Labour unions typically fund the formal organization, head office. It was founded in 1965 upon the dissolution on the kenya federation of labour and the african workers congress. Trade unions in kenya s war of independence book description. 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. Trade unions can raise wages if they are allinclusive and if it is difficult for employers to import blacklegs.
They have complied with the labour relations act, 2007. Rules provide that where any trade dispute exists and the parties wish to refer such a dispute to the court, they file an application to the court, which contains the basic and necessary information for the court. 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. Any organization which fits the definition is required by the act to apply for registration as a union within 1 month of its establishment. Unions raise wages of unionized workers by roughly 20% and raise compensation, including both. Psi champions human rights, advocates for social justice and promotes universal access to quality public services. Attitude of government and political parties who may indirectly control some the unions for their own gains or to get a hold on the industry. To take welfare measure to improve the morale of workers. A continuous association of wageearners organized for the purpose of maintaining and improving the condition of their working lives. 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. The total membership had risen from 274,126 in 1940 to about 900,000 in 1976 sonubi, 1986. Primary data was collected using a semistructured questionnaire and thirty two out of the forty. Matters to do with trade unions are currently governed by the labour relations act 2007, which is an act that replaced the trade disputes act, the.
Most of the trade unions have organising policies, strategies and departments according to the findings. Development and the system of industrial relations. Repealed by labour relations act no 4 of 2007 laws of kenya the trade unions act cap. 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. Unions have a substantial impact on the compensation and work lives of both unionized and nonunionized workers. Trade unions perform a number of functions in order to achieve the objectives. To improve the terms and conditions of employment i.
Trade unions in africa are weak organisations with many internal problems. How unions help all workers economic policy institute. Central organization of trade unions cotu kenya home. By imposing a high wage on the employers, a trade union pay prevent undue expansion of an industry when the only attraction.
This study was designed to investigate the challenges facing trade unions in kenya. The labour relations act, 2007 was passed to consolidate the law relating to trade unions. They have adopted a constitution that complies with the requirements of the labour relation act, 2007 and requirements set out in the first schedule. Acquisition and utilization of power resources omolo, jacob a consensus has emerged in trade union research that trade unions are not solely at the mercy of major societal trends, but always have the option of making strategic choices to revitalize and ensure improvement in the socioeconomic welfare of. Trade unions in uganda mostly by the pdf essay 611711. Trade unions should be strengthened democratically so that they can. Central organization of trade unions cotuk solidarity. The new law combines two earlier laws, namely the trade disputes act and the trade unions act.
Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. Trade unions in kenya, trade unions and work and wages. Trade unions in kenyas war of independence book description. From the study, it can be concluded that regulatory framework, organization structure, leadership styles and unionmanagement relations do affect the performance of trade unions in kenya. In kenya, trade unions and employers must sign a recognition agree. W m mutunga cj, k h rawal dcj, m k ibrahim, j b ojwang, s wanjala, scjj. This was a significant development for the working class in kenya as it brought together workers of all races. The relative merits of industrial unions over the craft and general unions are well known. An act of parliament to consolidate the law relating to trade unions and trade disputes, to provide for the registration, regulation, management and democratisation of trade unions and employers organisations or. But by april 1935, it was decided to make the union nonracial and to change the name to the labour trade union of kenya. Objectives, function, formation, regulation, rights and liabilities. Central organization of trade unions kenya wikipedia.
The study established that organising is the main stay of the unions. 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. Registration of a trade union begins when any two persons apply for a certificate to promote the establishment of a trade union wherein the name. Summary of the dispute between the teachers service commission and the teachers trade unions. Trade unions have however fallen short of achieving their set objectives due to challenges that are both external and internal.
However, limited funds were cited as the main reason for lack of the organising policy. This helped to reduce the cruel practices by land owners on noneuropeans. Section 5 of the act prohibits discrimination against any employee seeking to exercise any right conferred under the act. The congress was held a month after the world federation of trade unions conference in paris and this enabled black trade unionists from the colonies and from the uk to participate. Officially, trade unionism was registered in kenya 1934. While the immigrant workers did not constitute a threat to the jobs of british workers because of acute labour shortages following the war, the tuc argued during the 1950s and 1960s that black workers did not. 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 transformation is an fes project that identifies unions power resources and capabilities that contribute to successful trade union action. The importance of the training is to deepening the understanding of participants on global and regional integration as it affects trade union work. Provided that nothing in this act shall i affect a any agreement between partners as to their own business. Apr 19, 2012 the objectives of trade unions in kenya1. As a result, the labour market was characterized by a strong racial division of labour that would persist for decades to come. To provide confidence to workers to imbibe sincerity and discipline in workers. Mar 26, 20 functions of trade unions as par as the trade union act 1926, to secure better wage and living condition for workers. Trade unions in transformation is an fes project that identifies unions power re.
