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We often bound humans and countries together on the great continent of Africa. We have been taught that Africa is poor. That is bullshit! Africa Is a rich continent but it is unequal divided.

Kristine Kavata, from Uganda, and Leif



Trade union leaders from the graphical unions in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia met each other 1-2 of September in Dar El Salaam, Tanzania. I was there. Development of network on collective bargaining was on the agenda. Since before there is a Global Agreement between Nampak and Union Network International, UNI. One way to

limit the global exploitation and to increase the human rights on labour is to sign global agreements and make shore that global agreement follows: “All of us have a responsibility to make sure that global agreement follows up, both unions and employers” said Keith Jacobs, CEPPWAWU, South Africa. Organizing trade unions is the only way to change and develop workers

rights.



I feel modesty when I hear new friends telling me about their own experience how to be arrested as a four month old baby. That was because he is black and that his parents were struggling for a South Africa without apartheid.



I am proud to be a member of the same movement as Uganda’s and also probably Africa’s youngest general secretary Christine Kavata, Uganda Printers, Paper, Polyfibre & Allied Workers Union. There is an aura of light around her in a mosaic of humility, passion for justice, charisma and calm. “It is about attitudes, if we are to reach more youth and women members and leaders”, said Christine Kavata in the moment as a program for development and activities was on the table.



Trade unions in Africa have the same challenges as trade unions in Sweden and Europe. We are living in a new time and we have to adjust and find new methods to recruit new members and bargain good things for the members.



For more information, please write to leif.mettavainio@gf.se