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Malawian union leader MacDonald Chuma receives Solidarity Award

Published: 24 April 2009
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 MacDonald Chuma, a leader of the Textile, Garment, Leather and Security Services Workers Union (TGLSSWU) in Malawi, received the annual UNI Property Services Solidarity Award at our meeting in New York on April 2.



Mr. Chuma was acknowledged for his tireless contribution to fighting for justice with G4S Workers in Malawi.



Mr. Chuma has lead the three year campaign to organise security workers employed by the security services giant, as well as other security companies. During this time, Mr. Chuma, along with a team of organisers have brought over 6,000 new workers into the union.



One of the key issues in the campaign has been payment for overtime. In Malawi, overtime legislation provided a specific exception for workers in the security industry, denying them an entitlement to additional pay. This meant that G4S workers, who are required to work 12 hour shifts, were paid at 50% of their normal rate for 4 hours of overtime (above 8 hours) on each shift.



UNI Global Union lodged an OECD complaint against G4S in 2006, referring, amongst other things, to the overtime situation for workers in Malawi. In late 2008, UNI and G4S resolved the OECD dispute, with the company agreeing to pay overtime at 100% of the normal rate. G4S has also agreed to work with the TGLSSWU and UNI to lobby for changes in the overtime laws in Malawi.



Mr. Chuma’s leadership has helped the TGLSSWU to improve the lives of thousands of G4S workers in Malawi. He proudly accepted the solidarity award and expressed his commitment to continue fighting for all security workers in Malawi.