News

More than 50 participants from UNI Africa Post & Logistics affiliates met this week in Dakar for the 4th UNI Africa P&L Conference. The conference inaugurated a week of meetings concluding with the Regional Conference where affiliates from across the region are convening under the banner of "Forward for a New Africa."

The theme was likewise appropriate for a post and logistics sector in Africa at a crossroads. The African postal system continues to play an important role in continued economic and social development. At the same time, an emerging e-commerce boom and technological changes are contributing to both a number of challenges and key opportunities for the sector and UNI's affiilate unions. 

The conference adopted a progressive agenda, focused on building union power in the sector, guaranteeing decent work and a voice on the job for P&L workers and harnessing innovation in the sector to improve the sustainability of the post and improve the lives of our members.

The conference was especially motivated by the success of affiliates who have participated in a regional organising project in the past several years. Unions in the DRC, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso have worked with UNI to grow their unions in the burgeoning express and logistics segment of the market which is being dominated by multinational companies. In just the past two years, the unions have put on hundreds of members and are on the verge of striking their first collective agreements with private sector employers in P&L. Just a three weeks before the conference, the conference hosts, SNTPT Senegal, won a massive victory in workplace elections in DHL Express, where the union-backed candidates took 80% of the workplace delegate seats. 

"We're incredibly proud of the energy and commitment of our African affiliates," said Post & Logistics head Stephen DeMatteo. "Our unions are ready to fight for a new Africa in the sector. We're focused on growing the role of the post, strengthening our unions and improving the lives of all workers in the sector. It was especially encouraging to hear from our Senegalese sisters and brothers who are bravely standing up to demand their rights and establish their union presence in the likes of DHL. We're hopeful we will replicate their success in Cote d'Ivoire and with other affiliates across the region."

Conference also elected a new slate of leaders for the regional committee, including Ibrahima Sarr, from the SNTPT in Senegal, as the new UNI Africa Post & Logistics President.