According to fes, 20, unions such as mine workers union of zambiawere among the key trade unions. Times of zambia role of trade unions in work places. Trade union right to access the workplace to recruit have meetings, holding elections votingballots deduction of union dues in writing employer authorised to deduct union dues in form of levies subscriptions trade union representatives where an employer employees 10 or more members of majority tu, members may elect. This southern african country of 12 million people has been rocked by strike action throughout the1990s. The zctu was created by the government to replace the former united trade union congress. Firstly, the trade union movement in zimbabwe is paralysed.
Our concern has been that our party mmd has failed to deliver and that is why. Therefore, the history of the british trade union movement is unfolded as unions emerged here first. Zacci zambia association of chambers of commerce and industry zam zambia association of manufacturers zap zambia alliance for progress zccm zambia consolidated copper mines zcf zambia cooperative federation zctu zambia congress of trade unions zdc zambia democratic congress zfe zambia federation of employers. At that period, african civil servants had organized themselves into the tanganyika african civil service association tsga in 1922, which later became the tanganyika african association taa in 1929. The vision of the zambia congress of trade unions zctu is founded on its firm belief that trade unions are indispensable partners in the industrial relations involving gove ment, employers and labour and that the process of development culminates into equitable distribution of wealth among stakeholders. Zambia congress of trade unions was established in 1965 through an act of parliament, until 1993, the zctu was the sole umbrella organisation of trade unions in the country. Analysis of lesotho, mozambique, south africa, swaziland, zambia and zimbabwe research report for the danish federation of workers. Historicaltrajectoryofpublicsectorunionsin zambia sthirdrepublic. Any organization or group of workers established to achieve one or more of the objectives stated in trade union act is considered to have formed a trade union and therefore must conform to all. This analysis of zambia s first decade of political and economic liberalisation addresses these questions.
To understand the state of zambian unions today, a brief history of the zambian labour movement is useful. Comparisons with lesotho dave cooper roger southalls article on trade unions in lesotho in the recent issue of salb is most welcome. These two federations at times unite to strengthen the workers sociopolitical representation and the labour union movement on the whole. Workers should persuade their employers to form trade unions. Unip politicians, elite sections of the population, trade union leaders and even religious factions. Appropriate industrial relations legislation should recognize the requirements of both employers and employees. The dwcp was spearheaded by ilo with involvement of tripartite partners namely the ministry of labour and social security mlss, zambia federation of employers zfe, zambia congress of trade unions zctu and the federation of free trade unions in zambia fftuz. History of trade unionism in zambia zambia daily mail. Historical trajectory of public sector unions in zambias third republic. Trade unions, development, and democratization in zambia. Institute for african studies, university of zambia institute for african studies volume of communication university of zambia. The industrial and labour relations act arrangement of sections part i preliminary section 1. The years between 1989 and 1991 may be regarded as the period during which the zambia congress of trade unions zctu reached the height of its perceived influence in zambian politics.
Among a population of perhaps one million, there were about 1,500 white residents. The major waves of bantuspeaking immigrants began in the 15th century, with the greatest influx between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. Zctu has been running programmes on extractive industries and corporate social responsibility, especially sponsored by the netherlands institute for southern africa niza. The six union federations were soon merged into the zimbabwe congress of trade unions zctu in 1981. In zambia, the trade unions spearheaded an opposition movement, the movement for multiparty democracy mmd, whose leader the. The establishment of the copper mines was followed by collective action and organisation by african workers. It was argued that having more than one trade union in a sector facilitates effective understanding of issues affecting specific workers in that sector. Trade unions and government of the day should take issues relating to workers wages and monthly salaries seriously as such have short and longterm socioeconomic effects both on individual workers and national development process as a whole. The genesis of trade unionism in zambia dates back to the time of the start of mining on the copperbelt after huge deposits of copper were discovered in the region in the 1920s leading to commercial mining. According to the splinter group constituting the federation of free trade unions in zambia fftuz rampant malpractices and lack of seriousness characterised the manner in which business was conducted at the congress. The organizations public campaign for the democratization of zambian politics, initiated in december 1989, culminated in the electoral defeat of the united national independence party unip at the multiparty polls of october 1991. Unions have a wider social role beyond simply the workplace and are essential to the functioning of a healthy democracy. It was formed by an act of parliament in 1965 and has 33 affiliate unions representing over 400 000 workers. According to fes, 20, unions such as mine workers union of zambiawere among the key trade unions andspoke with a strong voice.
