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Main points of the ILO Conventions on Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining. ILO Convention 87 (1948): Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize . The main points include:
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Main points of the ILO Conventions on Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining
ILO Convention 87 (1948): Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize The main points include: • The right of employers and workers, without distinction whatsoever, to establish and join organizations • The right to establish organizations without previous authorization • The right of workers and employers to establish and join organizations of their own choice • The right of workers and employers to draw up their constitutions and rules, to elect their representatives in freedom and to organize their administration and activities
ILO Convention 87 (1948): Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize • Recognition and protection of the right to strike (interpreted from the Convention in the jurisprudence of the ILO supervisory bodies) • The right of organizations to establish federations and confederations and to affiliate with international organizations • Protection from dissolution or suspension by the state authority
ILO Convention 98 (1949): Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively The main points include: • Protection against acts of anti-union discrimination • Protection against acts of interference • Promotion of collective bargaining
Trade Union Rights Violations in Asia Pacific Region
ILO Convention 87 Freedom of association – obligation of the State to protect the rights of workers • Physical violence (intimidation, kidnapping, assassination of trade unionists) • Discrimination and harassment against trade union officials, eg. transfer/dismissal/loss of conditions/violence • Dismissal of trade unionists • Arrest of union leaders for participating in strike • Government interference in trade union affairs (imposing government-friendly officers, influencing elections, suppressing financial basis for trade union work like check-off)
ILO Convention 87 Freedom of association – obligation of the State to protect the rights of workers • Unilateral cuts in pension benefits without negotiations • Non-compliance with bonus and leave payments • Adoption of labour law amendments contrary to freedom of association • No recognition of government employees’ union • No recognition of the right to strike • Attempts by the education authorities to discourage teachers to join an education union • Restrictive/repressive trade union laws • Government refusal to register newly established organizations
ILO Convention 98 Collective bargaining between employers and trade unions • Non-respect of existing legislation concerning collective bargaining • Non-compliance with collective agreement
ILO Convention 151 (public sector unionism) • Non or partial implementation of collective bargaining rights for public sector employees • Coercion of civil servants not to join trade unions • Public servants have no right to bargain collectively and conclude agreements • Civil service conduct rules are restrictive and include harsh disciplinary procedures
EI’s Programmes and Strategies on Protection and Promotion of Workers’ Rights in Asia
1) Public Pressure • Write letter/urgent appeal stating demands to government authorities • Inform other members, leaders, and civil society organizations, and the media of the violation • Inform government and non-governmental human rights organizations • Issue written appeals for support, and call for letters of protest, through e-mail networks • Organize demonstrations or other mobilizations, to distribute information about the violation • Publicize the issue through radio news broadcasts, open forums and other events
2) Legal Proceedings • File a suit in the labour courts • Take the case to appeal in the higher courts if necessary • Submit a complaint to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association
3) Policy & Structural Initiatives • Policy resolutions at World Congress, Regional Conference, National and Workplace decision-making bodies (13 out of 29 resolutions in the last EI World Congress in 2004) • Establishment of HTUR committees • HTUR issues as integral part of union seminars/workshops • Provision of special budget for HTUR
4) Establishment of Human and Trade Union Rights Network
Strategies when a Complaint is Submitted to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association • Publicize the fact that a case has been submitted to the CFA • Publicize the fact that the government has not replied to the requests for information from the CFA, if that is the case • Publicize the recommendations of the CFA and request the government to implement them • Report back to the CFA on any actions, or lack of action on the part of the government in relation to the recommendations