UN Labor Relations Act

Resolution text

Description: Believing that the ability to form and join labor unions is often an important factor in assuring proper compensation and adequate working conditions;

Recognizing that industrial actions are important -- sometimes the only -- means available for workers to successfully influence management decisions,

But also believing that the welfare of the general public must be of paramount concern in weighing the right of workers to engage in such actions,

The United Nations;

1. RESOLVES that all UN member states must recognize and ensure the fundamental right of everyone to form or join unions of their choice for the purpose of collective representation of workers, and the right of those unions to establish and join federations and confederations of labor organizations, both nationally and internationally.

2. ESTABLISHES the right of all workers in all UN member nations to engage in strikes and other industrial actions, including, but not limited to, work slowdowns, overtime refusal, work-to-rule and general strikes, provided that those actions do not cause physical harm to persons or property; a. Employers are not required to pay wages of workers while they are on strike. b. Workers may not be terminated from employment for participating in a legally authorized strike or industrial action.

3. DECLARES that national governments may exempt from the rights granted in clause 2: a. Strikes or other industrial actions not authorized by a union. b. Strikes or other industrial actions which significantly endanger the health or welfare of the public, such as, but not limited to strikes by medical and police personnel.

4. RESERVES to the respective member nations the right to determine the extent to which the provisions of this resolution shall apply to: a. Members of the armed forces, b. Law enforcement personnel, c. Providers of emergency services, and d. Government employees providing essential public services.

5. MANDATES that labor disputes involving workers lacking the right to strike under articles 3.b. and 4 of this resolution be settled through binding arbitration administered by an independent and unbiased third party.

6. DECLARES that national governments may require unions to supply fair notice to employers and relevant government agencies in advance of industrial action.

7. AFFIRMS the right of Unions and their national and international organisations to be free to draw up their own constitutions and rules, organize their own administration and activities, and formulate their own programs.

8. FORBIDS discrimination based on Union membership where employment is concerned. Union members and non-members must be afforded equal treatment in hiring, work assignment, compensation, promotion, training and education, and disciplinary actions.

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

Co-author: Ausserland.