European Trade Union Committee for Education

As reported by the Independent Trade Union of Primary Schools Education of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SSOOiO FBiH), on 24 May 2016, the Federal Ministry of Justice issued a decision on the education trade union’s deletion from the Registry of Association. SSOOiO FbiH, nevertheless, stressed that it had not received any specific notice before that decision was taken.

The arbitrary measures undertaken by the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina clearly and deliberately violated the ILO convention No.87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise that the Government has ratified and which constituted an integral part of the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In its turn, ETUCE addressed letters to the Prime Minister, the Federal Minister of Justice, the Chairman of Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Head of EU Delegation and EU Special Representative  to Bosnia and Herzegovina with a view to supporting its member organisation and defending trade union rights likewise to advocating for well-functioning social dialogue in the country.

Following months of litigations, SSOOiO FBiH gladly announced its victory over the Government’s attempt to undermine the pillars of democratic and modern society alongside fundamental values of the European Union while being in the accession process to the EU.

SSOOiO FBiH reported that on 31 October 2016, the Sarajevo Cantonal Court issued a verdict that revokes the decision taken by the Federal Ministry of Justice and reverse the undemocratic decision of the Government to eliminate the education trade union form the Registry of Association.

Furthermore, the Court ruled that the Federal Ministry of Justice should delete the Independent Union of Elementary Education of the Sarajevo Canton, SSOOiO KS, the yellow education union that had been a part of SSOOiO FBiH in the past, from the Registry of Association.

The Court's decision put an end to the Government’s attempts to destroy the trade union movement and can be considered as a positive step towards establishing effective, constructive and sustainable social dialogue in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

SSOOiO FBiH expressed its gratitude to ETUCE for its strong support for the respect of trade union rights and Government’s full compliance with international laws.