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AFL-CIO Observes International Human Rights Day

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On Dec. 10, the AFL-CIO observes International Human Rights Day, which underscores the labor movement’s conviction that protecting working people is essential to protecting human rights everywhere. Since its earliest days, the federation has argued that the dignity and freedom of working people are fundamental human rights, aligning our mission with the principles later enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Today, those rights are under attack. From escalating union-busting to the weakening of child labor protections to devastating violations in our immigration and civil rights systems. But the legacy of this day offers a path forward.

“On International Human Rights Day, we honor a truth our movement has carried since long before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948: workers’ rights are human rights. The right to come together and organize, to bargain collectively, to earn a fair wage, to work and live with dignity and safety—these are not privileges reserved for the few, but fundamental freedoms owed to every person,” said AFL-CIO Director of Civil, Human and Women’s Rights Alex Rias.

Here's a closer look at how unions protect those rights:

  • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and it has been translated into over 500 languages.
  • The Declaration outlines 30 rights and freedoms that belong to all of us and that nobody can take away from us. The rights that were included continue to form the basis for international human rights law. Today, the Declaration remains a living document. It is the most translated document in the world.
  • Article 23 of UDHR declares that everyone has the right to work, to equal pay, to protection against unemployment and the right to form and join trade unions. Article 24 says that everyone has the right to rest and leisure. Article 25 says everyone has the right to a decent standard of living, including food, clothing, housing, medical care and social services.
  • Trade unions are critical to protecting and promoting human rights including economic, social, and cultural rights and the right to be free from discrimination. Unions not only cover issues relating to working conditions and pay, but also the right to be free from discrimination more generally as well as the right to freedom of association and expression. The power of trade unions and collective bargaining cannot be understated. We are more powerful when we work together. When individual complaints and concerns are ignored, trade unions can shine a light on abuses and make sure those responsible are held to account. When states and employers respect the right to unionize, they make it possible to realize a workplace where everyone benefits from honest and trusting negotiations between business leaders and their workers. To fulfill their human rights responsibilities, businesses should work with union members and representatives as allies in creating solutions to challenges.
  • Unions aren’t just good for workers—they also benefit communities and democracy. Rebuilding worker power by strengthening unions is not just good policy—it is a democratic imperative in the face of authoritarian backsliding.
  • Unions provide better benefits. Union workers have greater access to health care. More than 9 in 10 workers covered by a union contract (95%) have access to employer-sponsored health benefits, compared with just 71% of nonunion workers.
  • Union workers have greater access to paid sick leave. More than 9 in 10 workers—92%—covered by a union contract have access to paid sick days, compared with 78% of nonunion workers.
  • Union employers are more likely to offer retirement plans. More than 9 in 10 workers—95%—covered by a union contract have access to employer-sponsored retirement benefits, compared with 70% of nonunion workers.
  • According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 23% of all workers in 2021 have no access to paid vacation time, while 21% have no access to paid sick leave. Due to their collective bargaining power, unions play a pivotal role in securing paid time off for workers. Union contracts almost universally include guaranteed paid time off in the form of sick and/or vacation days.