(Photo: International Court of Justice)

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has confirmed what workers and trade unions around the world have defended for generations: the right to strike is protected under freedom of association and international labour standards.

This is a historic victory for the global trade union movement and for every worker who has organised, resisted intimidation, and taken collective action despite repression.

Across the movement, unions worldwide spoke with one voice and stood firm against attempts to weaken one of the most fundamental rights workers have.

For workers in construction, forestry, and building materials, this matters every day. The right to strike is often the only protection workers have against unsafe conditions, wage theft, exploitation, and union busting across complex subcontracting chains and migrant labour systems.

“The right to strike is not a technical issue. It is the power of workers to defend life, dignity, and justice at work. This opinion confirms that freedom of association cannot exist only on paper,” BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson said.

Workers’ rights are never simply given. They are organised, defended, and won.