The United Nations' highest court, the International Court of Justice, issued a landmark advisory opinion on Thursday stating that workers and unions have a right to strike under the main international labour law treaty. The ruling clarifies that a cornerstone labor treaty protects the ability of employees to lawfully walk off the job.
This non-legally binding opinion could influence labour laws and global labour relations around the world. It potentially enshrines the right to strike within international trade agreements and labour standards.
The opinion settles an internal dispute over conventions of a UN labour agency. This legal interpretation follows a heated battle between unions and employer groups and is expected to be hailed as a victory by workers' groups.