Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention, 1978 (No. 151) - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ratification: 1980)

The Committee takes note of the Government's report and of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) communication of January 1992.

1. The Committee observes that, according to the TUC, the independent and impartial machinery which has existed since 1925 for the settlement of disputes in the civil service will soon be abolished, since the Government has announced its unilateral decision to terminate the Civil Service Arbitration Agreement as of 31 March 1992, after which there will be no form of arbitration available for some 530,000 non-industrial civil servants.

Since the Government has not had time to reply to these comments, the Committee will take account of the issues raised by the TUC, in the light of the Government's observations, at its next examination of the Convention.

2. Referring to its previous observation concerning the working conditions of primary and secondary school teachers, the Committee notes from the Government's report that the School Teachers' Pay Review Body, established under the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Act, 1991, will make recommendations on the statutory pay and conditions of school teachers for the financial year 1992-93. The Government adds it will provide a full report on the provisions of this Act in its next report on Convention No. 98.

The Committee will examine this matter, taking into consideration the observations received from the trade unions concerned, when it examines the application of Convention No. 98 at its next session.