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Workshop on unity building and cooperation

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10 June, 2014Zimbabwe’s dire economic climate with many factories closing translates into difficult times for trade unions. Unions bear the brunt of the economic downturn, with workers accumulating five months of arrears of salaries and subscriptions deducted but not paid to the unions. This makes recruitment of new members virtually impossible. For now, union leaders have resorted to membership retention as a way a survival, rather than recruitment of new members.

On 27 and 28 May 2014, 24 leaders from the seven IndustriALL Global Union affiliates in Zimbabwe met to discuss unity and cooperation. Participants in the workshop agreed on a three-year strategic plan in the context of the Unity Building project focusing on: building union power; fighting precarious work; defending workers’ rights in Zimbabwe.

The meeting also discussed the deadlock in the ongoing merger talks in the textile sector. Leaders were encouraged to continue the discussion through the national council. For a successful outcome, local affiliates must engage in the process and help the textile unions in finding a common understanding.