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The Committee notes the comments made by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in a communication dated 24 August 2010, and the Government’s reply.

Scope of the Convention. Application of the Convention to prison staff. The Committee had previously requested the Government to amend section 2 of the Trade Disputes Act, section 2 of the Trade Union and Employers’ Organizations (Amendment) Act (TUEO), and section 35 of the Prison Act, so as to ensure that prison staff are afforded all the guarantees provided under the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that it has no intention to grant prison staff the right to unionize since their staff association, as provided for in the Prison Act, supposedly caters adequately for the negotiations on their welfare, terms and conditions of employment. However, the Committee notes that according to section 35(3) of the Prison Act, a prison officer may only become a member of an association established by the Minister and regulated in the manner prescribed; and that under section 35(4), any prison officer who becomes a member of a trade union or any body affiliated to a trade union shall be liable to be dismissed from the service. The Committee recalls that all public service workers other than those engaged in the administration of the State should enjoy protection against acts of anti-union discrimination and interference and their union should enjoy bargaining rights. Therefore, the Committee once again requests the Government to amend the Trade Disputes Act, the TUEO Act and the Prison Act to ensure to prison staff the rights enshrined in the Convention.

Article 1 of the Convention. In its previous comments, the Committee had further noted the Government’s statement that consultation was ongoing concerning the ITUC’s previous observation according to which if a trade union is not registered, union committee members are not protected against anti-union discrimination (e.g. article 23 of the Employment Act). The Government does not refer to this issue in its report. In these circumstances, recalling that the Government is responsible for preventing all acts of anti-union discrimination in order to give effect to Article 1 of the Convention, the Committee once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that all union committee members, including those of unregistered trade unions, enjoy an adequate protection against anti-union discrimination.

Articles 2 and 4. Protection against acts of interference and promotion of collective bargaining. In its previous comments, the Committee had requested the Government to provide information on the progress made with respect to the following legislative changes:

–      the adoption of specific legislative provisions ensuring adequate protection against acts of interference by employers or employers’ organizations in the establishment, functioning or administration of trade unions, coupled with effective and sufficiently dissuasive sanctions;

–      the repeal of section 35(1)(b) of the Trade Disputes Act, which permits an employer or employers’ organization to apply to the Commissioner to withdraw the recognition granted to a trade union on the grounds that the trade union refuses to negotiate in good faith with the employer; and

–      the amendment of section 20(3) of the Trade Disputes Act, so as to ensure that compulsory arbitration of disputes of interest is permissible only in the following instances: (1) where the party requesting arbitration is a trade union seeking a first collective agreement; (2) disputes concerning public servants directly engaged in the administration of the State; and (3) disputes arising in essential services. In this respect, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that it has included in the National Development Plan 10 a project to establish an independent dispute resolution system.

The Committee notes from the Government’s report that consultations with the social partners on all labour legislation are still ongoing. The Committee requests the Government to indicate, in its next report, any progress made on the abovementioned provisions and it hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future. The Committee encourages the Government to avail itself of the technical assistance of the Office if it so wishes.

ITUC’s comments. The Committee notes the ITUC’s comments concerning the necessity for a trade union to represent a significant proportion of the workforce in order to bargain collectively. The Committee notes the Government indication that in terms of section 48 of the TUEO Act as read with section 32 of the Trade Dispute Act, the minimum threshold to be recognized by the employer is set at one third of the workforce of any organization. The Committee recalls that where, under a system for nominating an exclusive bargaining agent, there is no union representing the required percentage to be so designated, collective bargaining rights should be granted to all unions in this unit, at least on behalf of their own members. The Committee requests the Government to provide in its next report information on the measures taken or contemplated so as to ensure that where no union represents one third of the employees in a bargaining unit, collective bargaining rights are granted to all unions in the unit, at least on behalf of their own members.