Definitive Report - REPORT_NO211, November 1981

1. 48. In a communication dated 11 February 1981, the World Federation of Teachers' Unions (FISE) presented a complaint alleging the infringement of trade union rights in Guiana and Martinique. For its part, the Government furnished its comments in a letter dated 6 August 1981.
2. 49. France has ratified the Right of Association (No metropolitan Territories) Convention, 1947 (No. 84), the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) as well as the Right to organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) and has declared that these Conventions apply without modification to Guiana and Martinique.

A. A. The complainants' allegations

1. 50. FISE states that delegates of trade union organisations were refused permission by the authorities to participate in a regional seminar held by two trade union organisations of the complainant Federation. It alleges that the rector of the Antilles and Guiana educational district refused to grant unpaid leave of absence to delegates of the National Union of Technical and Vocational Teachers of Martinique (SNETP) and the Union of Educational Workers of Guiana (STEG), autonomous members of the SNETP-CGT of France, itself a member of the FISE, for them to participate in the seminar on rural literacy and training which was held in San José, Costa Rica, between 18 and 23 January 1981.
2. 51. In its reply, the Government states that the Ministry of National Education conducted an inquiry into the matter and that it was decided to annul the decision in dispute without waiting for the result of the appeal which had been lodged by trade union militants of SNETP of Martinique and STEG of Guiana with the Administrative Tribunal of Fort de France. The Government adds that it has also asked the rector to take the necessary steps in accordance with this decision to revoke the measures allegedly taken against the parties concerned.
3. 52. The Government notes that the decision in question has been annulled and that measures taken against the trade unionists have been revoked.