Nobel laureates urge recognition of workers' rights

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Eleven Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, have joined with a labor group in urging full recognition of worker's rights in the lead-up to International Human Rights Day on Saturday.

December 10 marks the anniversary of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which urges basic rights for workers including the right to organize.

"We call upon every nation on this International Human Rights Day to abide by the Universal Declaration and at long last, truly protect and defend workers' rights, including the right to form unions and bargain collectively," said a statement signed by the Nobel laureates.

The statement, issued in conjunction with the labor federation AFL-CIO, will appear in full-page advertisements in the Washington Post and New York Times on Tuesday, the organization said on Monday.

AFL-CIO spokesman Steve Smith said the advertisements are among a number of events, including marches, rallies and candlelight vigils, the labor movement plans to mark the anniversary of the 1948 UN human rights declaration across the United States this week.

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