The central organization of trade unions, cotu k is the national trade union center in kenya. The study established that organising is the main stay of the unions. This was a significant development for the working class in kenya as it brought together workers of all races. Trade union, also called labor union, an association of workers in a particular trade, industry, or company created for the purpose of securing improvements in pay, benefits, working conditions, or social and political status through collective bargaining. The genesis of trade unionism in zambia dates back to the time of the start of mining on the copperbelt after huge deposits of copper were discovered in the region in the 1920s leading to. Kenya did not become trade union conscious until 1947. Trade unions in the english speaking colonies emerged after the first world war, as a form of organised resistance to some of the economic and social excesses of british colonial rule. In the united states for example, trade unions were fundamental to the development and passage of the occupational safety and health act in 1970. Kenya, trade union movement, repertoires of action, narrative resources. Objectives, function, formation, regulation, rights and liabilities. The role of trade unions has changed significantly over the past 30 years.
Unlike the laws of contract, tort, or property, the elements of labour law are somewhat less. Trade unionism in kenya had a shared history with its european colonial antecedents. History of trade unionism in zambia zambia daily mail. Trade unions in kenya role, rights of workers trade. Currently, it can be estimated that approximately 4 million workers in kenya belong to trade unions. Upto 1914, there existed no african trade union in kenya because of the following reasons. In its most comprehensive sense, the term includes social security and disability insurance as well. But by april 1935, it was decided to make the union nonracial and to change the name to the labour trade union of kenya. The early trade unions in kenya were formed along racial lines though all form them aimed at addressing labour problems that faced workers. This paper is informed by the escalating decline in the quality of industrial and labour relations. Apr 19, 2012 officially, trade unionism was registered in kenya 1934. Trade unions have however fallen short of achieving their set objectives due to challenges that are both external and internal.
Unlike the laws of contract, tort, or property, the elements of labour law are somewhat less homogeneous than the rules governing a particular legal. Officially, trade unionism was registered in kenya 1934. Associated society of locomotive engineers and firemen aslef. Trade unions in transformation is an fes project that identifies unions power re. General federation of trade unions uk scottish trades union congress. The new law combines two earlier laws, namely the trade disputes act and the trade unions act.
With the emerging resistance against colonial rule, african trade unions rather quickly emancipated from their european centres. Indeed, by 1987 the african labour movement, the form of in the congress of south african trade unions cosatu, was the single most powerful organised formation in the antiapartheid struggle in south africa3. The following is a list of major independent trade unions, which are solely accountable to their members and free from employer domination as it stood on 31 march 2012. The history of african trade unions in kenya illustrates the case of. Cotu congress of trade unions kenya cpp convention peoples party csawuz civil servants and allied workers union of zambia csea civil servants employees association. Labour law, the varied body of law applied to such matters as employment, remuneration, conditions of work, trade unions, and industrial relations. Apr 19, 2012 the objectives of trade unions in kenya1. Several efforts have been devoted to examining african labour history from different angles and persuasions. The labour relations act represents the main legal foundation for collective bargaining and labour relations. Trade unions in transformation is an fes project that identifies unions power resources and capabilities that contribute to successful trade union action.
Trade union education and research work in kenya present. Central organization of trade unions kenya wikipedia. Trade unions in kenya history of kenyas trade union movement. The first trade union in kenya was the indian trade union formed in 1914 in mombasa. Mainly, the challenges discussed here are related to. In 1947, kenyans became actively involved in trade unions. Schurman et al 1998 and the coal mine health and safety act in 1969. In the 1960s, trade unions in africa were very instrumental in the struggle for independence across the continent.
The act allows any twenty workers to found a trade union and any two unions to create a national center. Assessment of the state of trade unions in kenya by owidhi george otieno 1. Trade unions in many african countries played a muscular and seminal role in the late 1980s and early 1990s in mobilizing the mass protests and strikes that led to the overthrow of old. Trade unions in kenya, trade unions and work and wages, trade. Whether temporary or permanent, primarily for the purpose of regulating the relations between workers and employers or between workers for imposing restrictive conditions on the conduct of any trade or business and includes the federations of two. In the first section, we will briefly discuss the history of trade unions, just to give the reader an idea of how it all started. It is often alleged that the weakness of french trade unions in mobilisations is due, in part, to poor cohesion between and within the union movements le queue and sainsaulieu, 2010. Throughout contemporary history, trade unions have played a crucial role in making workplaces safer. During the emergency the kenya trade union movement found itself.
During that year there was a big strike in the port of mombasa. After 1943, way up to 1945, the trend of industrial relations changed with the launch of international trade unionism the global movement dealing with trade unions, and the british trade union congress in particular played a crucial role in the kenyan trade unionism. Trade union services and benefits in africa edited by. Pdf the depletion of narrative resources in the kenyan trade. For the purpose of this article we shall confine ourselves to the postwar years. History of cotuk central organization of trade unions. The central organization of trade unions cotu is a national trade union center in kenya.
Challenges facing trade unions in the modern society are also discussed in this section. Theories relating to introduction of trade unions, history of trade unions in finland and collective agreement in finland was presented in the beginning of the theoretical study and general information about industrial relations were also presented. Trade unionism in kenya south african history online. Summary, conclusion and recommendations references annex i. Its national origins were rooted in colonial capitalism, which had been. Second, it examines the determinants of who actually belongs to a trade union across oecd countries. Pdf what are the main challenges faced by trade unions. During independence struggle, trade unions across the continent offered the most important platform for ordinary people to voice their frustrations and to demand for selfdetermination. The final part presents some conclusions and policy recommendations. Africa, we can say that part of our history points to the importance played by organisations of workers in the fall of apartheid. The paper looks at the challenges facing trade unions currently and provides possible recommendations to enhance trade unionization in kenya. Cotu k is registered and operates within the provisions of the labour relations act, 2007 of the laws of kenya.
