The right of workers and their union to organize their activities is a fundamental right. An employer has no right to create a union, let alone compel his workers to join it or manage its operations. That is the exclusive right of the workers. The ILO Constitution and Conventions on freedom of association recognize and guarantee this right. It is also protected by the UN human rights treaties. This essay explores Nigeria’s Constitutional provisions on freedom of association and the right to organize trade union activities in the context of international standards. It suggests, among other things, that employers and public agencies should respect trade union rights, just like other fundamental human rights, and that the National Industrial Court should apply stringent interpretation of the laws regulating these rights in conformity with international standards.
References
[1]
Aiyelabola, B. A., & Yusha’u, M. (2011). The Condition of Labor Relations and Trade Unionization in Nigeria’s Export Processing Zones. Report of an ITUC-NLC Research Project, ILO, 19.
[2]
Danesi, R. A. (2017). Labour Standards and the Flexible Workforce: Casualization of Labour under the Nigerian Labour Laws. https://www.ilera-directory.org/15thworldcongress/files/papers/Track_4/Poster/CS1W_32_DANESI.pdf
[3]
Davies, P., & Freedman, M (1983). Khan-Freund’s Labour and the Law (3rd ed., p. 292). Stevens & Sons.
[4]
Ewing, K. D., & Henry, J (2012). Trade Union Rights: The Short Story. Institute of Employment Rights, 6.
[5]
Gernigon, B., Odero, A., & Guido, H. (2002). Freedom of Association. In M. Humblet et al. (Eds.), International Labour Standards: A Global Approach: The Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations at Its 75th Anniversary (pp. 16-28). ILO.
[6]
Gopalakrishnan, R. (2007). The Role of ILO Supervisory Mechanisms in Promoting Associational and Collective Bargaining Rights in Export Processing Zones. International Labour Standards Department Working Paper 1, ILO, 27.
[7]
Gumbrell-McCormick, R., & Hyman, R. (2019). Democracy in Trade Unions, Democracy through Trade Unions? Economic and Industrial Democracy, 40, 91-110. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143831X18780327
[8]
Hendy, J., & Ewing, K. D. (2005). Trade Unions, Human Rights and the BNP. Industrial Law Journal, 34, 197-216. https://doi.org/10.1093/indlaw/dwi015
[9]
ILO (1947). International Labour Conference, 30th Session, Report VIII. Freedom of Association and Industrial Relations (ILO), 11.
[10]
ILO (1948). Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention (No. 87).
[11]
ILO (1949). Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 98).
[12]
ILO (1970a). Resolution of 1970 Concerning Trade Union Rights and Their Relation to Civil Liberties. ILO, Paragraph 1.
[13]
ILO (1970b). Trade Union Rights and Their Relation to Civil Liberties. Report VII, International Labour Conference, 54th Session, Geneva, ILO, 8-21.
ILO (1992). International Labour Conference, 79th Session. Democratization and the ILO, Report of the Director-General, ILO, 24.
[16]
ILO (1994). Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining. International Labour Conference, 81st Session, ILO.
[17]
ILO (1996). Digest of Principles and Decisions of the ILO’s Governing Body’s Freedom of Association Committee (4th ed., Paragraph 41). ILO.
[18]
ILO (1997). Industrial Relations, Democracy and Social Stability. World Labour Report 1997-1998, ILO.
[19]
ILO (1998a). Notes on the Proceedings. Tripartite Conference of States Operating Export Processing Zones, Geneva, 28 September-2 October, 1998, 14.
[20]
ILO (1998b). Export Processing Zones. 27 World of Work 19. http://www.ilo.lang-en
[21]
ILO (2003). The Scope of the Employment Relationship. International Labour Conference, 91st Session, Report V, ILO, 33, 39.
[22]
ILO (2009). Report III (Part A) of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations. 98th Session of the International Labour Conference, General Report and Observations concerning Particular Countries (Nigeria), 136-138.
[23]
International Labour Conference (2016). 105th Session, Report III (Part IA), General Report and Observations Concerning Particular Countries (Nigeria) 98.
[24]
Morris, R. L. (2002). Trade Unions and Globalization—A Caribbean Workers’ Education Guide. ILO, 25.
[25]
Okene, O. V. C., & Otuturu, G. G. (2017). Casualization, Redundancy and Collective Bargaining in a Globalized Labor Market: The Case of Nigeria. In O. V. C. Okene (Ed.), Readings in Law and Policy: Current Issues and Trends (pp. 157-184). Rivers State University.
[26]
Sibbel, L. (2001). ILO Conventions and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: One Goal, Two Systems. Dialogue and Cooperation, 1, 51-63.
[27]
Tumangkar, T. (2020). Trade Union: One Aspect of Worker Rights Protection in Company. Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research, 140, 277-279. https://doi.org/10.2991/aebmr.k.200513.056
[28]
Valticos, N. (1979). International Labour Law (pp. 79-85). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-4402-7
