Trade unions in Tanzania: Difference between revisions
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In 1955, seventeen trade unions finally merged to create the [[Tanganyika Federation of Labour]] (TFL). Its original two main objectives were to gain more members and to absorb smaller unions.<ref name=Thomassin/> During the contry's fight for independence, the TFL collaborated with the [[Tanganyika African National Union]] (TANU), a party founded in 1954, in its fight for the nation's independence from the [[United Kingdom]] achieving this goal in 1961.<ref name=LO/FTF/> |
In 1955, seventeen trade unions finally merged to create the [[Tanganyika Federation of Labour]] (TFL). Its original two main objectives were to gain more members and to absorb smaller unions.<ref name=Thomassin/> During the contry's fight for independence, the TFL collaborated with the [[Tanganyika African National Union]] (TANU), a party founded in 1954, in its fight for the nation's independence from the [[United Kingdom]] achieving this goal in 1961.<ref name=LO/FTF/> |
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[[Image:Flag of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.svg|thumb|right|Flag of the Sultanate of Zanzibar]] |
[[Image:Flag of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.svg|thumb|right|Flag of the brief Sultanate of Zanzibar]] |
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The first union in Zanzibar, where the Tanzanian labor unions were not active, was the [[Seamen's Union]], which was founded in 1955. There had been a [[1948 Zanzibar dock workers' strike|strike]] by the island's dock workers in 1948, but no organized labor movement until 1955. A wave of union foundings followed that of the Seamen's Union, but these organizations did not have many members as Zanzibar was only scarcely populated and the socio-economic activities were few. In 1956, the [[Federation of Zanzibar and Pemba Trade Unions]] (ZPFL) was founded with assistance from mainland Tanzanian unionists. During the first half of the [[1960s]] the Zanzibari labor movement flourished. During the 1964 revolution, the labor movement collaborated with peasants to overthrow the Sultan.<ref name=Mbwana>Mbwana, Talib O.: "[http://tanzania.fes-international.de/doc/tu-the-history-of-trade-union-movement-in-zanzibar.pdf The History of Trade Union Movement in Zanziber]". [[Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung]]. Retrieved August 17, 2007.</ref> |
The first union in Zanzibar, where the Tanzanian labor unions were not active, was the [[Seamen's Union]], which was founded in 1955. There had been a [[1948 Zanzibar dock workers' strike|strike]] by the island's dock workers in 1948, but no organized labor movement until 1955. A wave of union foundings followed that of the Seamen's Union, but these organizations did not have many members as Zanzibar was only scarcely populated and the socio-economic activities were few. In 1956, the [[Federation of Zanzibar and Pemba Trade Unions]] (ZPFL) was founded with assistance from mainland Tanzanian unionists. During the first half of the [[1960s]] the Zanzibari labor movement flourished. During the 1964 revolution, the labor movement collaborated with peasants to overthrow the Sultan.<ref name=Mbwana>Mbwana, Talib O.: "[http://tanzania.fes-international.de/doc/tu-the-history-of-trade-union-movement-in-zanzibar.pdf The History of Trade Union Movement in Zanziber]". [[Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung]]. Retrieved August 17, 2007.</ref> |
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Revision as of 07:12, 17 August 2007
| National organization(s) | Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) Zanzibar Trade Union Congress (ZATUC) |
|---|---|
| Regulatory authority | Registrar of Trade Unions |
| Total union membership | approx. 300,000[1] |
| Union density[1] | General:less than 2% Formal sector:26.5% |
| Proportion of women[2] | General: 25% Leadership positions: 2% |
| International Labour Organization | |
| Tanzania is a member of the ILO | |
| Convention ratification | |
| Freedom of Association | April 18, 2000 |
| Right to Organise | January 30, 1962 |
The trade unions of Tanzania have a total membership of approximately 370,000. 350,000 of these belong to the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania, another 15,000 to the Zanzibar Trade Union Congress,[3] and 2,400 are members of the Tanzania Fishing Crew and Allied Workers’ Union.[1]
Pre-independence
The first Tanzanian trade union, the Motor Drivers' Union, was founded in 1927. In 1937, Asian workers founded the Asiatic Labour Union leading to the founding of numerous unions in the country. These early organizations are not, however, involved in many industrial conflicts, their primary activity is organizing mutual help among its members.[4]
The roots of the modern Tanzanian labor movement reach back to the 1940's.[1] By 1947, five unions had been registered with the authorities. The colonial government reacted to the creation of unions in Tanzania by enacting laws which allowed it to keep tabs on the movement - for example, the registration of unions become obligatory. Nonetheless, the labor movement grew, by 1956 there were 23 organizations with a total of nearly 13,000 members.[4]
In 1955, seventeen trade unions finally merged to create the Tanganyika Federation of Labour (TFL). Its original two main objectives were to gain more members and to absorb smaller unions.[4] During the contry's fight for independence, the TFL collaborated with the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU), a party founded in 1954, in its fight for the nation's independence from the United Kingdom achieving this goal in 1961.[1]
