Trade Union Pluralism and Proliferation in French-Speaking Africa

Collective bargaining is the key weapon in trade union action and, in order
to negotiate, workers need organizations which are free, strong, democratic and independent. However, as the ILO’s celebrations of the 60th anniversary of these two Conventions come to an end, it is regrettable to observe a proliferation of trade union organizations in a number of African countries, particularly French-speaking ones.

Ever mindful of its mission to maintain close relations with the trade union movement and give it the support of the International Labour Office in the work done to strengthen and expand its influence, and to uphold and promote the interests and rights of workers, both men and women, ACTRAV has commissioned this study on trade union pluralism and the proliferation of trade unions in French-speaking Africa. This proliferation is spreading in all directions and the signs are that even the English-speaking African countries, which have been relatively unaffected so far, are starting to go down the same road.