Abstract
Intertwined with other collective labour rights, workers’ collective action has the utmost importance for genuine transformative solutions when labour rights are constantly violated and legal regulations do not function properly. Since collective action at work serves as a protective shield for labour rights, its relationship with ecological sustainability deserves more research and awareness in labour law. Adopting a holistic, supranational and critical approach, this article aims to analyse the role of ecological collective action in enhancing the protection and enforcement of labour rights. In the era of climate emergency accompanied by multiple crises, ecological collective action at work is the irreplaceable component of social justice, democracy, dignity, planetary wellbeing and decent work. All workers, regardless of their employment status, must have the right to take collective action to demand climate jobs, nature-friendly production, efficient energy use, sustainable mobility plans, ecological training and skills, occupational health and safety and other fair working conditions. With the support of trade unions, state, NGOs and court decisions, ecological collective action at work has the capacity to be a powerful catalyst against the violation of labour rights by reuniting labour and nature.