December 10, 2008: International Human Rights Day

Sixty years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a defence against oppression and discrimination. The Declaration came following World War II and was seen as a way for nations to fight oppression and discrimination.

The Declaration was seen as a landmark agreement, ensuring human rights applied to everybody, everywhere.
Since then the Declaration has been adopted by the world as a universal statement of human rights.

Enshrined in the Declaration is the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. The Declaration is the subject of the International Labour Organization's (ILO) convention, the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, which was by adopted by Canada in 1972 with the unanimous consent of all provinces and territories.

Despite the endorsement of the ILO, Canada has yet to ratify all the ILO conventions which lay out international labour standards around the world. Canada has ratified five of the eight conventions.

"It is hard to believe 60 years has gone by and we still have governments attacking workers and taking away their right to bargain collectively," said Darryl Walker, BCGEU president. "In our own province we've had the experience of Bill 29, which took away the rights of health care workers, and now Stephen Harper has threatened to remove the right of federal public sector workers to strike."

"We need collective agreements in our work places to protect workers," said Walker.

At the BCGEU's recent Equity and Human Rights "Takeiton" conference members and coalition partners identified and shared the ways they have overcome barriers and how they can take action to restore dignity and justice.

Last month the National Union of Public and General Employees hosted a "Labour Rights are Human Rights" conference which condemned the federal government's refusal to ratify the ILO conventions.

BCGEU members can take action now. For more information please go to the link http://html.knowyourrights2008.org/