Standing up against employers that attack the right to strike

EPSU delegation, from left to right Stélios Tsiakkaros (CFDT France), Marco Ouwehand (AbvaKabo, NL), Britta Lejon (ST Sweden) and Jan Willem Goudriaan, EPSU General Secretary

(18 February 2015) On the global day of action in defense of the right to strike, EPSU staff joined the event organised by the Belgian unions FGTB, CSC and CGSLB, the Liga voor Mensenrechten, ETUC and ITUC. The day of action is organised to underline to employers and their supporting governments that they should stop undermining the right to strike in the ILO.

Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of ITUC spoke of the importance of the right to strike to defend working people and our communities. She referred to several cases in the world where the right to strike is threatened as well as to Spain. The Spanish conservative government, member of the European People's Party, is prosecuting around 300 workers who have participated in collective actions, abusing an article of the penal code introduced by the fascist dictator Franco.

EPSU has written to the Spanish government asking to drop these cases and reform the penal code. The President & VPs of the EPSU standing Committee on National and European Administration also joined in the action. The Belgian human rights organisations fully supported the union demands of the global unions underlining how essential the right to strike is in today's economic climate with many in precarious jobs to protect workers against exploitation. 

For more information on the actions

  • EPSU delegation, from left to right Stélios Tsiakkaros (CFDT France), Marco Ouwehand (AbvaKabo, NL), Britta Lejon (ST Sweden) and Jan Willem Goudriaan, EPSU General Secretary
  • Sharron Burrow, ITUC General Secretary and Jan Willem Goudriaan, EPSU General Secretary