International Human Rights Day: Support Workers' Rights

by Zarah Patriana · 2008-12-10 07:47:00 UTC
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The Fair Trade movement stands in solidarity with workers' rights everywhere. One of the main tenets of Fair Trade is ensuring that workers have safe working conditions, are getting fair pay and have the right to voice their concerns. Today is International Human Rights Day and the International Labor Rights Forum have released a list of five companies that violate their workers' rights to organize. It's called Working for Scrooge: 5 Worst Companies for the Right to Associate and this year it includes Nestlé, Dole, Del Monte, Russell and Wal-Mart.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that “everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests” (Article 23, Section 4). As human rights advocates around the world celebrate International Human Rights Day, the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) has released “Working for Scrooge: 5 Worst Companies for the Right to Associate” – a list of the five worst multinational corporations for union organizing. The US-based companies on ILRF’s list use intimidation and even violence to violate their workers’ internationally recognized right to organize.

The ILRF is asking you to take action. Check out their Change.org Action to protect workers' rights to organize. It asks you to take action by sending a letter to all five companies to start recognizing the rights of their workers.

So, give a voice to workers out there who have had their voice suppressed. Act now.

[Photo Credit: Jay Directo/AFP/Getty Images]

Zarah Patriana
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