Rights Aotearoa Statement on the Right to Strike
The right to withhold labour is a universal human right
Rights Aotearoa stands in solidarity with the fundamental right of workers to withdraw their labour. The right to strike is not a privilege granted by the state—it is a cornerstone of democratic workplace relations and a basic human right recognised under international law, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to which Aotearoa is a party. When the Government threatens to remove this right altogether for health workers, introduces pay deductions for partial strikes, strips pay equity protections from 180,000 workers, and allows military personnel to replace striking civilians, it does not merely attack unions—it attacks the principle that terms and conditions of employment must be agreed, not imposed. The erosion of the right to strike fundamentally shifts the balance of power in favour of employers and the state, leaving workers with no meaningful recourse to advocate for themselves or those they serve.
Ministers who accuse striking workers of "crossing an ethical line" or characterise lawful industrial action as "politically motivated" are engaging in a dangerous mischaracterisation of fundamental rights. Whether one agrees with the specific positions taken by teachers, nurses, doctors, or other public servants in their current disputes is immaterial to the question of whether they possess the right to take collective action in the first place. Rights Aotearoa calls on the Government to withdraw its threats to further restrict strike action, to cease its divisive rhetoric, and to return to the negotiating table in good faith. The right to strike must be defended—not as a matter of political preference, but as a matter of principle essential to any society that claims to value fairness, dignity, and the rule of law.
