International Court of Justice rules right to strike protected under ILO Convention 87

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a 10‑4 advisory opinion stating that the right of workers and their organisations to strike is protected by the International Labour Organization’s 1948 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (Convention 87). The 14‑judge panel said the treaty’s provisions on freedom of association “encompass” strike actions, though the opinion does not define the precise scope or conditions of that right. Convention 87 has been ratified by 158 countries, and while the ICJ ruling is not legally binding, many national courts treat its opinions as authoritative. Labour advocates expect the decision to influence jurisdictions that have not recognised a statutory right to strike, potentially reshaping labour laws worldwide. Representatives of trade unions and the International Trade Union Confederation highlighted the ruling’s impact on “tens of millions of working people”. The United States has not ratified the convention, and the ruling was welcomed by organisations such as South Africa’s COSATU, which called it a historic boost for global labour movements.