Opinion / Columnist
Disunity and corruption amongst workers' unions impedes progress
04 Aug 2017 at 08:23hrs | Views
As employees continue in their seemingly endless struggle for fair labour practices, amidst an ever-growing aggressive anti-worker environment in Zimbabwe, it is disheartening to note that one of the greatest impediments to victory is the disunity and corruption amongst those mandated to represent them.
Such disunity and corruption, to some extent, can to attributed to the involvement of political forces in labour issues for selfish political expediency.
Workers face an ever-aggressive labour environment, which can never be overcome by a disjointed force, therefore they should outrightly reject to be used as pawns in political games - as they will only end up as the losers, whilst the politicians gain power and wealth.
In these very difficult times, there will always be vultures hovering around seeking whom to devour, and if workers are not sage, they will only find themselves the fodder of, not only the employers, but also other parasitic players.
As history has so vividly shown us, workers - being the largest organised body in any nation - are ready meat for any hungry lion, and can easily be manipulated for political gain - whilst they are left high and dry.
This was clearly witnessed with the 'transformation' of the once unconquerable Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) into the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which left the union as a mere shadow of its former self - and today, is as vicious as an old toothless Alsatian, unable to achieve much tangible results.
Then there was the creation of the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU), which was obviously a pro-government outfit meant to counter the 'opposition-inspired' ZCTU.
As a result of these political games, all that has since been witnessed have been contentions for power and influence between these rival unions, much to the disadvantage of the workers - whom these unions were supposedly formed to represent.
A case in point is one very close to my heart, as Unions at a former Zimbabwe steelmaking giant have expended most of their time not fighting for workers' outstanding salaries to be paid, but have been fighting amongst themselves.
As typical of the Biblical Exodus story, a journey that was supposed to take a few weeks ended up taking 40 years - similarly, the workers' case that could have been swiftly resolved has taken what seems a lifetime.
Unfortunately, instead of learning something from this experience, the 'war' amongst Unions still rages on in other companies - as naturally, we never learn from history - workers always being the losers at the end.
This should not, and can not be allowed to continue, and it up to the workers themselves to reject such shenanigans by their Unions.
It is time that the workers put their own interests first, not those of the politicians - who will obviously use them and dump them later.
Politicians are clearly placing their own selfish interests ahead of everyone else, so why should workers not turn the tables?
Workers should realise that they are the power behind these Unions - as without workers, there would be no Unions.
Therefore, workers need to use that power to tell the Unions what to do.
They should make it unambiguously clear that without a united front, workers will not be part of either Unions, and will resort to a third force.
Workers should never feel that their only options to receiving justice are their Unions.
Indeed, whilst negotiating with the employer, they may require their Unions, but as has already been witnessed in the country, most workers have lost faith in any further negotiations - as employers have already proven that they are untrustworthy.
Most workers have now resorted to legal avenues to have their labour issues resolves, and as such, their options for representation become wide open beyond their respective Unions.
As such, if their Unions refuse to form a genuine united front, in the interest of the workers they purport to represent, then the third force option is placed on the table.
Workers can then organise themselves into an informal grouping and independently approach organisations, such as Zimbabwe Network for Social Justice (ZimJustice), which are able to provide pro bono (free) legal assistance.
In fact, even Unions that would have opted for the legal route can also approach such organisations.
This will also save these workers a lot of money, which clearly they do not have, as they have not been paid their salaries - the very reason they need legal assistance.
Disunity amongst Unions has also led to corruption, as a house divided will easily fall and is home to all manner of crooks.
This is another reason why seemingly straightforward labour issues never appear to be going anywhere.
The main reason being that a disjointed labour force - with disunited Unions - is easy prey for bribery by the employer.
The employer can bribe the Union leaders, as a result workers' cases do not get resolved.
Another drawback to disunity amongst Unions is the ease at which employers can make dubious secret 'deals' with certain workers - promising them that if they (workers) did not take legal action, they will be paid first, and, if they had been retrenched, they will get their jobs back.
Obviously, these would be lies just meant to weaken the workers' efforts in seeking redress.
The employer would be fully aware that none of these promises would ever be fulfilled - nevertheless, by the time the gullible and understandably desperate workers realise that they have duped, it would be too late.
However, as a united front, it is easier to dispel and resist such machinations by these employers.
Workers need to stamp their authority and demand that their Unions properly and genuinely represent their interests as a united front, as failure to do so will only lead to the greater loss of the workers.
Furthermore, workers should be aware that, in the event of taking legal action against their employer, there is always a third force that is prepared to assist them, and should be bold enough to engage them.
The time has come when workers realised that their destiny is in their own hands, and it is entirely up to them to direct the path of the lives, as they are not beholden to the whims of the selfish interests of politically-inspired Unions.
