IndustriALL Global Union has called on trade unionists worldwide and Africa in particular to rise up against xenophobic attacks on immigrant workers anywhere. The Vice President of IndustriALL Global Union, Comrade Issa Aremu made this call in his remarks during the Executive Committee Meeting of IndustriALL Global Union, Sub Saharan Africa Region held in Harare, Zimbabwe on Thursday March 30, 2017.
IndustriALL Global Union with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, represents 50 million workers in 140 countries in the mining, energy and manufacturing sectors, a new force in global solidarity taking up the fight for better working conditions and trade union rights around the world.
Aremu condemned what he describes as “the poor on poor senseless violence urging the trade unionists in Africa” to isolate dubious and corrupt politicians who want to shift the blames of their criminal failure on service delivery on foreign workers”. He called on the unions to demand for inclusive job-led growth that must create jobs for all Africans and stop the current voluntary slavery through suicidal emigration via the Mediterranean Sea. According to him “Africa has nothing to learn from the silly self-serving Donald Trump’s xenophobic “America first” policy. “There is nothing to learn either from Theresa May’s double edged Brexit”. Africa more than ever before needs inclusive development based on common market, common wealth and common citizenship. “Let Africa learn from China which has kept 1.5 billion citizens engaged through double digit growth rate, mass job led inclusive industrialization and development. We must counter xenophobia with demand on our leaders for sustainable industrial policies in line with IndustriALL goal of sustainable industrial policy.”
At the meeting mass attended by trade unionists in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and the host country, Zimbabwe among others, Aremu called on IndustriALL global union affiliates to use the occasion of May 25th being Africa Day to lead the campaign for inclusive development and against all forms of xenophobia which we must also see as act of terrorism. IndustriALL Global Union he observed believes that freedom, solidarity and justice are values that apply to all and have to translate into an attitude of respect, recognition and dignity towards foreigners. We continue to wage our efforts to prevent exploitation of refugees and all migrant workers in supply chains using our global leverage through governmental, intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder initiatives.
On the economy , Aremu told over 100 union delegates that African workers “..must demand for an end to neoliberal policies that say government has no business with business. On the contrary we must make the point that the art of governance in developing economies like ours is a serious business.” In any case as unionists we must not accept any economic agenda that is not consistent with the constitutions with which presidents and prime ministers took the oaths of offices. Most African constitutions call for balanced and state led development planning not privatization, sales of common wealth and wholesale liberalization of trade which has led to lowering of tarriffs and in most cases legitimized smuggling which has in turn led to closure of factories. Africa cannot develop without sustainable Visions and Development planning. China is implementing its 10th fifth Development plan. Commendably countries like Tanzania and Kenya had Vision 2025 and 2030 respectively.” He stated.
Defend Women Workers’ Rights
Aremu calls for renewed determination to defend women workers’ rights and promote gender equality and parity. Quoting Nelson Mandela “Freedom cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression”, Aremu noted that excluding women in leadership position in unions is a form of oppression trade unions must fight against. “Happily our collective goal, as stated in IndustriALL’s action plan, is to organize more women workers and create opportunities and space for men and women workers to jointly fight for equal rights and opportunities, as well as equal pay” he stated. In line with the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, Aremu calls on women to be bold and courageous and support the effort of IndustriALL Global Union to build union power, defend workers’ rights, fight precarious work, confront global capital and ensure sustainable industrial development policy.
Commendation
He commended the progress that has been made over the last four years by IndustriAll affiliates in the implementation of the 5 key goals of IndustriALL goals in several countries in Sub Saharan Africa, even while there is a considerable room for improvement.
“On union power we are happy that many affiliates are recruiting more members and more Affiliates are joining IndustriALL Global Union in Nigeria and other countries. There have been remarkable Organising efforts in formal and Informal Sectors (Textile Union, NUPENG in Nigeria). We also have some unions in Liberia merging to form a strong union. However this mass membership must translate into prompt payment of affiliation dues.
On the defense of workers’ rights, we are impressed that our affiliates are struggling to defend the members’ rights at their respective sectors. I attended the 10th National Congress of NUMSA in Cape Town in December last year. I bear witness to vibrant union fighting for members’ rights under the theme “Building Strong, Vibrant and Politically Conscious Workplaces”. In 2015, I attended NUM Congress in Johannesburg and subsequently its CWC Meeting on 2nd – 4th June 2016 in Pretoria, South Africa. Again I witnessed a union that is standing up for workers’ rights under the theme; BACK TO BASICS; MEMBERS FIRST. SACTWU on 21 – 24 September, 2016 held its 13th National Congress in Capetown with the theme; “Defend the democracy, protect workers, build unity, fight corruption, grow jobs and strengthen service to members” while NUTG of Nigeria had its 11th National Congress between Wednesday 16th and Friday 18th March, 2016 with the theme; “Industry and Labour: Back to Basics.” Both unions commendably are building union power to confront capital in an atmosphere of great challenges. In January 2015 I was at Victoria Falls here in Zimbabwe to witness a successful 8th Congress of Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union (ZEWU) with the theme; “Workers Rights are Basic Human Rights, let us reposition ourselves in defence of our right to job security”.
