THE BIRTH AND ESSENCE OF TRADE UNIONS
Essence of Trade Unions
THE global socio-economic and political achievements of the trade unions and trade union movement have been unprecedented since the emergence of the working class and the birth of trade unions. Despite numerous attempts by the bourgeoisie to frustrate, impede or even ban trade unions, the workers’ organisations have in most cases prevailed and accomplished their duties for the workers and society at large.
What are trade unions and trade union movement? Trade unions and trade union movement are mass organisations and movement of the working class and other strata of the working population established for the protection of their socio-economic and political interests. As the name states, trade unions protect the interests of the members of their trade and fight for the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of their members such as the collective struggle of the workers against the employers for higher wages /salaries, for favourable conditions for selling their labour power and for improving standards of their living as a whole.
Trade unions should not only confine themselves to protecting the economic interests of the workers. They can mould the class consciousness of the proletariat and become a very important channel of political agitation and progressive organisation under the direction and leadership of a political party.
In many progressive countries trade unions are organisations where the working people acquire management and economic skills. Trade unions work to improve living standards, cultural and communal services and protect the rights and interests of the working people.
At the international stage, trade unions take part in the world trade union movement as the vanguard in the struggle for peace, democracy and social progress.
Trade unions were organised in the capitalist countries of Europe and America when the industrial proletariat formed and its class struggle against the bourgeoisie began in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. At that time, trade unions acted as mutual help societies; gradually their functions expanded, they became more stable and stronger; the first national unions of industrial actors and trades and then the first national centres were set up. In the colonial and dependent countries of America, Africa and Asia trade unions were organised later. Thus, in Africa the trade union movement did not acquire mass support until after the Second World War.
In the countries that have been liberated from colonial dependence, the working class and its organisations have been expanding. Trade unions have an important say in the choice of the country’s development course, which in turn, largely determines the conditions of the activities and functions of the trade union.
The basic purpose of trade unions is to protect the vital interests of the working people. At the same time, the struggle against the remnants of colonialism, imperialism, neocolonialism, racism and apartheid is very important. These general tasks create an objective basis for the unity of trade unions of regions, countries and continents.
World Federation of Trade Unions
One of the largest and most authoritative international trade union organisations is the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) established in 1945. This is the only centre where the trade unions of countries with different social systems and levels of development are represented. The main goal of the WFTU is to struggle against exploitation, for the satisfaction of the socio-economic demands of the working people, for unity of the international trade union movement, for peace in the world, for democracy and liberation of people.
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
In 1949, another Trade Union Centre known as International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) was formed. This was a breakaway trade union from the World Federation of Trade Unions on instigation from the British Trade Unions and United States of North American Trade Unions. ICFTU includes trade unions from other developed capitalist countries and some developing countries.
The ICFTU propagates for the socio-economic and political policies which are pro-state monopoly capitalism and maintain imperialist, neocolonialist and monopolistic roots and policies.
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions advocates for cosmetic changes to the neocolonial system of imperialism. In a number of countries where trade unions are affiliated to the ICFTU the trade union leaders have been bribed and compromised by the imperialist and neocolonialist state machinery through labour aristocracy. Labour aristocracy is a process through which influential top trade union leaders and some highly placed workers in developed and some developing countries have been/are bribed through payment of huge sums of money and other better conditions of service such as provision of housing, motor vehicles and other “incentives” with the aim of such top trade union leaders abandoning the cause of the workers and toe the line of neocolonialism and imperialism.
In many developing countries where trade union leaders have been compromised and pursue colonial, neocolonial, imperialist and apartheid policies, some trade union leaders are the hired “guns” of imperialists and advocates of regime change in many developing countries. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in the Republic of South Africa is one such trade union whose policies are pro-imperialism, neocolonialism, apartheid and regime change in South Africa.
The Confederation of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) which has been an ally of the African National Congress (ANC) for many years before and after the fall of apartheid in South Africa in 1994 has of recent months joined the chorus for regime change in South Africa, especially the removal of President Jacob Zuma from power, even before his tenure of office comes to an end in 2018. In August 2017, a vote of no confidence in President Zuma’s presidency was defeated in South Africa’s Parliament through a secret ballot. Mmusi Maimane and his apartheid leaning Democratic Alliance (DA) plus Julius Malema and his Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Party were vanquished. Their “efforts” to bring back apartheid in South Africa were crushed. Zuma’s ANC triumphed. In 1992, two years after his release from 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela stated that even if the whites chose a black person as leader of the white dominated party like DA, the “bosses” would still remain the whites.
