"The basic
trade union rights are the right to form or join a trade union, the right to bargain collectively and the right to strike. These
trade union rights are human rights and, as all human rights, they are universal and indivisible. General rights for trade unionists are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, its covenants as well as in most national constitutions and labour codes. For example, article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights includes the following: ‘everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests'. […]
The most important
trade union rights are defined in the ILO conventions No. 87 on freedom of association and No. 98 on the right to collective bargaining. International trade union organisations have been fighting since their inception to get these rights recognised by all governments and employers. […]
Every year, the ICFTU publishes an ‘Annual Survey on Violations of Trade Union Rights.' This survey has become the flagship publication of the ICFTU and gives an in-depth overview of the
trade union rights situation in over 130 countries. Each country overview has information on the current legislation, indicates the general situation as regards the practice of
trade union rights, and describes specific cases of
trade union rights violations during the year in review."
(International Confederation Of Free Trade Unions, ICFTU,
A Trade Union Guide to Globalisation, 2004, visited 2011-01-25)