United Nations' top court says right to strike is protected by a key labor treaty
Source: AP
By MOLLY QUELL
Updated 10:44 AM CDT, May 21, 2026
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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United Nations’ top court issued a landmark advisory opinion on the right to strike on Thursday, finding that a cornerstone labor treaty protects the ability of workers to walk off the job.
The International Court of Justice was asked in 2023 by the International Labor Organization, a U.N. agency, to settle an internal dispute over whether one of the ILO’s conventions gives workers the right to strike.
Advisory opinions aren’t legally binding, but carry significant weight. The decision could have a worldwide impact on labor regulations, enshrining the right to strike in labor standards and international trade agreements.
Labor unions welcomed the decision.
Exterior view of the Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/world-court-right-to-strike-advisory-opinion-2199bbe1e530194e2af103de87e23380