On July 2, the Workers Charter movement was founded in Auckland, New Zealand, by a group of left, union and social justice activists. The following is a draft charter for discussion and feedback.
Every worker has the right to dignity, which our humanity demands.
Our right to dignity must be the heart of a democratic reshaping of our society.
For too long, the selfish right of a privileged few to gather wealth from the productive majority has been the priority of the economy and the state.
Global capitalism treats workers as merely a commodity, to be exploited and discarded like any other commodity.
Market competition and free trade force workers from different countries into a "race to the bottom". Wars of conquest, like the US colonisation of Iraq, expand corporate power at the cost of mass bloodshed and suffering.
Our humanity is being sacrificed to the "God of Profit".
The Workers Charter upholds the following democratic rights as key elements in bringing dignity to workers:
- The right to a job with a living wage for 40 hours.
- The right to free public health and education.
- The right to decent and affordable housing.
- The right to unite and strike without legislative bans.
- The right to public control of strategic assets.
- The right of all workers to their own cultural identity.
- The right to organise with workers in other countries.
These rights can only be secured by extending democracy into every sphere of the economy and the state.
The privileged few will resist. They will use their control of the economy and the state to deny workers our democratic rights and thus our human dignity.
A mass mobilisation around the Workers Charter can give us the strength to win the battle for democracy and claim our human dignity.
We call on every worker to give your feedback on the charter and your suggestions to improve it.
[Email feedback to Grant Morgan at <gcm@actrix.gen.nz>.]
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, July 27, 2005.
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