News

UNI-Africa Commerce sector carried out the assessment workshop of the Organising, Campaigning & Bargaining - Commercial Workers’ Unions project in Southern Africa, from the 22 to 23 February 2007. This project has expired. It covered the period from 2001 to 2006 and targeted the affiliates UNI-Africa in the Commerce sector and was possible thanks to LO-TCO, UNI, UNI-Africa and SACCAWU, the UNI affiliate in this sector. Bones Skulu, its General Secretary is the president of UNI-Africa Commerce.

LO-TCO and Handels which financed this project were represented by Monica Ohlson and Wickman Solweig. Representatives of FES South Africa and Zambia also took share with the seminar. SASK Africa was represented by Simiao Simbine.

The phase of evaluation brought together negotiators and shop stewards of Multinationals Companies operating in Southern Africa, Shoprite Checkers, Ellerines Holding, Makro, Food Botswana, Lewis Stores. They brought back the evolution of their relations with their common employers who are these multinationals. These relations are still difficult because of the lack of freedom of expression and association which is still applied.

After evaluation, the project was not a total success but could improve thereafter.

The participants created a network which will enable them to exchange information, experiences, news and to prepare better the negotiations with their employers.

Philip Jennings, UNI General Secretary and Philip Bowyer, Vice-General Secretary who were in South Africa, visited the seminar. They communicated their enthusiasm with the participants and galvanised them; they wanted to know the real situations which they live for better discussions with one the persons in charge for Shoprite Checkers that they were to meet on 23 February in Cape Town.

The affiliates expressed happiness and promised to take an active part to improve their working conditions.