Compilation of decisions of the Committee on Freedom of Association

Collective bargaining15

Workers covered by collective bargaining

Teaching staff

1. The Committee has drawn attention to the importance of promoting collective bargaining, as set out in Article 4 of Convention No. 98, in the education sector.

1. In the Committees opinion, teachers do not carry out tasks specific to officials in the state administration; indeed, this type of activity is also carried out in the private sector. In these circumstances, it is important that teachers with civil servant status should enjoy the guarantees provided for under Convention No. 98.

1. Workers in public or private universities shall have the right to collective bargaining.

1. While there may be some linkages between the educational and employment relationship of graduate teaching and research assistants to their university, a series of other concrete elements leads the Committee to consider that graduate teaching and research assistants, in so far as they are workers, should, like all other workers, enjoy the right to bargain collectively over the terms and conditions of their employment, excluding academic requirements and policies, so as to protect and promote their occupational interests. In that capacity, this right should include being represented in negotiations by the union of their choice and having sufficient protection for the exercise of their trade union rights.