Effect given to the recommendations of the committee and the Governing Body - Report No 308, November 1997

Case No 1899 (Argentina) - Complaint date: 31-AUG-96 - Closed

Effect given to the recommendations of the Committee and the Governing Body

1. 14. The Committee examined this case at its June 1997 meeting (see 307th Report, paras. 70-87, approved by the Governing Body at its 269th Session (June 1997)), when it requested the Government to take the necessary steps to repeal resolution No. 203/96, issued by the Education Council of Río Negro Province, allowing workers to be hired during a teachers' strike; and to ensure that the government of Río Negro Province pay without delay to the UNTER trade union organization the union dues paid by its members which have been withheld since February 1996 and to keep it informed of developments in this respect.
2. 15. In a communication dated 1 October 1997, the Government states that the Río Negro Provincial Education Council repealed resolution No. 203/96, which had been criticized by the Committee, by resolution No. 1304/97. As regards the delay in paying UNTER the union dues paid by its members which had been withheld since February 1996, the Government states further that the original debt when the new authorities of Río Negro Province took office in December 1995 amounted to $637,647.16, that payment had been delayed about four months, and that the debt currently owed could be broken down as follows: (1) $196,207.82 in dues paid for 1996, to be settled by the General Treasury; and (2) $56,107.70 in dues corresponding to SAC, for the first half of 1997 (the only debt owed for the current year).
3. 16. The Committee notes with satisfaction the repeal of resolution No. 203/96 of the Education Council of Río Negro Province. As regards the withholding of trade union dues paid by UNTER members, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government and in particular the fact that it recognizes the existence of a debt to UNTER amounting to 252,315.52 pesos (equal to the same amount in United States dollars). In this respect, recalling that non-payment of trade union dues can result in serious financial difficulties for trade union organizations, the Committee again urges the Government to take the necessary steps to ensure that the government of Río Negro Province pay without delay to the UNTER trade union organization the union dues paid by its members, according to a reasonable timetable drawn up in consultation with this trade union organization.