Minister intervenes in labour union clash
May 02, 2010
THE labour minister, Emmanuel Otaala, has given the commissioner for labour and industrial relations a week to “clear the confusion†between the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) and the Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU).
By Jeff Lule
and Patrick Jaramogi
THE labour minister, Emmanuel Otaala, has given the commissioner for labour and industrial relations a week to “clear the confusion†between the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) and the Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU).
The leading labour unions are locked in a row over the registration of workers from the informal sector.
The chairman of the national union, Wilson Owere, accused workers MP Sam Lyomoki of registering ‘fake’ trade unions and affiliating them to his labour movement, the central organisation union, for his own interests.
“Lyomoki is registering fake labour unions and affiliating them to the central trade union where he is the secretary general with three genuine unions; medical, hotels and textiles,†Owere said.
He added that Lyomoki was increasing his chances of being re-elected to Parliament at the expense of his competitors in NOTU, which has four MPs opposed to one in COFTU.
Charles Bakabulindi, Bruno Pajabo, Mary Tunde and Teopista Nantongo represent the national trade union, while Lyomoki represents the central trade union.
In a heated meeting with the national trade union members, chaired by the gender minister, Gabriel Opio, and Otaala last week, the ministers resolved to sort out the “mess†in one week.
“We don’t want a pseudo union which will create confusion that is why we decided to have a verification exercise. This exercise must be concluded in one week to clear the air,†Otaala said during the meeting held at the ministry’s boardroom.
He ordered the labour commissioner, Alphonse Oja’andira, to de-register illegal unions.
Oja’andira promised to resolve the dispute after the Labour Day celebrations.
Lyomoki dismissed the allegations, stressing that trade unions are registered by the labour ministry and not labour movements.
He said the national trade union was in panic because many of its unions had joined the central trade union because of its leadership strategies.
Lyomoki said COFTU has 23 affiliated unions against NOTU’s 17.
“Our strategy managed to organise the biggest proportion of workers with an overwhelming response.â€
But NOTU’s secretary general, Christopher Werikhe, described the central trade union membership as “manipulating and outrageousâ€.
and Patrick Jaramogi
THE labour minister, Emmanuel Otaala, has given the commissioner for labour and industrial relations a week to “clear the confusion†between the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) and the Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions (COFTU).
The leading labour unions are locked in a row over the registration of workers from the informal sector.
The chairman of the national union, Wilson Owere, accused workers MP Sam Lyomoki of registering ‘fake’ trade unions and affiliating them to his labour movement, the central organisation union, for his own interests.
“Lyomoki is registering fake labour unions and affiliating them to the central trade union where he is the secretary general with three genuine unions; medical, hotels and textiles,†Owere said.
He added that Lyomoki was increasing his chances of being re-elected to Parliament at the expense of his competitors in NOTU, which has four MPs opposed to one in COFTU.
Charles Bakabulindi, Bruno Pajabo, Mary Tunde and Teopista Nantongo represent the national trade union, while Lyomoki represents the central trade union.
In a heated meeting with the national trade union members, chaired by the gender minister, Gabriel Opio, and Otaala last week, the ministers resolved to sort out the “mess†in one week.
“We don’t want a pseudo union which will create confusion that is why we decided to have a verification exercise. This exercise must be concluded in one week to clear the air,†Otaala said during the meeting held at the ministry’s boardroom.
He ordered the labour commissioner, Alphonse Oja’andira, to de-register illegal unions.
Oja’andira promised to resolve the dispute after the Labour Day celebrations.
Lyomoki dismissed the allegations, stressing that trade unions are registered by the labour ministry and not labour movements.
He said the national trade union was in panic because many of its unions had joined the central trade union because of its leadership strategies.
Lyomoki said COFTU has 23 affiliated unions against NOTU’s 17.
“Our strategy managed to organise the biggest proportion of workers with an overwhelming response.â€
But NOTU’s secretary general, Christopher Werikhe, described the central trade union membership as “manipulating and outrageousâ€.