International Human Rights Treaties and the Right to Strike
11 Pages Posted: 22 Feb 2015 Last revised: 4 Mar 2018
Date Written: February 20, 2015
Abstract
The right to strike under international law has been challenged by the International Organization of Employers since the mid 1990s. The employer group claims that no such right exists under international law and are moving to undermine recognition of the right at the International Labor Organization (ILO). This article examines the right to strike in international human rights law. It examines the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights treatment of the right to strike and finds the right to strike exists in these treaties. Further, the article demonstrates that while employers may challenging the existence of the right to strike, governments around the world have overwhelmingly ratified international treaties contradicting the employer group’s position.
Keywords: Right to Strike, ILO, Freedom of Association, Human Rights
JEL Classification: J52, J53, J50
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation