International Court of Justice upholds global right to strike

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion confirming that the right to strike is protected under the International Labour Organization’s Convention No. 87 on freedom of association. The court voted 10‑4 to affirm that the right to strike is inherent to the freedom of union activity, ending a long‑standing dispute over the legal status of strikes.

Spanish trade unions CCOO and UGT welcomed the ruling as a decisive victory for workers, governments and employers, saying it provides legal certainty and supports stable industrial relations worldwide. The decision is expected to shape future labour‑law discussions and reinforce the ILO’s supervisory system.