NOTU call for strike is not feasible

Apr 03, 2018

NOTU has failed to help build a strong, service-oriented and self-sustaining labour organisation

LABOUR | STRIKE 

By James William Mugeni

The talk by the secretary general of the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU), Peter Christopher Werikhe and chairman general Wilson Owere Usher, about national workers strike within 90 days looks like a shot in the foot. Who are these workers that can be summoned by NOTU?

After being entertained by the drama that occurred between the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) and NOTU, one easily jumps to the conclusion that UMA offered NOTU a missed opportunity. NOTU, ill-advised took the doctors to court a would-be ally. I do not see who they can summon who can ably hold the Government like the UMA standoff did and indeed remains the most effective force that can strike.

The rest of the civil servants are so glued to the little they have that a strike call is a farfetched dream. The little Government response in salary structure essentially shows what the Government considers as viable employment sectors that have established some negotiation credentials which included the UMA industrial action. What we see in Uganda is a conspiracy between the workers and the Government on the public because if millions of workers chose to tow the minimalist line, chose to be corrupt other than get paid, chose to let the service sector to rot, there is no amount of striking and salary increase that can correct this. Is this strike service-orientated like UMA did advocating for the patients or a mere salary increase to support the rotten service sector? Uganda is failing on a customer-oriented service. It is not necessarily salary; what does NOTU want salary increase for? To keep the corrupt fluid?

NOTU was established by Decree No. 29 of 1973. It was thought it would be the most representative Labour Centre in Uganda with 20 labour union affiliates. NOTU, which is a non-profit labour organisation that represents millions of Ugandan workers claim to work with labour unions and community groups in all districts of Uganda.

With millions of workers other than mobilise their strength for labour negotiations, they have organised themselves into politics that has them give five seats to five members to Parliament. With this numerical parliamentary seat, they have achieved nothing; they are now waking up to think they can hold their governance at ransom. During UMA industrial action, only Sam Lyomoki stood out. The other four MPS who represent workers played a none starter role. They were, however, active in the age limit Bill.

NOTU has failed to help build a strong, service-oriented and self-sustaining labour organisation, but built a political-orientated organisation. They have misrepresented and mismanaged the viable affiliated labour unions and failed to achieve a dynamic employment environment facilitating the enactment and surveillance of acceptable labour laws/standards and employment policies for sustainable human and trade union rights of all working people in Uganda. 

A minimum wage is something NOTU has failed to achieve to the extent that we have enslaving conditions in Uganda for house helps. Nobody documents their effort and all you can hear is when maids kill children in their lines of duty, something that indicates poor working conditions.

Civil disobedience only works with strong unions that work with the Government as partners but not those that collude with the Government. NOTU has taken Ugandan workers or unions for a ride. This call for a strike seems a move to salvage an image lost to UMA and others who have taken matters in their own hands.

The writer is a clinical officer
wmungadi@gmail.com

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