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African unions’ struggle is for a world free from exploitation
26 November 2009
The fight for a better world, free of exploitation, was at the heart of African unions’ objectives, delegates were told during a closing speech at the ITF Africa regional conference today.
ITF president, Randall Howard was summing up during his final address at the conference, which has been taking place this week in Senegal. He said: “Our struggle aimed to achieve a better world free of exploitation of one person by another to promote a value system of solidarity, human and trade union rights and equality, social justice, a socialist world.” He added that it was crucial always to remember that ITF unions existed to serve transport workers. In addition, Howard spoke to the youth and women of the region urging them to stand for leadership positions.
Attended by 150 trade unionists from 33 countries, the conference also endorsed a declaration outlining strategic priorities for the region. These included recommendations from the youth symposium and women’s conference held prior to a meeting on organising and campaigning. Others called for improved communications in the region, engagement with European Union proposals for cooperation with Africa, input into the development of transport policies at national centres and support for sustainable transport and global warming. Participants also endorsed proposals for benchmarking as a way of learning from each other and motivating each other to build strong union networks, which are better able to implement fully the ITF organising globally strategy.
Participants also condemned the racist and anti-trade union actions of DHL in South Africa and supported the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union struggle against these practices.
Joseph Katende, ITF Africa regional secretary commented: “ITF Africa affiliates must take their commitment and responsibilities in running the ITF to a higher level. This definitely requires them to adopt change in whatever they are doing.”
Conference also nominated the following people to stand for election tothe ITF executive board: Susan Ayayi, Kenya Dockers' Union; Emmanuel Mensah, General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers' Union of TUC; Zenso Mahlangu, South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU); Bayla Sow, Syndicat Unique des Transports Aériens du Sénégal; and as chair: Abner Ramakoglo, SATAWU; as vice-chairs: Gideon C Ogbuji, National Union of Air Transport Employees; Magbe Bangoura, Fédération Nationale des Transports et Marins Pêcheurs de Guinée and Marcel Zante, FIOST.
Related documents:
ARC Declaration Nov 2009 (55kb PDF)
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