Union rights

Trade union rights - freedom of association and the right to effective collective bargaining - are human rights. Freedom of association ensures that workers can work with each other and with their employers to negotiate work relations. Effective collective bargaining helps ensure that workers and employers negotiate on equal terms, allowing for fair, equitable outcomes.

Trade union rights are violated in many parts of the world. In some cases, workers are denied rights of association; in others, workers' organisations are disrupted and trade unionists are persecuted.

The TUC actively supports trade unionists who face discrimination and danger through the


The most recent documents available on this subject are:

Unions cry foul on Fiji's fake democracy process

Unions from Australia, New Zealand and the UK have today written to their Foreign Ministers urging them not to be taken in by the Fijian military dictatorship over its claims to be restoring democracy. And the Foreign Ministers have been urged to set...

PDF version available for download
3 May 2013
TUC condemns arrests of trade unionists on May Day in Swaziland.

TUC condemns arrests of trade unionists on May Day in Swaziland.

PDF version available for download
2 May 2013
Responsible investment in Burma

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady has written to Foreign Secretary William Hague ahead of the G8 Foreign Ministers' meeting that he is hosting in London next week. Her letter urges him to use the meeting's discussion of Burma to secure internatio...

PDF version available for download
2 April 2013
Drop charges against Iraqi oil union leader, says TUC

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady has urged the Iraqi government to desist from persecuting and harassing trade unionists in the oil industry. Union leaders from the sector globally - IndustriALL - and UNITE in the UK have also called for the cas...

PDF version available for download
25 March 2013
The TUC calls for amendment of Labour Act in Bangladesh to bring it into compliance with ILO recommendations.

The TUC calls for amendment of Labour Act in Bangladesh to bring it into compliance with ILO recommendations.

PDF version available for download
6 March 2013
Unions call on Governments to act on Fiji

The leaders of the Australian, British, New Zealand and US trade union movements have written to the foreign ministers of their governments about democracy in Fiji. Frances O'Grady has joined ACTU President Ged Kearney, NZCTU Secretary Peter Conway a...

PDF version available for download
26 February 2013



Back to International Issues.

This page http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/index.cfm
printed 18 May 2013 at 16:26 hrs by 54.234.42.16