News

The Uganda Printers, Paper, Polyfibre & Allied Workers Union (UPPPAWU) held a National seminar on Collective Bargaining Agreements as part of the UNI Graphical and Packaging project in Africa. The project aims at establishing a strong CBA network among the Graphical & Packaging sector members and to share ideas on organizing and negotiating within Multinational Companies as well as developing negotiation skills.

The one day workshop brought together 13 union leaders and negotiators from different branches of the union in both the printing, paper and packaging sectors. Also in attendance were the Chair of UPPAWU, Hajji Twaha Sempebwa, Christine Kavata the General Secretary and the Head of UNI Graphical & Packaging Steve Walsh.

The workshops objectives were:

1. To develop Union leader’s capacity to negotiate CBA’s, by equipping them with negotiation techniques/ skills

2. To identify what the barriers are in negotiations and how to navigate through these barriers.

3. Ensure leaders realize the link between Collective Bargaining and creating effective Union organization in the workplace.

4. Explore and create awareness of the need for Unions leaders to intensify “Gender Equality Bargaining” as a tool to organize more women into the union and improve women participation in union activities.

The workshop was facilitated by Sam Ssali Kiggudu, Senior Director Organizing and recruitment COFTU.

The training workshop assisted in developing their capacity to negotiate CBA’s, the relationship between collective bargaining and organizing and the importance of gender equity issues in the workplace.

Participants broke into work groups and identified the following issues around gender equity that should be included in future CBA negotiations

1. Gender Policies on sexual harassment, HIV/AIDS

2. Maternity protection and family responsibility

3. Training for skills development

4. Wages and benefits based on the task not who does it

5. Non-discrimination and dignity at the workplace

In addition, the role of Trade Unions in promoting gender equality through collective bargaining was identified as very important in the context of the current inadequacies of equality legislation.

In addressing the seminar the Head of Department said that collective bargaining is an important aspect of developing strong unionized workplaces as well as being a means of enabling a fairer distribution of wealth among the workers.

further information contact steve.walsh@uniglobalunion.org