Lyomoki reignites trade unions battles
Apr 20, 2008
WORKERS MP Dr. Sam Lyomoki has scoffed at reports that the Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU) was formed illegally. The controversial legislator also defended other trade unions affiliated to COFTU, saying they were legitimate.
By Chris Omony
and Ben Mugisha
WORKERS MP Dr. Sam Lyomoki has scoffed at reports that the Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU) was formed illegally. The controversial legislator also defended other trade unions affiliated to COFTU, saying they were legitimate.
Lyomoki is also the COFTU secretary general. Lyomoki was responding to The New Vision spotlight story last week titled “Fraud rocks unions.â€
The story said Syda Bbumba, the labour minister, was investigating allegations of forgeries in the registration of labour unions.
The investigations followed a letter by the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) to Bbumba, accusing Lyomoki and Dr. David Ogaram, the labour commissioner of “colluding to register many mere paper and member-less pseudo labour unions which they immediately affiliated to COFTU.â€
NOTU, in a May 17, 2007 complaint, claimed that this had been done during the December, 2006 Christmas holidays.
“Thereafter a ban, was instituted stopping registration of any new labour unions,†the NOTU secretary general L. O. Ongaba wrote. He pointed out that the registration was done in only two days.
He urged Bbumba to act immediately, warning that “NOTU could easily follow suit and register as many unions as possible to counter the number of COFTU labour unions.â€
Of the 40 trade unions registered, 22 subscribe to COFTU and 15 to NOTU, giving COFTU a nickname of ‘trade union centre.’
In a response to NOTU, Bbumba explained that Section 17 of the Labour Unions Act No.7 of 2006 states that a labour union shall not be registered by any name which is similar to or likely to cause confusion with the name of an existing registered labour union or a labour union which has applied for registration.
“My office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the registrations of the unions you have listed down in your letter.
“We intend to establish whether those unions were registered in accordance with the new Labour Unions Act,†she cautioned.
Bbumba also said her office was planning a meeting with all the general secretaries of the NOTU and COFTU affiliated unions to discuss how best the unions could work in a harmonised way. “I hope this meeting will help us to resolve a number of issues and conflicts between the unions and the ministry as well.â€
The letter was copied to Parliament, the Inspector General of Government, the Uganda Human Rights Commission, leaders of all local registered trade unions and international labour organisations.
In an interview over the weekend, Bbumba advised that trade unions should cultivate a spirit of harmony and work under the constitutional guidelines. She said her ministry acknowledged the operations of registered trade unions under the ministry’s set policy guidelines.
The minister also said workers were free to join any trade union provided it serves the best interests of their members.
“Labour unions should follow the guidelines set in the Labour Unions Act to avoid unnecessary conflicts,†the minister said.
It is true that any organised body can not operate without problems but their differences must be identified and addressed through an appropriate channel, she added.
However, Lyomoki described the allegations as malicious and baseless used by NOTU to tarnish the image of COFTU. He said COFTU was legitimate.
“A Constitutional petition No. 08 of 2004 declared that persons were free to form trade unions of their choice provided they abide by the workers’ and constitutional rights.
“This ruling caused an amendment resulting into a Labour Unions Act of 2007, which legitimises and liberalises the registration of labour unions,†Lyomoki said. He said it was against this background that COFTU was registered with over 20 new affiliates.
Lyomoki insisted that COFTU had effectively and efficiently represented the interests of the members affiliated to it.
He said this was in accordance with the constitutional rights of Uganda, the Labour Unions Acts and the international ratification and conventions on labour and workers’ unions.
“Our case rests with the constitutional ruling of 2003 which is a landmark decision that has ushered in a new change in the labour movement,†Lyomoki said.
“These new changes have attracted new registration and a desire for affiliation of trade unions to COFTU,†he added.
Lyomoki said NOTU was fighting COFTU to maintain a monopoly, it enjoyed for a long time.
He noted that the intrigue within trade unions had been a long-term problem.
He said this had undermined the importance of their existence, at the expense of workers.
