EPSU ETUI-REHS report "Better defending and promoting trade union rights in the public sector" (part I & II)

Part one: Summary of available tools and actions points

(15 September 2008) Designed as a campaign-oriented, practical tool, the report maps out the current situation with regard to the application of and respect for trade union rights in the public sector across Europe. It identifies persistent and existing obstacles and problems facing trade union rights, in particular concerning the freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining and the right to take collective action, as well as information and consultation rights. The analysis provided focuses on three main forums or levels, namely the European Union, the Council of Europe and the ILO.
(see Executive Summary in EN/BG/CZ/HU/PL/RO/RU/TK below)


Part two: Country reports


Part one: Summary of available tools and actions points

Table of contents

- General introduction p.7
- List of abbreviations p.9
- List of main regulations p.11
- Executive summary and recommendations p.13
- Analysis of the different forums and tools p.29
- 1. EU level p.29
- 1.1. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
- 1.2. The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
- 1.3. Information and consultation rights in the public sector

- 2. Council of Europe – European Social Charters p.45
- 2.1. Introduction
- 2.2. What is the European Social Charter?
- 2.3. What rights are guaranteed by the Charter?
- 2.4. How does monitoring work?
- 2.5. Collective complaints relating to trade union/workers’ rights in the public sector (state of play December 2007)
- 2.6. Articles 5 and 6 on the right to organise, collective bargaining and collective
action – an overview of the case law in relation to the public sector

- 3. ILO p.71
- 3.1. Introduction
- 3.2. Main relevant texts
- 3.3. Signatures and ratifications by EU and EEA member states and EU candidate countries of the ILO Conventions relevant to the trade union rights of public
sector workers (State of play: December 2007)
- 3.4. The ILO Supervisory System
- 3.5. The right to collective bargaining: rules established by the Committee on Freedom
of Association and the Committee of Experts
- 3.6. Right to strike of public sector workers: principles established by the Committee on Freedom of Association and the Committee of Experts

- Annex 1: p.83
Signatures and ratifications by EU and EEA member states and EU candidate countries
of the European Social Charter, its Protocols and the European Social Charter (Revised) (State of play: December 2007)
- Annex 2: p.84
Acceptance of the ‘trade union rights’ articles (Articles 5 and 6)
by EU and EEA member states and EU candidate countries
- Annex 3: p.85
ILO Conventions/Recommendations relating to trade union rights
for the public sector workers:
Convention no. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise 85
Convention no. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining
Convention no. 151 on Labour Relations (Public Service)
Convention no. 154 on Collective Bargaining
Recommendation no. 159 on Labour Relations (Public Service)
Recommendation no. 163 on Collective Bargaining
- Annex 4: p.92
Useful web links
- Annex 5: p.93
References for further reading

- Executive summary