The Right to Unite

Open Up, our online explorative series, commenced with an introduction to transparency. Now, we want to dig even deeper into transparency and all its facets with our latest theme: The Right to Unite.

The Right to Unite, or Freedom of Association as it is sometimes referred to, ensures that workers are able to engage in a mutual dialogue with their employers. This right ensures that the workers are allowed to uphold values that will lead to establishing fair business models and sustainable practices, standards, and policies.

The lack thereof has a domino effect on a worker’s other rights. Without this Right, other rights could be seriously neglected. Hence companies need to be honest and open about how they are providing this right to their workers.

Without the Right to Unite, workers are unable to exercise their collective bargaining rights; organise or join trade unions; or perform industrial strikes and sit-downs. Subsequently, if workers cannot unite, issues such as indecent working conditions, forced labour, long working hours, discrimination, and other labour issues are often not properly addressed.

Anyone who has ever had a job will understand the importance of the Right to Unite. Some might even have experienced a lack of this basic right in some way.

If you were to think of your own daily working space, would you say it is safe and healthy? And if not, do you have the right to express your dissatisfaction without a backlash? Many people today don’t have a right to express their dissatisfaction and many do face a backlash.

In the next few weeks, we will explore this theme that affects every working person.

We look forward to sharing with you the stories we’ve heard from around the world through: a radio interview from Costa Rica, an in-depth report, a brand new Q&A and many more interesting items. You can also share your views in our upcoming twitter debate.

And, as always, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and share your own experiences and stories.

So, stay tuned to www.fairfood.org/openup for brand new content each week. You can also sign-up for the Fairfood Flash to stay updated on all things concerning Open Up.

Image: Mat McDermott (CC License)