EDM 264 TRADE UNION RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

[Big Daz]

EDM 264

TRADE UNION RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS 11.12.2008

Mitchell, Austin 31 signatures
Caton, Martin Clark, Katy Cook, Frank
Corbyn, Jeremy Cryer, Ann Cummings, John
Davies, Dai Dismore, Andrew Dobbin, Jim
Drew, David Durkan, Mark Francis, Hywel
George, Andrew Gerrard, Neil Gibson, Ian
Harris, Evan Hemming, John Heyes, David
Hopkins, Kelvin Illsley, Eric Jones, Lynne
Leech, John MacNeil, Angus McDonnell, John
Riordan, Linda Russell, Bob Simpson, Alan
Swinson, Jo Taylor, David Wareing, Robert N

That this House notes that 10 December 2008 marks 60 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and that article 23 of the UDHR recognises the right to form and to join a trade union; further notes with concern that trade union rights are frequently violated across the world, that trade unionists are murdered in Colombia, imprisoned or face execution in Iran, and beaten in Zimbabwe; regrets that successive anti-union legislation in the UK has meant that trades union rights are now weaker than those introduced by the Trades Disputes Act 1906, leading to management using staff associations, bureaucratic measures and lack of consultation to block the work of unions; believes that free and independent trades unions are a force for good in the world, being vital to democracy and providing protection for working people; and therefore reaffirms its commitment to protecting and extending trades union rights, along with all other human rights, across the world.