As we prepare to celebrate Labor Day on Monday, it is a great opportunity to reflect on the labor movement globally.  In this time of global economic crisis, worker organizing and labor unions are more important than ever to protect workers and ensure that economic recovery plans benefit working people and their families.

The global economic crisis has deeply affected workers who face massive job losses -- plunging millions of families into poverty and leading to questions about the sustainability of our economic policies.  At the same time, many workers are experiencing violations of their right to organize labor unions to protect their interests.  Women workers, in particular, can benefit greatly from a democratic voice at work.  Unfortunately, employers around the world have systematically violated international human rights standards to deny workers their right to organize on the job.

Today, many women work under hazardous working conditions in sweatshops and in fields, for long hours, for low wages, few benefits and occupy the most unstable jobs  The ability to join unions gives women more power over decisions about their lives. Unions have been an important partner in the fight for women’s rights at the work and some of the first unions were formed by women who decided to stand up for better working conditions.

The right to organize in the workplace is recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and several International Labor Organization Conventions.  However, companies and governments use a range of tactics to violate the freedom of association of workers.  From being fired or blacklisted for organizing to employment schemes that rely on temporary workers who don't have the right to unionize to facing threats, violence and even assassination, workers around the world continue to fight for their rights despite the obstacles.

For example, women workers in the cut flower industry in Colombia (the most dangerous country in the world for union organizing) have take on major corporations like Dole and successfully mobilized and bargained contracts.  Women have been at the forefront of the campaign to protect the rights of workers at a garment factory in Honduras producing for Russell.  They have had to deal with blacklists, factory closures and even death threats, but they are still fighting and are being joined by labor rights advocates, particularly the student anti-sweatshop movement, around the world.

Just in time for Labor Day, the International Labor Rights Forum has released a new toolkit that outlines the importance of the right of workers to organize, how these rights are violated around the world and what you can do to support workers globally.  Check out the toolkit here.   You can also show your solidarity by sending this urgent action e-mail to some of the worst corporate offenders.

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