The state appeared to be socially responsible in conditions where workers unions were weak, capital stronger though with no skills in modern industrial relations. An analysis of union influence in zambias public sector. It also seeks to examine the relationship between trade. Quoted in richard jacobs, the relationship between african trade unions and political organisations in northern rhodesiazambia 194961 geneva. In the absence of strong collective bargaining systems, the wages and conditions of black labour, as distinct from those of the white labour aristocracy, were very poor.
University of zambia, institute for african studies, 1977 labor unions 59 pages. Role of government in industrial relation essay 324 words. So come down with me in my leyland as we chronicle the hurly burly history of unionism in zambia. Historicaltrajectoryofpublicsectorunionsinzambiasthirdrepublic. Churches took the initiative of establishing their own.
Jamaicans all over the island went about their daily routines, but that sunday was special because in many ways it marked the dawning of jamaicas two main political parties. The zctu is a very powerful organization and by withdrawing its support from the unip in 1990, it almost assured the mmds electoral success in 1991. Trade union is any group or organisation of employees registered as a trade union under the industrial and labour relation act whose principal objectives are the representation and promotion of interests of the employees and regulation of relations between employees and employers. The zambian trade union movement is among the strengest and most. Zambia congress of trade union reacts to threats by.
It will also highlight other functions of trade unions that aim towards benefitting both organization and employees. Find trade union expertise in zambia there are about 25 unions in zambia and the two main groupings are zambia congress of trade unions zctu and federation of free trade unions in zambia fftuz. Institute for african studies issue of university of zambia, institute for african studies, communication. Challenges facing trade unions in the modern society the. Pdf trade union effectiveness in zambia harrison kaunda. A trade union is a group of working people who have joined together to achieve better pay and working conditions and a safer working environment. Frederick chiluba was chairmangeneral of zctu 19741991. A history of the trade union movement in zambia up to 1968 issue of communication university of zambia. Trade unionism and freedom of association in tanzania.
Download book pdf trade unions and the coming of democracy in africa pp 123156 cite as. Indeed, by 1987 the african labour movement, the form of in the congress of south african trade unions cosatu, was the single most powerful organised formation in the antiapartheid struggle in south africa3. Currently the zctu represents about thirtysix 36 affiliated national unions operating in. Objectives, function, formation, regulation, rights and liabilities. Secretarygeneral, zambia congress of trade unions 2004. The major waves of bantuspeaking immigrants began in the 15th century, with the greatest influx. Political and economic liberalisation in zambia 19912001 lise rakner the nordic africa institute, 2003. Zctu is the largest of the two federations in zambia. Trade unions and the informal economy in zambia epub bayreuth. It is the purpose of this chapter to consider the historical development of trade union law and practice in zambia in so far as they have a bearing on the present day trade union status. Trade union in zambia role of workers union, labour.
Zambia congress of trade unions, trade unions, zambia. Industrial relations in zambia to 1975 springerlink. Trade unions in zimbabwe 87 known examples, but important developments have taken place in a number of other settings. This week i will look at tidbits of the history of trade unionism in zambia, starting with the colonial period. Political and economic liberalisation in zambia 19912001. The history of jamaica the founding of bitu and the jlp. Zambia has been shaped by a history of authoritarian traditions, first during the colonial. Zctu zambia congress of trade unions zdc zambia democratic congress. Also, in this part both german trade unions and american labour movement are discussed briefly, as this gives us the ability to compare and contrast, hence, get a. The zambian trade union movement emerged before independence and. Find trade union expertise in zambia commonwealth of nations. Zambia congress of trade unions phone and map of address. Zctus relationship with the regime was paternalistic in nature, with zanu claiming to protect workers and their rights, instituting a minimum wage and employment protections alexander 2001.
The presence of archaic humans in zambia at least 200,000 years ago was shown by the discovery of the broken hill skull in kabwe in 1921 this was the first human fossil ever discovered in africa the earliest known modern humans to live in the territory of modernday zambia. Pdf trade unions, development, and democratization in zambia. It also seeks to examine the relationship between trade unionism and the actions of management. Labour in african history trends and organisational forms. The genesis of trade unionism in zambia dates back to the time of the start of mining on the. Fes has a long history of cooperation with zambian unions and therefore acted as a dooropener in this sensitive field, while gtz and ded since long promote. In the one party era, the trade unions through their only central organization, the zambia congress of trade unions had close affinity with the party, unip and participated in the various activities of the party such as the general confer ence and national council where party and government policies were mooted. The history of trade unions in tanzania can be traced in 1920s with the formation of welfare societies or social clubs. Firstly, trade unions usually function as significant collective interest groups whose role is fundamental to the reproduction of the economy. This is a big challenge for trade unions in their pursuit to. This happened especially in francophone africa, but later also in the lusophone countries of angola and mozambique. Background to trade unionism in malawi the history of trade unionism in malawi goes back as far as 1945 prior to the end of second world war when the first trade union.
