This article examines the concepts of ‘individualism’ and ‘collectivism’ in collective labour law. A popular critique of freedom of association norms characterises such norms as ‘individualist’ or ‘individualistic’. This individualist bias undermines the institutions of collective labour relations. The ‘individualist’ critique is often coupled with the development of an alternative positive account of collective labour law that is based upon a foundation of ‘collectivism’. ‘Collectivist’ labour law encompasses a concern for collective or group rights, rather than rights for individuals; it affirms collective values; and the metric of legitimacy of a legal regime of freedom of association is the extent to which it supports collective bargaining through independent trade unions. On this conventional approach, ‘individualism’ and ‘collectivism’ stand in opposition to each other. This article argues against this dichotomous understanding of ‘individualism’ and ‘collectivism’. A comparative perspective on the ‘right to organise’ supports the view that individual and collective rights can stand in a complementary relation to each other. Furthermore, the union’s right to exclude may sometimes legitimately yield to competing individual rights, such as the right not to be subjected to unjust discriminatory treatment. The important task for labour lawyers is to identify an effective combination of collective and individual rights in order to promote just and decent outcomes in the workplace.

中文翻译：

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集体劳动法中的“个人主义”与“集体主义”

本文考察了集体劳动法中“个人主义”和“集体主义”的概念。对结社自由规范的流行批评将此类规范描述为“个人主义”或“个人主义”。这种个人主义偏见破坏了集体劳动关系的制度。“个人主义”的批评常常伴随着以“集体主义”为基础的集体劳动法的另一种积极解释的发展。“集体主义”劳动法关注集体或集体权利，而不是个人权利；它肯定了集体价值观；结社自由法律制度的合法性衡量标准是它通过独立工会支持集体谈判的程度。在这种传统方法上，“个人主义”和“集体主义”是对立的。本文反对这种对“个人主义”和“集体主义”的二分法理解。“组织权”的比较观点支持个人权利和集体权利可以相互补充的观点。此外，工会的排斥权有时可能会合法地屈服于相互竞争的个人权利，例如不受不公正歧视待遇的权利。劳动律师的重要任务是确定集体权利和个人权利的有效结合，以促进工作场所的公正和体面的结果。“组织权”的比较观点支持个人权利和集体权利可以相互补充的观点。此外，工会的排斥权有时可能会合法地屈服于相互竞争的个人权利，例如不受不公正歧视待遇的权利。劳动律师的重要任务是确定集体权利和个人权利的有效结合，以促进工作场所的公正和体面的结果。“组织权”的比较观点支持个人权利和集体权利可以相互补充的观点。此外，工会的排斥权有时可能会合法地屈服于相互竞争的个人权利，例如不受不公正歧视待遇的权利。劳动律师的重要任务是确定集体权利和个人权利的有效结合，以促进工作场所的公正和体面的结果。