23 April, 2010Consolidating union strength, dealing with the challenges of precarious work, climate change and industrialization in Africa was the focus of IMF affiliated metal unions in Southern Africa during their sub-regional meeting in April.
AFRICA: Building strong unions to deal with challenges of precarious work, worker unity, climate change and industrialization in Africa was the focus of the IMF Southern Africa sub-regional meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa from April 19 to 21, 2010.
Thirty participants representing nine countries attended the meeting where affiliates presented detailed reports on their national situations, including problems of union growth, sustainability and in a few instances union repression, particularly in Swaziland and Zimbabwe. The need to consolidate workers' organizations was again a theme of discussion. Precarious work, including the notion of the working poor, was also once more identified as a major challenge in the region.
Following the presentation of regional and executive reports, affiliates agreed that building stronger unions needs to be the emphasis of IMF regional work and activities towards this should focus on recruitment in Nigeria, Kenya and Angola which have a potentially large membership base. Worker unity also needs top be a focus area especially in Zimbabwe and Mauritius. Affiliates also discussed barriers to implementation at country level of actions agreed to at regional level. In budget discussions, affiliates acknowledged the need to work towards self sufficiency for union activities, thus unions need to work towards financial sustainability.
Participants were informed on the declaration of intent for the proposed merger/cooperation between IMF, International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF) and International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM). Affiliates discussed issues pertaining to the process of the merger, a cooperation phase and the implications for unions. The meeting fully supported the merger but felt that follow up discussions between the regional leadership of the three GUFs on the processes are needed to address concerns that were raised on regional cooperation. Also in attendance at the meeting were the Africa regional representatives of ICEM and ITGLWF.
Various members of the secretariat contributed to reporting on issues pertaining to the situation in Africa from an economic and union perspective and a presentation on climate change and its implications for Africa was given. Unions expressed a lack of exposure to the issues of climate change and it was apparent that even where national centres had engaged and taken positions these were not integrated into union plans. It was noted that climate change is a complex and relatively new issue to many. Discussions expanded the general position that climate change is a reflection of the fossil fuel-based capitalist accumulation. A discussion document, published in English on the IMF website here, was developed to serve as a basis for further deliberations towards developing a policy for Africa on climate change linked to industrial development.
Issues from the IMF Working Party on Trade and Development were presented to delegates and a broad ranging discussion ensued. The complex and interdependent nature of south, south trade relations were noted but also the destructive process currently underway whereby individual countries were being pressured to reach agreements with the EU.
Issues raised on trade and development were many and varied and it was felt that these along with climate change needed to be contextualised in a broader workshop process around industrialisation and development in the region. To assist affiliates with understanding the processes related to NAMA and other trade and development issues the Regional Office was mandated to develop a paper detailing these issues to feed into follow up processes.
Other key outcomes of the meeting included agreement by affiliates on continued action to support the precarious work campaign. The meeting noted that with the exception of South Africa many unions do not have sufficient membership of non-manual workers and there is a need to develop a campaign to organize these workers. There is also a need to develop a proper framework towards industrial development in Africa and the creation of decent work through this process. Coupled to this discussion needs to be consideration of trade related issues and climate change. The potential for a follow up workshop on this is to be investigated for later this year.