Trade unions or labour unions definition the social historians sydney and beatrice webb defined a trade union as. All about trade unions in kenya, trade unions and work and wages, trade unions and employers in kenya and more on africapay kenya. The study established that the main source of revenue for cotu k and its affiliate unions is the union dues. This form of organisation ob viously presupposes the existence of a broad basis of trade union unity at all levels. It is due to the success of the trade union movement in the national liberation movement that the colonial government suppressed prominent trade unions and attacked tu leaders like makhan singh, fred kubai, pio gama pinto and bildad kaggia.
Industrial relation management pondicherry university. Teachers service commission v kenya national union of teachers and 3 others. The process of registering a trade union takes six months and is provided for in sections 12, and 14 of the labour relations act, 2007, laws of kenya. Kenya electrical trades and allied workers union ketawu.
Assessment of the state of trade unions in kenya by owidhi. More specifically, trade unions negotiate for wages, work rules, complaint procedures, rules governing hiring, firing and promotion of workers. The central organization of trade unions, kenya cotu,k in collaboration with the friedrich ebert stiftung fes organised a two week global trade union school training. Home resources the objectives of trade unions in kenya. After obtaining a certificate from the registrar of trade unions, the trade union may apply for registration within six months if. In the civil service there are three workers associations, one for europeans, asians and africans respectively. The proposed study is expected to make a significant contribution to. Section 4 of the act provides that every employee has the right to form and join a trade union. Trade unionism in kenya south african history online. Apr 19, 2012 officially, trade unionism was registered in kenya 1934. 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.
The desire to strengthen trade union representa tion in the industry generated the need for a merger of the six unions. Pdf what are the main challenges faced by trade unions. Trade unions in kenya, trade unions and work and wages, trade. The manager wants to join a trade union kenya employment law. In india, as in many other countries of southeast asia, the. 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. Functions of trade unions as par as the trade union act 1926, to secure better wage and living condition for workers. Cotu k has a savings and credit cooperative society for its workers and is in the process of initiating a housing facility. It currently closely liaises with non governmental organizations of east africa trade union ngoeatu. Labour relations act central organization of trade unions. The fes project in south sudan has also been managed from nairobi since 2017. Trapped between an ongoing informalisation of the african economies on the one hand and the consequences of neoliberal globalisation on the other, they are quite often seen to be a relict of the past. The objectives of trade unions in kenya date posted.
Trade unions in kenya, development and the system of industrial relations, nairobi 1998. The very first splinter experienced by the union was in its founding year. The activities of the trade unions saw the enactment of the protective labour code for noneuropean workers by the labour department in nairobi. 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. The central organization of trade unions cotu is a national trade union center in kenya. This period may be extended at the discretion of the registrar of trade union but it must not exceed 6 months. Trade unions faq and the labour laws in kenya kenya. This study features among two dozen case studies from around the world demonstrating how unions have transformed to get stronger. 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. The role of trade unions has changed significantly over the past 30 years. It was also to prove an important development for publishing in kenya.
Jomo kenyatta foundation, 1998 industrial relations 179 pages. Central organization of trade unions cotu kenya, nairobi, kenya. We may note certain implications of wage fixation by trade unions. However, despite black workers joining trade unions in large numbers, they were not welcomed by the uk trade union movement or the tuc. Cotu central organization of trade unions dda doha development agenda dfi development finance institutions eac east african community epas economic partnership agreements. The core foundation of collective bargaining legislation in south africa was the industrial. Additionally, students will explore the evolution of international trade from past to present, with a focus on how firms. Fes kenya also runs various youth programmes such as the political leadership and governance programme plgp and the global outlook trade union school gotus which promote bright young people from the civil society, various political parties and trade unions. An act of parliament to consolidate the law relating to trade unions and trade disputes, to provide for the registration, regulation, management and democratisation of 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 or more trade unions.