OHS and Organizing Seminar in Kenya
Sixteen delegates participated in the Education seminar on OHS in Nairobi. The Kenyan Graphical Union KUPRIPUPA conducted the 4th Module as part of the project that has been sponsored by UNI Graphical, LO/FTF and HK/Privat Denmark.
The seminar was facilitated by Keith Jacobs from UNI Africa and Alice Charo from Kuppripupa
Included in the programme was a site visit where the participants met with the site OHS committee.
The workshop was opened by the General Secretary of KUPPRIPUPA Rajabu Mwondi who spoke about the success of this project. He said there had been a lot achieved and participants should be congratulated for their involvement, such things as PPE’s are now being used properly, training has occurred and good working relations have been established.
Bro Mwondi also spoke about the great support that workers everywhere have given to the new Constitution which was signed into law last week.
The Head of Department Steve Walsh spoke about the importance of OHS in the workplace and how it is a critical tool to be used in organizing; he thanked the union for their work in this project and acknowledged the support of the LO FTF and HK Privat.
Keith Jacobs introduced the programme and facilitated the discussion on what participants had done since the last Seminar in May. Reports were provided which clearly showed that the participants had followed up with the actions that they had previously committed to.
Alice Charo from Kupripupa led the session on Collective Bargaining which highlighted a number of key issues that are part of the bargaining process, in particularly the importance of organizing. Without density of membership the capacity of a union to negotiate a good Collective Agreement is severely weakened.
The Health and Safety legislation was also explained with particular emphasis on the election of workplace health and safety representatives.
The session was informative and gave participants an understanding of the key elements of the legislation.
In addition to a site visit (see separate article) the workshop recapped on the previous materials and issues that they had dealt with. The level of knowledge and understanding is a testament to the success of the project.
There was a session on how OHS can be an effective tool in organizing. The participants broke into workgroups and developed an action plan for organizing which set timeframes and targets for recruiting not only in their workplaces, but they also identified potential workplaces within their regions. A commitment was given that in conjunction with their local branch officers a strategy and a plan would be developed for an organizing drive in these workplaces.
Contact steve.walsh@uniglobalunion.org