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Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) - Saint Lucia (RATIFICATION: 1980)

Article 2 of the Convention. Right of workers and employers, without distinction whatsoever, to establish and to join organizations of their own choosing and without previous authorization. For several years the Committee had noted that the “protective services” – which comprise the fire services and prison officers – were excluded from the Registration, Status and Recognition of Trade Unions and Employers’ Organizations Act, 1999, and had requested the Government to amend its legislation so as to ensure the right to organize for fire service personnel and prison staff. The Committee once again notes that the Government reiterates in its report that there has been no change in the scope of application of the Act but that these workers have the right to organize. In order to conform to the practice, the Committee requests the Government to amend the legislation so as to expressly grant the fire service personnel and prison staff the right to form and join unions.