Tendai Ruben Mbofana is Programmes Director at the Zimbabwe Network for Social Justice (ZimJustice). Please feel free to WhatsApp/call: +263782283975, or email: tendaiandtinta.mbofana@gmail.com. Please also 'Like' the ZimJustice page on Facebook for more.
Such disunity and corruption, to some extent, can to attributed to the involvement of political forces in labour issues for selfish political expediency.
Workers face an ever-aggressive labour environment, which can never be overcome by a disjointed force, therefore they should outrightly reject to be used as pawns in political games - as they will only end up as the losers, whilst the politicians gain power and wealth.
In these very difficult times, there will always be vultures hovering around seeking whom to devour, and if workers are not sage, they will only find themselves the fodder of, not only the employers, but also other parasitic players.
As history has so vividly shown us, workers - being the largest organised body in any nation - are ready meat for any hungry lion, and can easily be manipulated for political gain - whilst they are left high and dry.
This was clearly witnessed with the 'transformation' of the once unconquerable Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) into the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which left the union as a mere shadow of its former self - and today, is as vicious as an old toothless Alsatian, unable to achieve much tangible results.
Then there was the creation of the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU), which was obviously a pro-government outfit meant to counter the 'opposition-inspired' ZCTU.
As a result of these political games, all that has since been witnessed have been contentions for power and influence between these rival unions, much to the disadvantage of the workers - whom these unions were supposedly formed to represent.
A case in point is one very close to my heart, as Unions at a former Zimbabwe steelmaking giant have expended most of their time not fighting for workers' outstanding salaries to be paid, but have been fighting amongst themselves.
As typical of the Biblical Exodus story, a journey that was supposed to take a few weeks ended up taking 40 years - similarly, the workers' case that could have been swiftly resolved has taken what seems a lifetime.
Unfortunately, instead of learning something from this experience, the 'war' amongst Unions still rages on in other companies - as naturally, we never learn from history - workers always being the losers at the end.
This should not, and can not be allowed to continue, and it up to the workers themselves to reject such shenanigans by their Unions.
It is time that the workers put their own interests first, not those of the politicians - who will obviously use them and dump them later.
Politicians are clearly placing their own selfish interests ahead of everyone else, so why should workers not turn the tables?
Workers should realise that they are the power behind these Unions - as without workers, there would be no Unions.
Therefore, workers need to use that power to tell the Unions what to do.
They should make it unambiguously clear that without a united front, workers will not be part of either Unions, and will resort to a third force.
Workers should never feel that their only options to receiving justice are their Unions.
Indeed, whilst negotiating with the employer, they may require their Unions, but as has already been witnessed in the country, most workers have lost faith in any further negotiations - as employers have already proven that they are untrustworthy.
Most workers have now resorted to legal avenues to have their labour issues resolves, and as such, their options for representation become wide open beyond their respective Unions.
As such, if their Unions refuse to form a genuine united front, in the interest of the workers they purport to represent, then the third force option is placed on the table.
Workers can then organise themselves into an informal grouping and independently approach organisations, such as Zimbabwe Network for Social Justice (ZimJustice), which are able to provide pro bono (free) legal assistance.
In fact, even Unions that would have opted for the legal route can also approach such organisations.
This will also save these workers a lot of money, which clearly they do not have, as they have not been paid their salaries - the very reason they need legal assistance.
Disunity amongst Unions has also led to corruption, as a house divided will easily fall and is home to all manner of crooks.
This is another reason why seemingly straightforward labour issues never appear to be going anywhere.
The main reason being that a disjointed labour force - with disunited Unions - is easy prey for bribery by the employer.
The employer can bribe the Union leaders, as a result workers' cases do not get resolved.
Another drawback to disunity amongst Unions is the ease at which employers can make dubious secret 'deals' with certain workers - promising them that if they (workers) did not take legal action, they will be paid first, and, if they had been retrenched, they will get their jobs back.
Obviously, these would be lies just meant to weaken the workers' efforts in seeking redress.
The employer would be fully aware that none of these promises would ever be fulfilled - nevertheless, by the time the gullible and understandably desperate workers realise that they have duped, it would be too late.
However, as a united front, it is easier to dispel and resist such machinations by these employers.
Workers need to stamp their authority and demand that their Unions properly and genuinely represent their interests as a united front, as failure to do so will only lead to the greater loss of the workers.
Furthermore, workers should be aware that, in the event of taking legal action against their employer, there is always a third force that is prepared to assist them, and should be bold enough to engage them.
The time has come when workers realised that their destiny is in their own hands, and it is entirely up to them to direct the path of the lives, as they are not beholden to the whims of the selfish interests of politically-inspired Unions.
Tendai Ruben Mbofana is Programmes Director at the Zimbabwe Network for Social Justice (ZimJustice). Please feel free to WhatsApp/call: +263782283975, or email: tendaiandtinta.mbofana@gmail.com. Please also 'Like' the ZimJustice page on Facebook for more.
Source - Tendai Ruben Mbofana
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