Affiliates in Nigeria notably NUPENG and PENGASSAN are doing remarkably well to engage employers and government in securing jobs and just work environment. As precarious work is becoming the norm, with most employers taking advantage of mass unemployment to violate workers’ rights, affiliates are taking measures to confront the exploitative actions of employers. Most of our affiliates joined the global campaign against precarious work on Friday October 7, 2016 with rallies and a lot of manifestations against cheap Labour.
“Notwithstanding the current economic challenges and the peculiar operating challenges of the textile sub-sector in Nigeria, it is remarkable that the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) where I come from sustained the struggle for a living wage for members. The union signed the 45th national collective agreement with the Nigeria Textile Garment and Tailoring Employers Association (NTGTEA). The agreement significantly raised wage rate in the industry by 13 percent. 18 and 15 per cent wage increases were achieved in 2012 and 2014 respectively bringing total cumulative wage increase to 46 per cent through the process of collective bargaining. However given the massive devaluation of the Naira and attendant inflation, the industry minimum pay is yet to take our hard working members out of poverty. We are in the fore front of the campaign for a new national minimum wage.
“Let me commend the affiliate unions of South Africa for pushing for national minimum wage in line with IndustriALL’s goal. “ Aremu stated.
On sustainable Industrial Development, he noted that Nigerian affiliates have been having Joint Action to mark Africa Industrialisation Day (November 20). The day offers Nigerian affiliates of IndustriALL opportunity to advance the goal of the global union to ensure Sustainable Industrial development. The focus has been on how to promote beneficiation and transform abundant agricultural and natural resources to finished manufactured goods through valued added production and massive job creation. The global theme for 2016 Africa Industrialisation Day (AID) was “FINANCING INDUSTRIALIZATION IN AFRICA: CHALLENGES AND WINNING STRATEGIES”. The sub-theme was BACK TO BASICS: REVIVAL OF BASIC INDUSTRIES (Textile, mining, Iron and Steel, Oil and Gas) and CREATION OF SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT.
The 2016 policy dialogue focused on the revival of the key industrial sectors of the economy such as Textile, Garment, automobile Oil & Gas, Steel, Engineering and Solid Minerals among others. This was preceded by a rally/road show on the streets of Abuja to make case for Africa’s industrialisation. Like the 2015 Africa Industrialisation Day (AID), the 2016 AID was remarkable as it attracted Comrades from other African affiliates of IndustriALL namely, Angeline Chitambo, President Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union and Co-Chairman of IndustriALL Global Union, Sub Saharan Africa Region; Kwarko Mensah-Gyakari, National Chairman, Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU) and Comrade Knowledge Siriva, National Treasurer of Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union. We hope to make Africa Industrial Day (AID) a major regional campaign in Africa in line with the sustainable industrial development goal of IndustriALL Global Union.”
CHANLLEGES
Aremu observed that inspite of all these achievements in less than four years, there are challenges of low union density, collapse of industries, loss of jobs and serial xenophobia, leaderships/Intra/inter-Union Conflicts and Non-payment of dues.
He called on affiliates to turn these challenges into opportunities. First like in Nordic countries where union density is as high as 80 per cent, African affiliates must aggressively launch the campaigns for more recruitment of members into unions. Let’s organize, not Agonize! If possible we must exchange organizers to share experiences. All affiliates must also form their youth councils.
NEED FOR UNITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL FORGIVENESS
Aremu noted that the above challenges can only be addressed if the unions are all united as affiliate unions of IndustriALL. “There must have been a lot of legitimate disagreements among comrades and even among unions during the course of realizing the five goals. We must however resolve these disagreements in favour of the workers. There must be organizational forgiveness for all unions to move forward.” He stated.
For the 2016-2020 Congress period, the IndustriALL Secretariat will define priority campaigns and programs to be undertaken, globally as well as in specific countries and sectors, with a plan that establishes a timeline, targets, staffing, budget, and periodic progress reviews and reporting. The plan will define the roles and responsibilities of the Secretariat and Regional offices and affiliates, and where relevant, external funders. The Executive Committee will constantly monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Action Plan.
IndustriALL resolves to support the development of a balanced energy mix through democratic discussions in the countries concerned and accept that the energy mix will vary greatly country by country.
