Clarity from ILO 'matters enormously for workers, unions, governments and employers alike,' says Canadian Labour Congress
The highest court in the world has confirmed that the right to strike is protected under a core International Labour Organization (ILO) convention.
In an advisory opinion delivered on May 21, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) held – by 10 votes to four – that “the right to strike of workers and their organizations is protected under the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87).”
"Strike action is one of the main activities engaged in and tools used by workers and their organizations to promote their interests and improve conditions of labour, thereby ensuring the effective exercise of the freedom of association protected under Convention No. 87," according to the ICJ.
“This is a victory for workers everywhere,” said Bea Bruske, president of the CLC. “The world’s highest court has made it clear: workers do have the right to strike under international law. That clarity matters enormously for workers, unions, governments, and employers alike. And we’re proud of the role that CLC played in securing this decision.”
The court – the principal judicial organ of the United Nations based at the Peace Palace in The Hague – issued its opinion at the request of the Governing Body of the International Labour Office. The decision clarifies the scope of a long‑standing ILO...
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