ICJ advisory opinion finds key ILO labour treaty protects workers’ right to strike

The United Nations’ top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), issues a landmark advisory opinion on Thursday finding that the right to strike is protected under a core International Labour Organization (ILO) labour treaty. The court’s ruling links the right to strike to international labour standards and, as described in coverage, potentially affects how the right is understood in relation to international trade agreements.\n\nThe ICJ’s opinion settles a long-running dispute between workers and employers over whether the treaty guarantees or protects collective labour action, specifically striking. The ICJ frames the question as one of interpretation of the obligations contained in the key ILO convention.\n\nWhile advisory opinions are not the same as binding judgments in specific cases, the decision is presented as an important statement of legal interpretation by the world court that could influence how governments and other stakeholders view rights connected to labour bargaining and industrial relations. Multiple outlets describe the ruling as a significant clarification of labour protections in international law.