Freedom of Association and the Right to Strike: Towards an ICJ Resolution?

This event was organised by the UCL Labour Rights Institute and UCL Human Rights Institute
About the event
Does the ILO Convention on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise 1948 (No 87) protect the right to strike? The ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, a committee of independent experts responsible for monitoring the application of ratified Conventions by Member States, has taken the view that the right to strike is a corollary to the right to freedom of association. However, the Employers’ group has been questioning this, and this led to a crisis in the ILO in recent years.
On the 10th of November, the Governing Body of the ILO voted to refer the dispute over the right to strike to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) under article 37 of the ILO Constitution that provides that any question or dispute relating to the interpretation of Conventions can be referred to the ICJ.
In this public event, experts in labour law and international law will consider the questions, challenges and opportunities raised by this development.
The speakers
- Lord Hendy KC (Honorary Professor, UCL Laws, Old Square Chambers)
- Professor Tonia Novitz (University of Bristol) and
- Professor Martins Paparinskis (UCL and International Law Commission)
Chair and welcome
- Professors Virginia Mantouvalou and
- Nicola Countouris (UCL)