Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report.

Based on the comments made by the Barbados Employers’ Confederation (BEC), the Committee notes that trade unions have to convince the Labour Department that they represent more than 50 per cent of workers in a bargaining unit before being granted recognition. This may create problems as a majority union which fails to secure an absolute majority might be denied the possibility of bargaining. In its 1994 General Survey (paragraph 241), the Committee had expressed the view that, in such situations, collective bargaining rights should be granted to all the unions in the unit, at least on behalf of their own members.

The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide in its next report information on the collective bargaining process that applies where a trade union represents less than 50 per cent of workers in a bargaining unit.