The first union in Zanzibar, where the Tanzanian labor unions were not active, was the Seamen's Union, which was founded in 1955. There had been a strike by the island's dock workers in 1948, but no organized labor movement until 1955. A wave of union foundings followed that of the Seamen's Union, but these organizations did not have many members as Zanzibar was only scarcely populated and the socio-economic activities were few. In 1956, the Federation of Zanzibar and Pemba Trade Unions (ZPFL) was founded with assistance from mainland Tanzanian unionists. During the first half of the 1960s the Zanzibari labor movement flourished. During the 1964 revolution, the labor movement collaborated with peasants to overthrow the Sultan.[5]
NUTA, JUWATA, and OTTU
In 1962, there were a total of 182,000 workers organized in the trade unions of the country and 152 strikes involving 48,434 workers forcing the state to react.[4]The 1964 NUTA Act disbanded the TFL and established the National Union of Tanganyika Workers (NUTA) as the sole trade union in the country. This was the end of all labor autonomy in the country as the union's main function was to propagate the government's policies. For example, the leadership of the NUTA was appointed by the country's president.[1] As mentioned above, the situation in the early 1960s in Zanzibar, which had merged with Tanganyika to form Tanzania in 1964, was similar. As in mainland Tanzania, the government banned the existing trade unions, namely the ZPFL, and instituted the Federation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (FRTU) as the new union federation of Zanzibar. The FRTU was heavily involved in the government's dealings including the preparation of the new consitution. But in 1966, the FRTU was no longer needed. Thus, the goverment dissolved it and the Department of Labour, directed by the ASP, took care of labor affairs, but it was dissolved as well as soon as 1968.[5]
In 1977, the ruling parties of Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania, the TANU and the ASP merged to form Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Likewise, the TANU-affiliated union, the only labor organization in the country, was restructured. The Union of Tanzanian Workers or Jumuiya ya Wafanyakazi Tanzania (JUWATA) was thus founded in the following year. It continued the NUTA's tradition of complete loyalty to the ruling party,[1] but covered all of Tanzania, including Zanzibar, although the government of the region was reluctant unionist activity to resume on the island.[5]
Growing pressure for trade union autonomy led to the JUWATA's dissolution and the founding of the Organisation of Tanzania Trade Unions (OTTU) in 1992. The move was approved by both the country's president and parliament. The main difference between the OTTU and the JUWATA was that the former consisted of sectoral unions and allowed the creation of eleven industrial unions. Moreover, the union's internal structure was more democratic than that of its predecessor.[1]
In 1995, the eleven aforementioned national unions decided to form the Federation of Free Trade Unions (TFTU). Bruno Mpangala was its Secretary General. The membership was approximately 348,000, but declined in the following years, mostly as a result of government staff reduction. Formally, the unions were still part of the OTTU and the TFTU did not have the power to negotiate with employers, this was done by the respective industrial unions.[1]
Trade Union Act
In 1998, the Trade Union Act No. 10 finally made trade unions independent of the government. This move was mostly supported by the unions, although some aspects of it were criticized, especially the great powers of the Registrar of Trade Unions. The act allows any twenty workers to found a trade union and any two unions two create a national center. The Registrar, which is responsible for administrating the provisions of the act, may, however, cancel or refuse the registration of a union.[1]
TUCTA
In 2000, the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) was founded as a new umbrella organization for the unions of the country. The main difference betweeen it and its predecessor is that the TUCTA covers only mainland Tanzania, the Zanzibar Trade Union Congress being responsible for Zanzibar.
The act does not apply to Zanzibar and Pemba. These islands have a similar law, which allows unions to be formed and registered with the Registrar of Trade Unions at Zanzibar.[1]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k LO/FTF Council: "Profile of the Labour Market and Trade Unions in Tanzania". April 2003. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
- ^ Internation Confederation of Free Trade Unions - Africa: "Country and Trade Union Profiles 2005/2006". Retrieved August 17, 2007.
- ^ List of Affiliated Organisations. ITUC. Retrieved August 17, 2007.
- ^ a b c d Template:FrThomassin, Catherine: "Le mouvement syndical en Tanzanie". Retrieved August 16, 2007.
- ^ a b c Mbwana, Talib O.: "The History of Trade Union Movement in Zanziber". Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Retrieved August 17, 2007.
http://www.tanemb.se/TZ_trade_union.htm http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/36/352.html http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/36/378.html http://tanzania.fes-international.de/doc/tu-the-history-of-trade-union-movement-in-zanzibar.pdf