The zambia congress of trade unions zctu was established in 1965 through an act of parliament. The extent and effects of casualisation in southern africa. Currently, the zctu represents thirty three 33 affiliated national unions, operating in various sectors of the economy. In 1911 these were united to form northern rhodesia, with its capital at livingstone, near victoria falls. Collective bargaining and labour disputes resolution is. Angola 72 early angola 72 the kongo kingdom and the coming of the portuguese 73 colonial transition 1820s1910 73 lunda empire 74. Therefore, i urge a broadly based historical approach to the political economy of zambia for understanding relations between state and trade unions in that. The indigenous huntergatherer occupants of zambia began to be displaced or absorbed by more advanced migrating tribes about 2,000 years ago. Zambia congress of trade unions zctu is the dominant central trade union federation in zambia.
Political organizations and trade unions 66 christianity and african popular religion 67 the impact of world war ii 68 independence and decolonization in southern africa 70 chapter 4. Trade unions and democracy in zambia democracy in africa. The power of capital to willynilly hire and fire were curbed as these became vested in the state. May 16, 2012 amidst the recent democratic crisis following the announcement that the patriotic front government intends to deregister the main opposition party the movement for multiparty democracy few commentators have pickedup on the growing tension between new president michael sata and zambias trade unions.
List of best unions in zambia, top unions in zambia, unions near me, best unions. Zambia congress of trade unions zctu publish what you pay. Where the public service is concerned for most of the countries, the legislation has many grey areas that raise questions as to the governments commitment and sincerity in extending bargaining and dispute settlement rights to public servants. These funds are controlled by the union leaderships. Workers struggles in zimbabwe one such case is that of zimbabwe, which forms the focus of this article. In zambia, it appears a law that allows a trade or a sector to have more than one union has contributed to divide and rule approach in trade unionism. History indicates that a number of trade union leaders have entered. However, the extent to which democratisation and economic reform has been achieved has been strongly conditioned, on the one hand, by the weaknesses and. Trade unions negotiate with employers on behalf of union members to agree wages, work rules, complaint procedures, rules governing hiring, firing and promotion of workers. Zambia s trade unions are obliged to join the highly centralized zambia congress of trade unions zctu. Since the 1990s ngos and other funders have plied funds into trade unions. As a result, for the most part, they have lost organic contact with union rankandfile members.
Muz is one of the largest trade unions in zambia and africa comprising approximately 23, 000 members scattered across 36 branches bates, 1972. The zambia congress of trade union has said it has taken great exception to the statement purpoted to have been released by the national union of metalworkers of south africa numsa in which it. Click here for the annual survey of violations of trade unions rights in zambia for 2011. The colonial labour regime cemented and reproduced a strong reserve army of cheap black labour necessary for. Trade union services and benefits in africa edited by. The reason why the trade unions were chosen as a focus of the research are numerous. Several efforts have been devoted to examining african labour history from different angles and persuasions. Transport and general workers union, then called magalimoto 2. Industrial relations industrial relations essay the role of the government on industrial relations is very important as it sets the legal framework that industrial relations operates in. The organizations public campaign for the democratization of zambian politics, initiated in december 1989, culminated in the electoral defeat of the united national independence party unip at the multiparty polls of. Jan 31, 2020 the indigenous huntergatherer occupants of zambia began to be displaced or absorbed by more advanced migrating tribes about 2,000 years ago. In the one party era, the trade unions through their only central organization, the zambia congress of trade unions had close affinity with the party, unip and participated in the various activities of the party such as the general confer ence and national council where party and. Theories relating to introduction of trade unions, history of trade unions in.
Whether temporary or permanent, primarily for the purpose of regulating the relations between workers and employers or between workers for imposing restrictive conditions on the conduct of any trade or business and includes the federations of two or more trade unions. Most have focused on the representatives of labour, trade unions in specific. A history of the trade union movement in zambia up to 1968. This study aims at finding out the effect of trade unionism on workers. The zambia decent work country programme dwcp was officially launched in may 2007. The origin and development of trade union movements, historical development of trade unions in india, growth of employees and employers organizations, aims and objectives of trade unions, definition of trade union and trade disputes, recognition of trade unions are discussed in this chapter. Africa, we can say that part of our history points to the importance played by organisations of workers in the fall of apartheid. At first the bsac administered its territory north of the zambezi in two parts, northeastern and northwestern rhodesia. Until 1993, the zctu was the sole umbrella organisation of trade unions in the country. Where the public service is concerned for most of the countries, the legislation has many grey areas that raise questions as to the governments commitment and sincerity in extending.
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