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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
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