Compilation of decisions of the Committee on Freedom of Association

Collective bargaining15

Restrictions on the principle of free and voluntary bargaining

Intervention by the authorities in collective bargaining

1. Referring to an Act on the extension of collective agreements which followed other government interventions in collective bargaining, the Committee pointed out that such action, involving as it did statutory intervention in the collective bargaining process, should only be taken in cases of emergency and for brief periods of time. The Committee hoped that in future no similar measures would be taken to interfere with free collective bargaining or to restrict the right of workers to defend their economic and social interests through industrial action.