INTRODUCTION
T
his “Practical Guide to Trade Union Action: International Human Rights Instruments” presents tools that trade unions can use at the international level to strengthen their action in the defense and promotion of human rights at the local and national levels. Human rights, including labor and trade union rights, have long been recognized in important international human rights standards adopted within the United Nations and the International Labor Organization. There is no doubt that international regulation of labor and union human rights has been an important step to improve the working and living conditions of the working class. However, it is also clear that mere proclamations at the international level are not enough for human rights to be effectively respected, promoted or protected at the local and national levels. The existence of concrete and effective mechanisms of control and protection capable of enforcing international human rights obligations on States and companies are indispensable.
Today, at the international level, there are various mechanisms (contentious, non-contentious, ‘semi-contentious’) that trade unions can use to put pressure on states and companies to respect human rights. The vast majority of these mechanisms are complementary; that is, they can be used by trade unions in a parallel and coordinated manner. The combined and simultaneous use of these mechanisms by trade unions reinforces their effectiveness. Finally, the existence of these international mechanisms is not sufficient to guarantee the effective respect of the human rights of workers. What really counts is their effective and strategic use. In this sense, the action of the unions is essential and irreplaceable to guaranteeing the efficacy, respect, promotion and protection of human rights for the working class. With all of this in mind, Public Services International, with support from the DGB, previously published Practical Guides on the mechanisms of the Inter-American Human Rights
PRACTICAL GUIDE TO TRADE UNION ACTION: International Human Rights Instruments
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