Implementing union positions demands strong unions. Mauritian unions identified the following factors influencing union organisation:
In Mauritius there are a number of factors affecting the industrial relations environment in' EPZs.
These factors include:
The salaries and conditions in EPZs are worse than in other sectors. We would expect that unionisation would be higher, but it is in fact lowest in the EPZ sector. Why?
There are a number of factors:
Are any of the factors inhibiting unionisation in EPZs already found in your country?
What impact do you think EPZs will have on union organisation in your country?
What can unions do to organise in EPZs?
In small groups discuss an example of an area where the union succeeded in an action:
What was a successful union activity in your country?
What did the union do?
What contribution to the success of the action?
In plenary list and discuss the factors from the groups that contributed to the success of the action. Discuss other features/strategies that would enhance the success of union work.
What can unions do about EPZs?
Should unions try to get EPZs abolished?
Should unions try to ensure that national laws apply in EPZs?
The Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 resolutions were developed at the 'Earth Summit' on Environment and Sustainable Development in 1994. In it participation of trade unions was identified as critical if national policies were to promote sustainable development.
At the same time, many unions in Southern Africa have complained that EPZ policies, strategies and laws have been drafted without their participation.
Unions need to ensure that economic strategies are not implemented without workers' involvement!
In 1996 SATUCC affiliates developed a programme of follow up action that would be implemented at national, regional (Southern African) and international levels.
Trade union workshops will be held to sensitise trade union leadership and technical cadres on the economic, industrial relations, gender, health and environmental issues in EPZs and on their implication for regional integration. These workshops will aim to draw in organisations that unions can develop alliances with around EPZ issues (eg: Women, environmental, informal sector organisations) and involve local researchers that can support trade union work in this area. National follow up work will aim to gather relevant information on EPZ issues and prepare trade union negotiating positions on EPZ concerns, to inform union campaigns around EPZ issues and to educate working communities on EPZs and issues on national sustainable development and regional integration.
National centres will monitor and inform SATUCC on the development of EPZs in their countries, their impact on the key areas of employment and skills development, labour and environmental protection, trade union rights, economic and financial costs and benefits and their impact on interaction with other SADC member states, and this information will be used for input to SADC and for solidarity actions.
The perspective of SADC regional co-operation and economic integration will be used to inform both regional and national work on EPZs. SATUCC will make an input to the SADC Employment and Labour Sector and other SADC sectors on EPZs. SATUCC (in co-operation with IL0/TARSC/1LRIG and other agencies) will pursue a programme of national follow up work to share information and experience at national union level on EPZs and co-operate with international Trade Union organisations in the region to hold sectorial workshops to bring together unions in the region in key affected sectors. This work will feed into a SATUCC campaign on EPZs. SATUCC will organise (in co-operation with ILO and TARSC) a follow up regional union meeting before the next SADC Employment and Labour Sector Meeting to develop both the technical and policy position for input to that forum.
SATUCC, with support from its co-operating partners, will obtain information the relevant international treaties and trade agreements that influence regional integration and trade and inform its affiliates on these treaties and their impact. SATUCC will also present its perspective and exchange information with ILO, XFIU, OATUU, unionists from South America and Mexico and from the South East Asian countries where EPZs have been implemented.
The SATUCC programme is designed to support the national follow up programmes of work.
What can your union do?
AN ACTIVITY:
Each level of the union is dependent on the other
Take a large piece of rope and ask for 4 volunteers. Each is given the name of a southern African country. Loop the rope around the waists of each volunteer. Then ask one of the people to move to the right. (Others will be pulled along). Push another to the ground. (Others will stumble).
What do participants observe?
Each level of the union is dependent on the other. Each country is dependent on the other. What one does affects. all the others and our environment!
Lets go and find the other unionsts and discuss what we are going to do about these EPZs!
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