The Right to Form Unions

Resolution History

Overview

The People's Republic of Groot Gouda was, as many other nations, against the repeal of The Rights of Labor Unions. After the repeal, the drafting process was started to get a better resolution on the floor which would be restoring the rights of the repealed resolution while at the same time making it more acceptible to a majority of UN members.

The resolution probably holds the record for closest approval: only in the last minutes before the update the deciding 124th approval was placed.

UN Debate

The debate was mainly about the economic consequences. Several members raised concerns about the international federations, unions for the army, the few limitations on striking and possible discrimination.

There were also concerns raised that The Right to Form Unions was in the Human Rights category, rather than Social Justice, which had been the categorization of the previous union resolution. The response was that it did not actually reduce income inequality and increase social welfare, but only gave people the right to do so.

Repeal attempt

On March 5, Repeal "The Right to Form Unions" was defeated 6,504 votes to 4,863. The debate can be read here.

Proposal Text

Description:

REGRETTING the repeal of UN Resolution #38: The Rights of Labor Unions, and wishing to improve the original resolution,

DETERMINED to provide protection for all workers in all UN member nations,

CONVINCED that this is best provided on a national level through the formation of Unions,

FURTHER CONVINCED that Unions will improve the working conditions and with that production,

The NS UN

1. RESOLVES that all nations must recognize the right for every citizen in a UN member nation to form or join Unions for the purpose of collective representation of workers, and the right of those Unions to establish and join federations and confederations of Trade Unions, both nationally and internationally,

2. ESTABLISHES the right of all workers in all UN member nations to go on strike; employers are allowed to withhold wages of workers while they are on strike, but it is not a reason to fire a worker,

3. EXEMPTS from the right granted in clause 2: a. Strikes by personnel of the armed forces; b. Strikes not authorized by a union; c. Strikes which directly endanger the life of citizens in a nation, such as but not limited to medical and police personnel;

4. MANDATES that for the workers who are not allowed to go on strike, independent arbitration is provided whose decision shall be carried out by all parties in the conflict,

5. URGES all national governments to have regular talks with representatives from the Unions to keep wages and working conditions at a fair level,

6. AFFIRMS the right of Unions and their national and international organisations to be free from interference by the public authorities when drawing up their constitutions and rules, electing their representatives, organizing their administration and activities, and formulating their programs; nations have the right to insist on minimum democratic standards within unions,

7. FORBIDS discrimination based on Union-membership where employment is concerned: non-members and members should have equal opportunities in being hired, work assignment, promotion and trainings regardless of Union-membership,

8. DECLARES that Unions must respect national law, and that national laws shall not be made to impair the guarantees provided for in this resolution.

Votes For: 7,577

Votes Against: 5,394

Implemented: Fri Mar 17 2006

Gameplay Impacts

By limiting the rights to strike somewhat for practical reasons, the strenght has been reduced to significant.

Additional Materials

• The Right to Form Unions UN floor debate
• Draft: Right to form Labour Unions Drafting discussion
• The Rights of Labor Unions
• Repeal The Rights of Labor Unions
• UN Timeline
• Index of UN Resolutions
• United Nations