Youth must embrace unions – COTU boss Francis Atwoli

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli is appealing to young people to embrace labour unions.

Speaking ahead of Labour Day celebration on why safe working conditions, fair wages and representation are vital to job security among the youth, especially at such time of disruptions to business and decline of economic activity due to Covid-19, Atwoli said unions remain important in the advancement of worker rights.

Atwoli said that the labour movement is powered by young people who identify with trade union principles and values. These members, he said, have the ability to negotiate from a position of strength for, among others, protection of wages and termination when exposed to the difficult economic and social realities of the 21st century.

The COTU boss said the youth should take advantage of the limited employment growth to advocate for a partnership approach to employment relations – in order to streamline, improve, and facilitate the foundation for an engagement strategy in the bargain for fair wages, decent benefits, and safe working conditions.

Defending COTU’s ageing leadership, Atwoli said the youth was driving the union’s transformative agenda forward. 

Atwoli said he is comforted by the crop of talent, invigorating the union’s leadership in the advancement of pro-worker action with regard to wages, worker protections and union organising. He explained that his leadership at the union is tested, machinery borne from a hierarchy full of experienced industry players.

“People see COTU’s leadership as ageing, but the people who work for COTU are young. People who drive COTU’s agenda are drawn from this generation. That is why I can talk of technological transformation on the economic front, and touch on issues relating to pertinent sectors in the world of smart, blue and green economy,” said Atwoli.

Explaining that the law protects against dismissal due to unlawful discrimination or protected activity, the secretary-general, who has served at the helm of the union since 2001, said members stand to enjoy the union’s free representation in case of an employment dispute and rights agitation.

Atwoli said some companies have paid millions in compensation for wrongful dismissal following COTU’s intervention on behalf of aggrieved members.

“You don’t join unions just because you want to; you join it for your own protection and job security. That is what we tell people. You don’t join the union to benefit Francis Atwoli.  Trade unions help you, i.e in case of termination or unfair dismissal, free of charge. They get you a lawyer and represent you at the Labour Relations Court; after all, they are in charge of what is happening around you while you are on employment, on contract, if you have issues of employment,  or in terms and conditions of your service,” said Atwoli. 

Driving home the benefits of being unionized, Atwoli added that it is in the best interest of workers to join and participate in the activities of a trade union as work requirements, environments and compensation are changing faster than ever.

“Contracts and wages are not the only issues that bedevil workers, there are also a lot of other concerns including on occupation, health and safety as well as the environment they work in. This can only be exposed by a trade union representative in that particular establishment. So it is good for you to join a trade union,” said Atwoli.

Rhumba

Sharing his love for the development of the youth in the arts, the 71-year-old trade unionist said he is young at heart, fashioned by love for Rhumba and the call to serve.

“When we were young – those of us who were brought up in Nairobi – we had boogies over the weekend in Kaloleni, Jericho and Bahati Social Halls then Garden Square came in and had Orchestra Mangelepa and Congo band. During our free time, we made sure to listen to Lingala and Rhumba. We had our own musicians such as  John Nzenze, John Mwale, Isaya Mwinamo, Daudi Kabaka, Bata Shoe Boys and Peter Toti from Zambia, among others; all playing live music here. They initiated us into good music and a good life. And we kept on and became the fans of Franco, Tabu Ley, Pepe Kale, and other good Congolese musicians of that era,” said Atwoli.

Atwoli went on to reveal that his Ildamat home in Kajiado County is home to Congolese musicians and fans who share his love for the genre.

“Sarah Solo – the best female guitarist – left this home recently and sang a very good song for me and Maria. I do not bring them for commercial purposes, just to listen to them. I just put up a big dome and invite my colleagues from trade unions to listen and enjoy music every evening. In my house, I have a music room and we dance with Maria to nice music and I feel nice. I bring her [Maria] close and remember those old days when we had good music with our girlfriends,” said Atwoli.

According to Atwoli, the boogies were organized, civilized and decent.

“In those days, you could have a girlfriend but she was not meant to go with you in bed. Just for dance. Her parents and brothers knew that you were a boyfriend to their daughter. No funny business such as intercourse or bad and dirty behaviours that young people engage in nowadays. People believed that after the wedding is when you had your wife. You could have a girlfriend who you won’t marry, just a dance mate, and everybody acknowledged her as yours. After the dance, you escorted her home. There were no strings attached. Some wedded.” said Atwoli.