Definitive Report - REPORT_NO236, November 1984

1. 80. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) presented a complaint of violations of trade union rights against Grenada in a communication dated 21 October 1983. Despite repeated requests to the Government for its comments, no communications have been received in this connection from the Government.
2. 81. The Committee, in paragraph 17 of its 234th report (approved by the Governing Body at its 226th Session, May-June 1984), addressed an urgent appeal to the Government for its observations on the allegations and pointed out that, in accordance with the procedure in force, it would examine this case in substance at its next meeting even if the Government's reply had not been received at that date.
3. 82. Grenada has not ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87); it has ratified the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

A. The complainant's allegations

1. 83. In its communication of 23 October 1983, the ICFTU states that the violent events which recently occurred in Grenada have led to bloodshed in which the trade union leaders Vincent Noel, President of the Grenada TUC, affiliated to the ICFTU, and also a member of the General Council of the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) and Fitzroy Bain, President of the Agricultural and General Workers Union (AAWU), lost their lives at the hands of the military. The ICFTU expresses its deep felt horror at these events and requests the competent authorities to supply full information on the exact circumstances of these assassinations. It also expresses its serious concern as to future existence and respect of basic human and trade union rights on the island.

B. The Committee's conclusions

1. 84. The Committee notes that since this complaint was lodged a change of government took place in Grenada towards the end of 1983.
2. 85. Nevertheless, the Committee must express its concern at the seriousness of the allegations which were made against the former Government. the death, at the hands of the military, of two trade union leaders, Mr. Vincent Noel and Mr. Fitzroy Bain. From the information at its disposal, the Committee notes that Mr. Noel, President of the Grenada Trade Union Council and Executive member of the Caribbean Congress of Labour, was the Worker delegate from Grenada to the 1982 International Labour Conference. In the circumstances, the Committee deeply deplores these deaths and would recall generally that a climate of violence such as that surrounding the killing of trade union leaders constitutes a serious impediment to the exercise of trade union rights [see, for example, 204th Report, Case No. 985 (Turkey), para. 306]. The Committee requests the Government to carry out rapidly an independent judicial investigation into these deaths so as to elucidate the facts in full, to identify the persons responsible and to take proceedings against them.