Unions in the United States are joining with unions around the world to make sure workers, employers and communities know that workers worldwide have fundamental rights.

The U.N.’s International Labor Organization (ILO) says all workers have the right to form a union and bargain collectively, to refuse forced labor, to reject child labor and to work free from discrimination.

For too long, these internationally recognized rights have existed only “on paper.” Employers often violate workers’ rights, while governments look the other way. The ILO poster campaign works to make these rights real and bring them into the light of day.

A Poster on the Rights is a Powerful Tool

Posting workers’ rights at the workplace is the simplest and most straightforward way to educate them about their rights. The poster is a new tool in workers’ campaigns to make sure workers’ rights are honored on the job as well as under the law and in international trade agreements.

The poster will be used in the United States to help rally support for workers whose rights are being violated and to engage elected officials, clergy and community leaders to demand that employers stop using immoral and illegal tactics. Community leaders will use the poster to persuade employers to lessen hostility to organizing. The poster also serves as a bridge between unions and those who face discrimination daily, such as immigrants, women and people of color.

The poster also is an important tool in our Campaign for Global Fairness and as follow-up to the World Trade Organization protests in Seattle. As borders become invisible to corporations and our economy, there’s a race to the bottom in terms of workplace protections and labor standards.

What began in Seattle is now a massive grassroots effort by union movements around the world to write fair rules for the global economy that require respect for human rights and workplace and environmental standards, so we can lift local communities up everywhere.

Check back for more ideas on how to use the poster in your workplace and community.