Facklig föreningsfrihet som mänsklig rättighet

Sammanfattning:  The aim of this study is to investigate some particular aspects of one of the human rights: the workers’ freedom of association.The workers’ freedom of association is protected in many international conventions adopted by the UN, the ILO and the Council of Europe. This thesis deals specifically with the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, ILO-conventions nos 87 and 98, the European Social Charter and the European Convention of Human Rights and investigates the content of the workers’ freedom of association in these conventions. It points at similarities and differences in the conventions. Special attention is given to the conventions’ different focus with regard to the individual and collective aspects of the right and to the general consequences following from that the workers’ freedom of association sometimes takes the form of an independent right and sometimes is an aspect of the general freedom of association. The thesis also discusses the relations between the different conventions.Sweden has ratified all of the conventions mentioned above and has therefore undertaken to fulfil the related commitments. Some questions emanating from this fact are dealt with in the thesis, e.g.: Could the Swedish EU-membership affect Sweden’s international legal obligations in this area? Has the proclamation of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights influenced the answer to this question? Does Sweden fulfil the international legal obligations dealt with? Has the Europeanization of Swedish law affected the fulfilment of the obligations connected to the workers’ freedom of association?