Mmusi Maimane is a Sentry on Duty not Authority.
In pursuit of futile attempts to institute regime change in South Africa and restore apartheid, cement neocolonialism and imperialism in the Republic of South Africa the DA replaced a Boer lady Helen Zille as leader of the DA by Mmusi Maimane, a black puppet and agent of apartheid, neocolonialism and imperialism. In 1992, two years after his release from 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela stated that even if the whites chose a black person as leader of the white dominated party like DA, the “bosses” would still remain the whites.
The black man in the name of Mmusi Maimane would only remain a camouflage, a sentry on duty but not the authority. Have some individuals in Zambia forgotten the atrocities and injustices the Boers and their apartheid regime committed to the black people before 1994 in South Africa for such individuals to dine, wine and dance with DA and its apartheid, imperialist and neocolonialist representative Mmusi Maimane?
International Confederation of Christian Trade Unions
The International Confederation of Christian Trade Unions was set up in 1920 and then renamed the World Confederation of Labour in 1968. While paying lip service to condemnation of capitalism, its leaders try to pose as a “third force” between capitalism and socialism. Their activities often conflict with their statements, which give rise to discontent among the rank and file and to internal contradictions. In 1973, the European Trade Union Confederation was formed to unite the trade union centres of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and World Confederation of Labour.
Organisation of African Trade Union Unity
The Organisation of African Trade Union Unity joined by almost all trade union centres of Africa, was founded in 1973; the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions, a regional trade union association of Arab countries in North Africa and the Middle East, appeared in 1956; and the Permanent Congress of Trade Union Unity of Latin American Workers was organised in 1964. The opportunities for contacts between the various union centres’ organisations have been increasing and consolidating as a result of the growth of the international working-class movement. To unite the trade union movement in countries where it is split and on the international scale is of paramount importance for successfully defending the political, social and economic interests of the working people.
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is the mother body of the trade unions in Zambia. It was established in 1965 through an Act of Parliament after Zambia re-gained her political independence from the British colonialist on 24th October, 1964. The ZCTU which is affiliated to the international labour movement has its affiliates too which include the Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia, Zambia National Union of Teachers, Health Workers Union of Zambia, Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) to name just a few.
The current President of the ZCTU is Mr. Nkole Chishimba and the ZCTU Deputy President is Mr. Newman Bubala (but not newman to trade unionism). The Secretary General of the ZCTU is Mr. Cosmas Mukuka and the Deputy Secretary General of the ZCTU is Mr. Elaston Njovu.
The ZCTU has one of the richest histories in the labour movement at home and abroad having produced not only distinguished and seasoned trade unionists but national leaders at various levels of Zambia’s political leadership such as His Excellency the late Dr. Frederick Jacob Titus Chiluba, the Second President of the Republic of Zambia, a former Chairman General of the ZCTU, Fackson Shamenda, the former Minister of Labour and Social Security who too was ZCTU President at one time. The current Minister of Labour and Social Security, Joyce Nonde Simukoko is another celebrated labour leader.
The history of the trade unions in Zambia as people say would be incomplete without mention of other labour leaders who sacrificed not only for the labour movement but for the liberation of Northern Rhodesia - today Zambia from colonialism such as the late Mr. Lawrence Katilungu, the late former Minister of Defence Mr. Chitalu Sampa, the late Mr. Wilson Chakulya, Mr. Timothy Walamba etc.
Besides fighting for better conditions of service for the workers, protecting the workers and ensuring job security for them, promoting and defending interests of the workers, justice and union rights the ZCTU made a huge contribution to the socio-economic and political development of Zambia when it backed the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) for Zambia to revert to plural political system in 1990. The United National Independence Party (UNIP) lost the support of the ZCTU and subsequently was defeated by the MMD in the 1991 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government elections.
In conclusion, the mission of the trade unions in Zambia and the world at large is far from being accomplished. Despite huge successes the trade unions have registered since the birth of the workers’ organisations in the name of trade unions, exploitation of labour by the owners of the means of production at home and in foreign countries continues. Thus, the trade unions must soldier on until liberation of labour from exploiters is achieved and exploitation of man by man is put to rest. Aluta Continua La Victoria Esenta. (The struggle continues, the victory is certain).