San Francisco Labor Council demands U.S. enforcement of treaties & laws ensuring Full Employment, Right to a Job & Union Rights … demands review by U.N. Human Rights Council

S.F. Labor Council Resolution Regarding the United Nations Human Rights Council – Adopted March 15, 2010

Whereas, the United Nations Human Rights Council will examine the United States’ compliance with its legally-binding obligations under its signed and ratified Human Rights treaties as well as the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and

Whereas, the process is called “Universal Periodic Review” or “UPR”, in which the human rights compliance of every UN member state is reviewed every four years; and

Whereas, as part of the UPR process, the U.S. government is required to conduct consultations with stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, civil society, and those facing rights violations; and

Whereas, as a labor organization, (including human rights organizations) one of the most basic human rights, that of ‘the right to a job, right to employment’ is systematically being wiped out with no remedy in sight; and

Whereas, the San Francisco Chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women and the Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute are submitting the following as part of a cluster report to be submitted to the State Department and to the United Nations:

1. The Right to Employment.
(a) According to Article 23, clause 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights it states “Just and favorable conditions of work and protection against unemployment.

(b) According to Article 23, clause 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it states: “Everyone, without discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work”.

RECOMMENDATION: THAT THE UNITED STATES ENFORCE THE EXISTING STATUES CALLING FOR FULL EMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FULL EMPLOYMENT AND BALANCED GROWTH ACT OF 1978.

2. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively, including those sectors that are not covered under the National Labor Relations Act. Those sectors include: contract workers who are in fact employees, domestic workers and agricultural workers

RECOMMENDATION: TO REMOVE ALL OBSTACLES TO ORGANIZING WORKERS AND TO ENCOURAGE CONGRESS TO PASS THE “EMPLOYMENT FREE CHOICE ACT”.

3. Promote and Educate Universal respect for and observance of fundamental human rights and freedom for all. The United States, in agreeing to the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and three United Nations Human Rights treaties, agreed to promote universal respect for and observance of fundamental human rights and freedoms for all. In agreeing to the 3 UN Human Rights treaties, the U.S. agreed to promote the rights that are listed in those three treaties nationwide.

RECOMMENDATION: THAT THE UNITED STATES NOT ONLY PUBLICIZE THE TREATIES ON THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS, BUT THEY ALSO NEED TO REQUIRE THE POSTING OF THE RIGHTS LISTED IN THE TREATIES IN EVERY WORKPLACE.

Therefore be it Resolved that the San Francisco Labor Council encourage union participation in the UPR process and supporting labor involvement in the UPR hearings in Berkeley, March 25, and in San Francisco, March 26 at USF and that Executive Director Tim Paulson attend the hearing(s) and present a labor report and if he is unable to attend, that he appoint representative(s) to attend and give a labor report; and

Be it Finally Resolved that the San Francisco Labor Council join in collaboration with other labor union/organizations in writing a report, a cluster report, which will include:

1. Right to work. Enforce the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act, 1978.

2. Remove all obstacles to organizing workers and encourage Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.

3. The United States publicize the treaties and require the posting of the rights listed in the treaties in every workplace.

Submitted by Vicky Sawicki, NALC 214, and adopted by the San Francisco Labor Council on March 15, 2010.

Respectfully,

Tim Paulson, Executive Director
OPEIU 3 AFL-CIO 11