1. Freedom of Association: International Sources (Main Instruments) The Content of International Labour Standards on FOA: General Overview

2. FOA: ILO Constitution The Preamble of the Constitution of the ILO expressly declares “ recognition of the principle of freedom of association ” to be one of the means of improving the conditions of the workers and of ensuring social justice, which is a precondition to universal and lasting peace.

3. FOA: ILO Declaration of Philadelphia  In 1944, the International Labour conference reaffirmed as one of the principles on which the ILO is based that “ freedom of expression and association are essential to sustained progress ”.  The Declaration of Philadelphia also affirms the need to promote “ the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining ”.  The terms of the Declaration of Philadelphia were incorporated in the Constitution of the ILO in 1946.

4. Freedom of Association: Fundamental Conventions l Convention 87: Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, 1948. lAsserts the principle of independence of trade unions’ organisations from public authorities. l Convention 98: Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, 1949. lCompletes the guarantees of independence in C.87 by focusing on the relations between workers organisations and employers.

5. Additional Instruments on Freedom of Association l C. 135: Workers’ Representatives Convention, 1971 –R. 143: Workers’ Representatives Recommendation, 1971 l C. 141: Rural Workers’ Organisations Convention, 1975 –R. 149: Rural Workers’ Organisation Recommendation, 1975

6. Additional instruments on Collective Bargaining l C. 151: Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention, 1978 –R. 159: Labour Relations (Public Service) Recommendation, 1978 l C. 154: Collective Bargaining Convention, 1981 –R. 163: Collective Bargaining Recommendation, 1981 –R. 91: Collective Agreements Recommendation, 1951

7. Freedom of Association: Basic Principles l The Principle of Non-interference –The importance of independence –The meaning of non-interference l The Principle of Non-discrimination –The importance of universal access: “effective enjoyment by all” –The meaning of non-discrimination: “no distinction”

8. Protection from Interference and Universal Enjoyment l C. 87: Public Authorities lThe protection covers all stages of the organization’s life: from creation to dissolution l C. 98: Employers and organizations lThe protection covers all stages of the relationship: from hiring to termination