Domestic workers fighting for rights and recognition through binding international standards won a crucial first round victory at the this year's International Labour Conference at the ILO in Geneva. On June 4, 61 governments voted in favour of a Convention supplemented by a Recommendation, against 14 voting for a Recommendation only.

Malin Klingzell-Brulin and Gunnar Brulin, journalists for the Swedish Food Workers' monthly Mål & Medel, have written a book we can recommend gladly, not only to trade unionists and workers within the global food system, but to all concerned with the most fundamental of human rights, namely the right to food.

Over three hundred workers at the highly profitable Mott's plant in Williamson, New York are on strike against deep cuts in pay and benefits, and the employer’s refusal to bargain a fair contract.

Global union federations including the IUF, the ITUC and TUAC have agreed on a common set of principles to guide union action to tackle the employment consequences and impact on unions resulting from the expansion of temporary employment agencies.

Since 2008 workers at three Accor hotels in Canada, have been organizing to win union recognition and collective bargaining rights in the face of fierce opposition from management.

Speaking at a June 3 side meeting at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, the United Nations' Special Representative on business and human rights (SRSG), John Ruggie, called on the ILO for guidance in elucidating the human rights implications of precarious work.