History of cotuk the central organization of trade unions, cotu k is the national trade union center in kenya. Today we have in the main african trade unions in kenya, with a few asian unions, the oldest and most important of which is the asian railway union. History of cotuk central organization of trade unions cotuk. Cotu k was founded in 1965 upon dissolution of the kenya. Whether temporary or permanent, primarily for the purpose of regulating the relations between workers and employers or between workers for imposing restrictive conditions on the conduct of any trade or business and includes the federations of two or more trade unions. History of kenya from precolonial period to today kenya. The proposed study is expected to make a significant contribution to. However, the informal sector has had little involvement of the trade unions. The history of the trade union movement in kenya dates as far back as the thirties. It was founded in 1965 upon the dissolution on the kenya federation of labour and the african workers congress. Primary data was collected using a semistructured questionnaire and thirty two out of the forty. The kenyan workers embarked on long talks with government and in october 1962, a landmark was established with the signing of the industrial relations charter by the government of kenya, the federation of kenya employers and the kenya federation of labor, the forerunner of cotu k, the central organization of trade unions kenya.
These early organizations were not, however, involved in many industrial conflicts, their primary activity being the organizing of mutual help among its members. The colonial history of kenya dates from the berlin conference of 1885 when east africa was first divided into territories of influence by the european powers. Roger scotts history of the development of trade unions in uganda, published 1966. Labour, labour movements, trade unions and strikes great. Most of the trade unions have organising policies, strategies and departments according to the findings. Trade unions in kenya, trade unions and work and wages. Pdf we discuss in this study the problems of mobilization and effectiveness faced by kenyan trade unions. It was also to prove an important development for publishing in kenya. Trade unions in kenya role, rights of workers trade unions. This study was designed to investigate the challenges facing trade unions in kenya. This move was mostly supported by the unions, although some aspects of it were criticized, especially the extent of the powers of the registrar of trade unions. In the civil service there are three workers associations, one for europeans, asians and africans respectively.
More specifically, trade unions negotiate for wages, work rules, complaint procedures, rules governing hiring, firing and promotion of workers, benefits, workplace safety and policies. Trywell kalusopa kwabena nyarko otoo hilma shindondolamote. It currently closely liaises with non governmental organizations of east africa trade union ngoeatu. Provided that nothing in this act shall i affect a any agreement between partners as to their own business. Third it estimates the effects of unions on relative wages. The history of african trade unions in kenya illustrates the case of where for several years the settler elite was able to sabotage all efforts at permitting the growth of african trade unions and the introduction of industrial consultations. A trade union is an association of workers formed to protect the interest of workers. The trade unions draw their membership from various sectors of the economy. More specifically, trade unions negotiate for wages, work rules, complaint procedures, rules governing hiring, firing and promotion of workers. Labour in african history trends and organisational forms. Trade unions in kenya history of kenyas trade union movement to 1952. However, it is doubtful whether the two approaches can, or should, be. The labour relations act defines a trade union as an association of employees whose principal purposed is to regulate relations between employees and employers, including any employers.
In 1937, asian workers founded the asiatic labour union, leading to the founding of numerous unions in the country. An analysis of womens participation in trade union. Early trade unions included the indian trade union mombasa and nairobi. The first world war had the impact on trade union membership of a big upturn in a trade cycle. In kenya, trade unions and employers must sign a recognition agree. Its national origins were rooted in colonial capitalism, which had been characterized by the use of cheap or forced african labor. All about trade unions in kenya, trade unions and work and wages, trade unions and employers in kenya and more on africapay kenya. However, for many people these higher rates of pay were offset by the cost of living rising faster than basic wages, but at the same time mitigated.
Challenges facing trade unions in the modern society the. As a result, in october 1962, a landmark was established with the signing of the industrial relations charter by the government of kenya, the federation of kenya employers and the kenya federation of labour, the forerunner of cotu k, the central organisation of trade unions kenya. Trade unions also advocate sound relations between employers and employees through the promotion and protection of freedom of association, collective bargaining agreements and dispute resolution. The labour relations act defines a trade union as an association of employees whose principal purposed is to regulate relations between employees and employers, including any employers organisation. As the most important african mass organisations of that time, unions very often had a decisive share in the national liberation struggle. However, limited funds were cited as the main reason for lack of the organising policy. Most have focused on the representatives of labour, trade unions in specific.
The british government founded the east african protectorate in 1895 and soon after, opened the fertile highlands to white settlers. To improve the terms and conditions of employment i. This study features among two dozen case studies from around the world demonstrating how unions have transformed to get stronger. The first tanganyikan trade union, the motor drivers union, was founded in 1927. Kenya implying increasing levels of poor industrial and labour relations in kenyas history. Cotu k was founded in 1965 upon dissolution of the kenya federation of labor and the african workers congress kfl awc. Kusu affiliated to the newly formed trade union congress of kenya tucke. Mar 03, 2015 into the challenges faced by the trade unions in kenya and accommodate the possible interventions that could be employed to enhance the unions effectiveness in the policies to be formulated. Fourth, it explores the extent to which unions are able to influence hours of work. The agreements negotiated by the union leaders are binding on the rank and file members and the employer and in some cases on other nonmember workers. A case of tanzania teachers union by mohamed mussa a dissertation submitted to mzumbe university dar es salaam campus college in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of master of science in accounting and finance m sc. Assessment of the state of trade unions in kenya by owidhi. It is, thus, clear that no agency formed or promoted to look after the interests of the workers can be a real substitute for trade unions.
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