Day!

10 December 2014
SEIU, US. Photo: Carrie Sloan, Creative Commons

“Everyone must enjoy full access to decent work, education, health, safety and peace,” says Rosa Pavanelli, PSI General Secretary. On International Human Rights Day, PSI calls on its affiliates and activists to unite and stand firm against the attack on core labour rights and freedoms.

Outcomes of PSI Steering Comittee SC-18

17 November 2014

PSI Steering Committee (SC-18) met in Geneva on 12-13 November 2014.

The agenda covered all items relating to the implementation of the Programme of Action with a special focus on the global campaigns PSI is leading on trade agreements and tax justice.

India: Core labour standards not implemented in ADB funded projects

02 September 2014
India - Sewage treatment plant, Kavoor, Mangalore, India. Photo: ADB

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Handbook on Core Labour Standards 2005, committed to comply with the internationally recognized core labour standards (CLS) and related labour laws in the design, formulation and operation of its loans to the developing countries. However the workers in the projects have identified union busting, harassment or physical violence against unions and discrimination and dismissals and other work-related anti-union/worker actions etc. in the projects and the compliance according to the CLS handbook is not strictly observed.

ILO Tripartite Technical Meeting on Recruitment

06 September 2016
ILO TTM on refugees

The Tripartite Meeting of Experts to Develop Guidance on Fair Recruitment is being held at the ILO in Geneva on 5-7 September. The objective is to adopt ILO guidelines on fair recruitment, encompassing both cross-border and national recruitment. PSI Migration Programme Coordinator, Genevieve Gencianos, delivered a speech on 5 September at the opening session of the meeting.

Route of Shame 2016: Walk for social justice!

25 May 2016

PSI and global trade unionists walked for social justice in Geneva. Around the world, populist politicians are raising the flag of racism and xenophobia to hide the fact that they represent the interests of the few, not the many. PSI calls for global solidarity with refugees and the respect of their human rights.

PSI/EPSU-ILO Roundtable on Labour Migration and Trade Union Rights

23 November 2015

The PSI/EPSU-ILO Roundtable on Labour Migration and Trade Union Rights is taking place in Yerevan, Armenia on 24-25 November. This meeting will be held in English, Russian and Armenian with the participation of PSI/EPSU affiliates, ILO Moscow ACTRAV and invited guests, experts and PSI staff.

International Labour Conference 2015

01 June 2015

The 104th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) will be held at the Palais des Nations and the ILO headquarters in Geneva, from 1 to 13 June 2015.

ILO Tripartite meeting on the Right to Strike

20 February 2015

The Meeting will bring together participants from 32 Governments of ILO member States, 16 Employer participants and 16 Worker participants nominated by the Employers’ group and the Workers’ group of the Governing Body respectively, as well as observers from the three groups.

Technical Mission from the ILO visits Ecuador

26 January 2015

An ILO technical mission will visit Ecuador on 26-30 January 2015 to examine first-hand a series of complaints received by the Committee of Application of Standards (CAS) on the working conditions of Ecuadorian public sector workers since 2007.

PSI Union Development and Strategy and Planning Workshops for the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU)

07 November 2014

1.    One-day workshop for executive members of the young workers’ group and young activists. November 18, 2014 at DPSU headquarters – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Main aims

Video: Unions in Latin America are fighting for trade union rights and quality public services

29 May 2015

Representatives of PSI affiliates met in Geneva on 27-28 May 2015 for the PSI Executive Board meeting. In this interview, Omar Autón, Unión del Personal Civil de la Nación, Argentina, describes the situation in Latin America. Unions are fighting for trade union rights, the right to strike, unionization, collective bargaining, and to obtain quality public services. The video is in Spanish.

Video: In Nigeria, faced with rocketing electricity costs but no electricity, unions and the public demand end to privatisation

28 May 2015

Representatives of PSI affiliates met in Geneva on 27-28 May 2015 for the PSI Executive Board meeting. In this interview, Adeniyi Peters Adeyemi, Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU), Nigeria, speaks about privatisation, reforms and Ebola. He explains how Nigerian people have suffered under privatisation, and how in view of the consequences of privatisation, they are now joining in the unions’ opposition and asking the government to fix the problems. He also explains how Nigeria achieved good results in tackling the Ebola crisis.

Video: JPSU, Japan campaigns for workers' rights, demands end to restrictions on collective bargaining

28 May 2015

Representatives of PSI affiliates met in Geneva on 27-28 May 2015 for the PSI Executive Board meeting. Tomio Ishihara, JPSU, Japan, explains that in Japan, public employees’ basic worker rights, including the right to collective bargaining, are restricted. JPSU is running a campaign for workers’ rights, appealing to the ILO and lobbying the Japanese government.

Video: Route of Shame 2014

12 June 2014

Public Services International and trade union leaders from around the world joined in Geneva for the "Route of Shame" on 4th June 2014, calling for the right to strike for all workers and shaming countries where workers' and trade union rights are violated. Quality public services and social justice are key to achieving equality, equity and dignity. On the same day, PSI affiliates in Guatemala, Panama, Buenos Aires, Lima, Santiago de Chile, Paraguay, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Tokyo and Seoul also organized "Route of Shame" actions. International solidarity makes us stronger!

Photos: Route of Shame 2014 - Geneva

11 June 2014
The Route of Shame is a solidarity action organized by Public Services International, calling for the right to strike and shaming countries that violate workers' rights. On 4th June 2014, the second edition of The Route of Shame brought together trade unionists from all over the world and all sectors in Geneva and in Guatemala, Buenos Aires, Paraguay, Sao Paolo, Panama,Tokyo, Indonesia, Santiago de Chile, Lima and other cities (more updates soon). In Geneva, PSI welcomed the participation of Education International (EI), the International Transport Federation (ITF), the International Union of Food Workers (IUF), INDUSTRIALL, ITUC, Union of Domestic Workers and numerous national trade union organizations. Notwithstanding the weather our meeting was a success and our voices heard. International solidarity makes us stronger! VIVA the international trade union movement!
Source: Flickr

The Route of Shame is a solidarity action organized by Public Services International, calling for the right to strike and shaming countries that violate workers' rights. On 4th June 2014, the second edition of The Route of Shame brought together trade unionists from all over the world and all sectors in Geneva and in Guatemala, Buenos Aires, Paraguay, Sao Paolo, Panama,Tokyo, Indonesia, Santiago de Chile, Lima and other cities (more updates soon).

Video: Nigerian public services union demands right to health in new constitution

03 June 2014

Watch this interview with Ayuba Wabba, President of the PSI-affiliated Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN). Brother Wabba has been selected to join a constitutional review committee considering health-related rights for the drafting of Nigeria's new constitution.

Audio: Ecuador - Interview with Sandra Vermuyten, PSI Equality and Rights Officer

07 May 2014

A RadioLabour interview with Sandra Vermuyten, the Equality and Rights Officer of Public Services International.