Africa
Trade union repression is rife in Africa

afrol.com, 13 September - Nearly four out of five arrests world-wide of trade unionists took place in Africa, according to an annual survey published today (September 13) by the Brussels-based International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU). 80% of the world total of those given prison sentences for their trade union activities were in Africa. Strikes and demonstrations were also harshly repressed. 

The legislation of 23 of the 31 African countries covered contains restrictive measures on the right to strike. Trade unionists are frequently harassed in Africa. The survey lists 834 cases, in nearly two thirds of African countries, a higher average than any other continent.

An overriding feature in Africa is government interference in trade unions internal affairs. In Libya, Sudan, and in Equatorial Guinea the ban on independent trade unions remained. In the Central African Republic, the government continued to target the USTC and its leader, Théophile Sonny-Cole, was beaten up and prevented from attending international conferences.

In Ethiopia, two leaders of the teachers’ union ETA died in prison because of poor conditions, while another received a 15-year prison sentence, as part of continual harassment of the ETA. The national union centre the CETU remained under government control. The authorities in Djibouti imposed their own candidates at the top of the UGTD and the UDT, and froze their assets, claiming that the genuine organisations were illegal.

In Morocco, 23 trade unionists were sent prison after striking over labour law violations, 21 of whom had been tortured by police in detention.

In Swaziland, trade unions continued to be repressed, and the SFTU and its leaders were regularly harassed. The police detained the entire national executive committee of the Swazi Teachers Union, accusing them of “un-Swazi” behaviour because they had carried a coffin during a march.

Zimbabwe was another country where respect for trade union rights deteriorated dramatically, and three leaders of the ZCTU were attacked following a strike. Strikes were declared illegal, and those taking party severely harassed.

Thousands of people targeted for trade union activities world-wide
On a world-wide basis, at least 140 trade unionists were assassinated, disappeared, or committed suicide after they were threatened, because they had the temerity to stand up for workers’ rights against the state or unscrupulous employers.

The Survey details violations of trade union rights in 113 countries during the period from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999. It says that nearly 3000 people were arrested, more then 1,500 were injured, beaten or tortured and at least 5,800 were harassed because of their legitimate trade union activities. Another 700 trade unionists received death threats.

“This year’s report gives an opportunity to denounce the prevailing hypocrisy which sees government officials parading at international gatherings, ostensibly promoting basic workers’ rights, while those who actually defend those fundamental rights at home are being harassed, attacked, threatened, sidelined or silenced – sometimes for ever,” said Bill Jordan, general secretary of the ICFTU while presenting this year’s findings.

Abuses compiled in the survey range from murder to subtle legislative arrangements that make trade union activities increasingly looking like a daunting obstacle race.

Some 12,000 workers were unfairly dismissed or refused reinstatement, sometimes with the complicity of the government, because they were active members of a trade union. At least 140 strikes or demonstrations were repressed by governments, sometimes with the support of the employers using strike breakers, while 80 of the 113 countries mentioned in the survey restrict the right to strike altogether.

“Ruthless repression in Latin America, attacks and interference in Asia, arrests and imprisonment in Africa, severe restrictions and non-payment of wage in Eastern Europe and a growing trend to “union busting” activities in industrialised countries” are key findings of this year’s findings, according to Bill Jordan. The ICFTU’s annual report forms part of its campaign to promote a link between respect for core labour standards and international trade arrangements. The survey reports on violations of two of the most ratified Conventions of the UN’s International Labour Organisation (ILO): Conventions 87 on Freedom of Association ratified by 130 countries and Convention 98 on the right to organise and collective bargaining ratifies by 145 countries.

The ICFTU 123 million trade unionists from 216 national trade union centres in 145 countries. Its African Regional Organisation, AFRO, represents 15 million workers in 50 African countries.

Source: ICFTU

© afrol.com. Texts and graphics may be reproduced freely, under the condition that their origin is clearly referred to, see Conditions.    You can contact us at mail@afrol.com