Sign the Workers' Bill of Rights

IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT:

Democracy and human rights cannot flourish where workers’ rights

do not exist or are not enforced.

Unions have been, and continue to be, an important force for

democracy, not just in the workplace, but beyond, in the

community – locally, nationally and globally.

Unions have historically been a major force in humanizing and

democratizing the economies of nations by promoting higher levels

of economic equality and economic justice.

Unions provide workers with decent wages , benefits and working

conditions so they and their families can enjoy a quality standard

of living and financial security.

THIS IS CONFIRMED BY:

The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

which sets out fundamental principles for human rights including

the right to freedom of association (Article 21) as well as the right

of everyone to form and to join trade unions (Article 23).

The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work

(1998) which reaffirms the commitment of the international

community "to respect, to promote and to realize in good faith" the

rights of workers to freedom of association and the effective right to

collective bargaining.

IT IS THEREFORE AFFIRMED THAT:

•1•

All workers have the right to form unions for the promotion and

defence of their interests without interference by employer or

government. This basic human right goes together with freedom of

association and freedom of expression. It is the basis of democratic

representation and governance.

•2•

All workers have the right to a legal framework that recognizes

collective bargaining as the means of determining their wages,

working conditions and terms of employment.

Proclaimed in Ottawa the 10th day of December 2005