On 9 July 1948, the International Labour Conference adopts the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (C87) — one of the ILO’s eight fundamental conventions.

The Convention guarantees workers’ and employers’ right to establish and join organisations without prior authorisation and protects unions against administrative dissolution.

Entry into force: 4 July 1950. Together with C98 (right to organise and collective bargaining), C87 forms the core of international trade-union freedoms.

Adopted in the year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it responds to the need for universal standards after the Second World War.

For labour law, 9 July 1948 marks the multilateral consecration of freedom of association.

The official text is on NORMLEX (ILO C87).

Convention C87 of 9 July 1948 remains the ILO pillar of freedom of association and the right to organise.

Image: ILO / labour; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention. Treaty text: C087 — Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (ILO).