Rapport définitif - Rapport No. 2, 1952

A. A. The complainants' allegations

• Analysis of the Complaint
  65. 65 The complainant alleges that, in February 1950 and January 1951, the Government of Jamaica used the police, reinforced by troops, to break strikes and, in particular, that it prohibited public meetings for a period of one month.
• Analysis of the Reply
  66. 66 The Government maintains that the preservation of law and order, which had been disturbed consequent upon certain strikes, necessitated the intervention of the police, supported on one occasion by troops, and the banning of public meetings in a limited area near the scene of the disturbances.

B. B. The Committee's conclusions

1. 67. The United Kingdom Government has ratified the Right of Association (Non-Metropolitan Territories) Convention, 1947, in respect of Jamaica.
2. 68. The right to strike and that of organising union meetings are essential elements of trade union rights, and measures taken by the authorities to ensure the observance of the law should not, therefore, result in preventing unions from organising meetings during labour disputes. It seems clear from the Government's comments, however, that the temporary and local prohibition of public meetings was in this case a measure taken for the sole purpose of preserving law and order, and was not specifically aimed at meetings of members of the striking unions.
3. 69. In view of the explanation furnished by the Government, it does not seem that the complainant, who bases his allegations on information taken from a newspaper, has presented sufficient evidence to substantiate these allegations.