“One of the main distortion of trade unionism in Uganda since its inception has been the spirit of intrigue, mudslinging, blackmail, false accusations and similar vices,†Lyomoki said. Unionists interviewed expressed happiness about the breaking of the NOTU monopoly.
and Ben Mugisha
WORKERS MP Dr. Sam Lyomoki has scoffed at reports that the Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU) was formed illegally. The controversial legislator also defended other trade unions affiliated to COFTU, saying they were legitimate.
Lyomoki is also the COFTU secretary general. Lyomoki was responding to The New Vision spotlight story last week titled “Fraud rocks unions.â€
The story said Syda Bbumba, the labour minister, was investigating allegations of forgeries in the registration of labour unions.
The investigations followed a letter by the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) to Bbumba, accusing Lyomoki and Dr. David Ogaram, the labour commissioner of “colluding to register many mere paper and member-less pseudo labour unions which they immediately affiliated to COFTU.â€
NOTU, in a May 17, 2007 complaint, claimed that this had been done during the December, 2006 Christmas holidays.
“Thereafter a ban, was instituted stopping registration of any new labour unions,†the NOTU secretary general L. O. Ongaba wrote. He pointed out that the registration was done in only two days.
He urged Bbumba to act immediately, warning that “NOTU could easily follow suit and register as many unions as possible to counter the number of COFTU labour unions.â€
Of the 40 trade unions registered, 22 subscribe to COFTU and 15 to NOTU, giving COFTU a nickname of ‘trade union centre.’
In a response to NOTU, Bbumba explained that Section 17 of the Labour Unions Act No.7 of 2006 states that a labour union shall not be registered by any name which is similar to or likely to cause confusion with the name of an existing registered labour union or a labour union which has applied for registration.
“My office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the registrations of the unions you have listed down in your letter.
“We intend to establish whether those unions were registered in accordance with the new Labour Unions Act,†she cautioned.
Bbumba also said her office was planning a meeting with all the general secretaries of the NOTU and COFTU affiliated unions to discuss how best the unions could work in a harmonised way. “I hope this meeting will help us to resolve a number of issues and conflicts between the unions and the ministry as well.â€
The letter was copied to Parliament, the Inspector General of Government, the Uganda Human Rights Commission, leaders of all local registered trade unions and international labour organisations.
In an interview over the weekend, Bbumba advised that trade unions should cultivate a spirit of harmony and work under the constitutional guidelines. She said her ministry acknowledged the operations of registered trade unions under the ministry’s set policy guidelines.
The minister also said workers were free to join any trade union provided it serves the best interests of their members.
“Labour unions should follow the guidelines set in the Labour Unions Act to avoid unnecessary conflicts,†the minister said.
It is true that any organised body can not operate without problems but their differences must be identified and addressed through an appropriate channel, she added.
However, Lyomoki described the allegations as malicious and baseless used by NOTU to tarnish the image of COFTU. He said COFTU was legitimate.
“A Constitutional petition No. 08 of 2004 declared that persons were free to form trade unions of their choice provided they abide by the workers’ and constitutional rights.
“This ruling caused an amendment resulting into a Labour Unions Act of 2007, which legitimises and liberalises the registration of labour unions,†Lyomoki said. He said it was against this background that COFTU was registered with over 20 new affiliates.
Lyomoki insisted that COFTU had effectively and efficiently represented the interests of the members affiliated to it.
He said this was in accordance with the constitutional rights of Uganda, the Labour Unions Acts and the international ratification and conventions on labour and workers’ unions.
“Our case rests with the constitutional ruling of 2003 which is a landmark decision that has ushered in a new change in the labour movement,†Lyomoki said.
“These new changes have attracted new registration and a desire for affiliation of trade unions to COFTU,†he added.
Lyomoki said NOTU was fighting COFTU to maintain a monopoly, it enjoyed for a long time.
He noted that the intrigue within trade unions had been a long-term problem.
He said this had undermined the importance of their existence, at the expense of workers.
“One of the main distortion of trade unionism in Uganda since its inception has been the spirit of intrigue, mudslinging, blackmail, false accusations and similar vices,†Lyomoki said. Unionists interviewed expressed happiness about the breaking of the NOTU monopoly.