Labour
Intrigue in Trade Unions Hindering Workers' Interests
By Sam Lyomoki, New Vision, Kampala, 8 May 2008
May 9, 2008 - 3:08:45 PM

A petition by the Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU) to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Commission dated February 6, revealed that trade unions, whose mission is the advancement of the economic and social interests of workers, have failed to measure up to this task.  In Uganda, there is a crisis in the welfare and the terms and conditions of workers.  Workers face deplorable working conditions and the situation appears to get worse each day.  An efficient trade union movement can do a lot to turn around the fortunes of labour in Uganda.

There are two schools of thought within the labour movement in the country.  The conservatives are comfortable with the status quo; and any push for revival must be resisted as it would lead to workers taking over the management of the labour movement that has hitherto been hijacked by a small 'elite club' for personal interests. The reformists have an outlook for a fundamental change within the operations of trade unions, so as to advance the interests of workers.  The latter school is represented by COFTU.

Immediately after COFTU was formed in 2003, there was an attempt by the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) to recall me from Parliament because I was the Interim Secretary General of COFTU.  This attempt hit a snag when we went to the Constitutional Court that nullified certain sections of the Trade Unions Act that had given NOTU monopoly.  This ruling led to the enactment of the Labour Unions Act 2006, which provided for both NOTU and COFTU as equal partners.  During the 2006 parliamentary elections, COFTU outsmarted NOTU because it had become a separate electoral college and the International Labour Organisation had signed a work programme that meant equal funding for COFTU and NOTU.  Subsequently, rivals attempted to split COFTU by disorganising its affiliates through formation of splinter unions. The medical workers and hotel unions were targeted, leading to the formation of the Nurses Union, and the Hospitality Union.  But COFTU mobilised workers in hitherto unorganised informal sectors like markets and artisans into unions and further split many of the NOTU affiliates. In the ensuing confusion, COFTU gained more affiliates than NOTU.

It is disappointing that NOTU and COFTU are not tackling fundamental issues that affect workers. This is a result of two historical contradictions: an inherent culture of divisionism and the quest for personal gain from donor funds, as well as handouts from employers. Researchers from the International Labour Organisation have established that one of the main distortions of trade unionism in Uganda has been the spirit of intrigue, mudslinging, blackmail and false accusations. Lack of cohesiveness, division amongst the leaders, intrigue, hypocrisy, and self-serving leadership, among others, have denied trade unions ability to effectively represent workers.

Apart from intrigue and divisionism, workers' leaders have been compromised by corruption and incentives from employers. Donor funds are utilised in a non-transparent manner for patronage and to serve personal interests. If these practices by trade union leaders are not checked, the entire representation process may degenerate into egocentrism or be compromised by capital. This is a challenge that has to be dealt with if the trade unions are to survive the test of time.

Corruption must be eliminated at all levels of the employer-employee relations, and industrial relations in general.  Workers need to be united and create solidarity in the labour movement for the cause of workers.