Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) - Trinidad and Tobago (Ratification: 1963)

Other comments on C098

Observation

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Article 4 of the Convention. The Committee has been referring for a number of years to the need to amend section 24(3) of the Civil Service Act that affords a privileged position to already registered associations, without providing objective and pre-established criteria for determining the most representative association in the civil service. The Committee had noted that the Government indicated that the Civil Service Act review has been in progress but is not yet complete. However, after consultation with employers’ and workers’ representative organizations, the Government has considered that the amendment of section 24(3) was not possible because of the presence of more than one association representing the seven existing classes in the civil service for the purposes of consultations and negotiation could place the employer in a difficult position. The Committee had recalled, however, that where there exists a trade union which enjoys preferential or exclusive bargaining rights, as in the current system, decisions concerning the most representative organization should be made by virtue of objective and pre-established criteria instead of simply giving priority to the one which was registered earlier in time, so as to avoid any opportunities for partiality or abuse. Noting that no information was provided in this regard, the Committee once again expresses the firm hope that the legislation will be modified in the near future, including section 24(3), so as to bring it into conformity with the principles of the Convention, and once again requests the Government to indicate any developments thereon.

In its previous comments, the Committee referred to the need to amend section 34 of the Industrial Relations Act in order to ensure that, in cases in which no trade union represents the majority of workers, the minority unions can negotiate jointly a collective agreement applicable in the negotiating unit, or at least conclude a collective agreement on behalf of their own members. The Committee had noted that the Government reiterated that the Standing Tripartite Committee on Labour Matters (a consultative body) had not been reconstituted after the expiration of its term in December 2006. The Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report that it is considering amendments to the Industrial Relations Act, Chapter 88:01, to increase the rights of workers who are currently not recognized for the purpose of collective bargaining under the Act. The Committee expresses the hope that additional concrete measures will be taken in the near future to amend the legislation so as to allow minority unions in the unit to bargain collectively, at least on behalf of their own members when there is no union that represents the majority of workers. The Committee trusts that the Government will communicate progress on these issues in its next report and recalls that it can avail itself of the technical assistance of the Office if it so wishes.

ITUC comments. The Committee had noted the comments from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) dated 24 August 2010 indicating that: (i) although the law states that workers can form and join trade unions, in practice, everyone working in “essential services”, which include domestic workers, drivers, gardeners and others, are not recognized as workers under the law and therefore cannot legally join trade unions; (ii) many unions had their collective bargaining blocked by employers’ delaying tactics; and (iii) the state authorities have repeatedly refused to negotiate collective agreements with the public sector unions. Noting that no information was provided in this regard, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide its observation thereon.