Labor rights

Labor rights or workers' rights are a group of legal rights and claimed human rights having to do with labor relations between workers and their employers, usually obtained under labor and employment law. In general, these rights' debates have to do with negotiating workers' pay, benefits, and safe working conditions. One of the most central of these rights is the right to unionize. Unions take advantage of collective bargaining and industrial action to increase their members' wages and otherwise change their working situation. Labor rights can also take in the form of worker's control and worker's self management in which workers have a democratic voice in decision and policy making. The labor movement initially focused on this "right to unionize", but attention has shifted elsewhere.

Critics of the labor rights movement claim that regulation promoted by labor rights activists may limit opportunities for work. In the United States, critics objected to unions establishing closed shops, situations where employers could only hire union members. The Taft–Hartley Act banned the closed shop but allowed the less restrictive union shop. Taft–Hartley also allowed states to pass right-to-work laws, which require an open shop where a worker's employment is not affected by his or her union membership. Labor counters that the open shop leads to a free rider problem.

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Latest News for: labour rights

Over 36,000 labour complaints registered in 2024

Muskat Daily 26 Mar 2025
In a statement, the ministry highlighted its efforts to enhance labour rights awareness, having conducted 2,362 awareness campaigns during the year to educate workers on their rights under the Labour Law.

Businesses ‘p---ed off’ with Labour, says CBI chairman

The Daily Telegraph 26 Mar 2025
Labour’s tax rises and workers’ rights bill have left the UK’s bosses “pretty p----d off”, the head of Britain’s biggest business group has said ... “The Employment Rights Bill is a proper horror show.”.

Drug-driving testing legislation passes despite concerns

NewstalkZB 26 Mar 2025
Labour has been deeply concerned about the concerns that have been expressed right throughout by the Attorney-General, around the potential breaches that an individual who might be going about their ...

UK set to detail plans to fix public finances

Urdu Point 26 Mar 2025
</p><p> It also announced contested cuts to disability welfare payments, in the hopes of saving more than £5 billion annually by the end of the decade.</p><p> While Labour has ...

The unexploded bombs facing Rachel Reeves in her battle with the OBR

The Daily Telegraph 26 Mar 2025
The Government’s own analysis has already warned that Labour’s upgrade to workers’ rights will cost businesses up to £5bn a year to implement ...That’s why the Government’s workers’ rights plans are so needed.

UK set to cut public spending by billions of pounds

The Times of India 26 Mar 2025
... workers' rights, it is spending cuts that have remained in the spotlight.The cuts add to criticism piled on Labour after it scrapped a winter-fuel benefit scheme for millions of pensioners last year.

The warfare state needs the welfare state

New Statesman 26 Mar 2025
That is why we are increasing the Living Wage, raising taxes on the returns from capital rather than the returns on labour, and giving new rights to workers.” Ideology gives a spine to your arguments and purpose to your actions.

Open up, it's the red tape police! Officials enforcing Labour's equal pay law will be ...

The Daily Mail 26 Mar 2025
Labour is to ... 'The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) was given exceptionally powerful legal rights, similar to the police, to enter premises and obtain documents relating to modern slavery.

UK slashes growth forecast, cuts public spending

The News International 26 Mar 2025
While Labour has highlighted increased funding for housing, the struggling National Health Service, and reforms to workers’ rights, it is spending cuts that have remained in the spotlight.

Government choosing weapons over public services – Michelle O’Neill

AOL 26 Mar 2025
History has shown the dangers of militarisation and the right-wing politics and polices that accompany this ... “It is obvious that British governments, whether Tory or Labour, have nothing to offer our people.” .

Labour to Legalise Highway Robbery

The Daily Sceptic 26 Mar 2025
You are simply buying the right to occupy the property for a set and diminishing number of years ... It argues that our freeholder is the customer for the insurance and therefore we, his tenants, have no right to information about commissions.

Mark Fairhurst: “I do not fear the law. I will accept the consequences.”

New Statesman 26 Mar 2025
Prison workers’ right to strike was removed in 1994 ... “I think it’s rather embarrassing for a so-called working-class socialist Labour government… to tell one trade union that we’re not going to give you a right to strike back.”.

LR issues Global Maritime Trends Barometer to track progress

SAFETY4SEA 26 Mar 2025
However, the GMT Barometer 2025 reveals fundamental workforce challenges, including gaps in safety standards enforcement, labour rights, diversity, and access to new labour markets—factors that ...
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