News

A 2 day Collective Bargaining meeting was held in Kenya on the 24-25th September.



18 union Representatives from Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia participated in the discussions.



This seminar concentrated on how collective bargaining can be used as an organising and campaigning tool in workplaces and was facilitated by UNI Africas Campaigns and Organising Director, Keith Jacobs



Bargaining and Economic Recession: Hard bargains in Hard Times was the topic of a presentation by Trenton Elsley, a researcher from the Labour Research Services, based in South Africa.



This presentation emphasised the importance of being prepared for negotiations particularly in these tough economic times and what tools are needed to resist the continual push by employers to take advantage of the global financial crisis.



Keith Jacobs from UNI Africa in reinforcing this message said that failing to prepare is preparing to fail.



There was plenty of Group work as well as plenary sessions which enabled participants to relate their own experiences within their respective countries.



Steve Walsh as HOD gave a presentation on Collective Bargaining as an organising tool including using OHS.



Being organised in the workplace means having



· Strategic Power in the workplace

· Strength in the workplace

· Respect in the workplace

· Capacity to bring about change



As part of his presentation Steve asked participants when they returned to their respective countries to forward copies of their CBA’s so that information on content can be shared through the CBA network. A deadline of no later than the end of October was committed to forwarding the CBA’s.



Participants agreed that as part of the strategic way forward for Collective Bargaining, standards around the following 5 key issues would be sought in future CBA’s.



Those key issues are

· 40 hour week with no reduction in pay rates

· Appropriate clauses on OHS

· Clauses and policy on HIV/AIDS

· 6 month paid maternity leave

· Training and education clauses



In closing the meeting the HOD said that this commitment to pursue standards for workers was a crucial part of organizing and developing good working conditions for Graphical workers throughout the African region



Further information contact steve.walsh@uniglobalunion.org