Small country, big dreams: solidarity and networking for workers rights in Swaziland
Case study:
Small country, big dreams: solidarity and networking for workers rights in Swaziland
The Swaziland Government is not renowned for its tolerance. It has banned political parties, and trade unionists are expected to keep their heads below the parapet. But they refuse to. Instead trade unionists continue to speak up for the rights of workers and democracy. This story finds out the how the TUC, through political solidarity and a project that is helping to train and educate trade union activists is assisting in the struggle for workers rights against a backdrop of political repression.
Almost a year ago Sipho Jele, a trade unionist and activist, was arrested in Swaziland for daring to wear a political t-shirt in a May Day celebration. A few days later he was found hanged in his prison cell and the report of the inquest into his death has just been released. The coroner, a former police officer concluded it was suicide but the world is far from convinced about this as she was unable to explain how Jele was able to lift his body without the use of a platform to the beam he was found suspended under.
'It is redolent of the many apartheid-era police murders in South African jails explained away as suicides,' says TUC General Secretary Brenda Barber.
Five months later the Swaziland Government once again hit the world headlines. This time for threatening to use 'sipakatane' on pro-democracy activists. This form of torture involves beating the soles of people's feet with a spiked instrument causing considerable pain but few visible marks.
Swaziland has gained international notoriety as one of the few countries in the world that is still ruled by an absolute monarch. Political parties are outlawed and trade unionists and activists are subject to victimisation, harassment and persecution. Swaziland may be classified as a lower middle income country, but it is the ruling
The TUC, Unison and ACTSA protest outside the Swazi embassy
elite who enjoy this wealth. The vast majority of people are living in abject poverty on less than $2 a day. To make matters even worse, they have one of the highest rates of HIV and AIDS in the world.
Yet despite the daily struggle against poverty and political repression, the Swazi people still have hope. Against all odds, tens of thousands of them have come together to join the trade union movement to fight for a better life. But it's not easy, given the extreme political context in which the trade unions operate.
Workers' rights
'Due to the repression of a free media and the misinformation churned out by the government, many workers are uneducated about their rights and their confidence to challenge or question the status quo is very low, ' says Friday Nhlengethwa who works for the TUC's project partner, IRALE - the International Research Academy for Labour Education.
'Equally, Swazi trade unions do not have an embedded 'culture of learning' and the provision of education and training to its members is not high on their agenda. Without this changing, most workers will continue to suffer in silence without the knowledge about how to work collectively and within the realms of the law to access their rights and lift them out of poverty.'
The low levels of training of shop stewards also means that minor shop floor incidents can quickly evolve into head office disputes. 'This leads to low levels of morale amongst the shop stewards and the members, increased tension on the shop floor and an unnecessary costly accumulation of work for trained union officials,' says Friday.
Given the on-going struggle of Swazi workers and their unions and following demand from its affiliates, the TUC decided to prioritise supporting the labour movement in Swaziland and after a successful pilot project in 2009, chose IRALE as their partner. The decision was based on its remit to empower trade unions through research, education and training, but also because it acts as a unifying force within the trade union movement in Swaziland.
'Despite the fact that the country only has a population of a million people, it has two trade union federations,' says Gemma Freedman from the Trade Union Congress. 'With a country this size and with all the political problems it faces, it doesn't make sense to have two federations in competition with each other for members or international relations. Such a situation also gives the government and employers an opportunity to try and use divide and rule tactics.'
She adds, 'We chose IRALE to develop this project because it already has both national federations on its board as well as a range of unions. It is in a good position to take a nationwide, as well as sector wide, approach to educating, organising and representing union members.'
Poor working conditions
IRALE decided that the most effective way of using the assistance was to concentrate on the textiles and the commercial and retail sectors. All have a relatively high labour turnover and have precarious working conditions - low pay, long hours and job insecurity. Management is renowned for its anti-union attitude; resisting collective agreements and adopting the practice of 'casha-cosha' or 'hiring and firing' workers. The majority of employees are young and female and are expected to toe the management line or face victimization or even physical abuse if they don't.
IRALE also decided to focus on two key initiatives during the year long project. 'First of all we wanted to use the funds to further develop a network that IRALE had started with the support of TUC Aid in 2009,' says Friday. 'The IRALE Educator Network is all about developing a strategically focused, self motivated and pro active network of grassroots trade unionists across the country. Secondly, we wanted to develop a programme of training for shop stewards working in challenging sectors.'
After a slow start, in just 6 months the project has achieved a great deal. The educator network has particularly taken off through a series of practical workshops including examining trade union education methodologies and how they link in with topics such as socio-economics, occupational health and safety, organising, recruitment and labour law. The Educators were then asked to choose one of five areas in which they would like to become specialists and receive extra training on. An interim report by IRALE shows that out of 26 participants 25 found taking part in the workshops beneficial.
Building confidence
Tom Simelane, National Field Technician for SPRAWU, a manufacturer workers union, was one such person. 'The educator network programme has been great in so many ways. It has increased my level of confidence and knowledge and I am able to help comrades on issues that will help to improve the workplace as well as being an advocate on workers' right. In the future, I am planning to keep the Educator Network as an ongoing process by sharing my knowledge and ideas with shop stewards in my region.'
Tom Simelane (right) takes notes during a workshop
The network has actively wanted to recruit more women and Mary Pais Da Silva, an Attorney with Sipho Matse Attorney's in Manzini, has found it very helpful. 'I have gained more relevant knowledge on trade unions and my organising, mobilising and facilitating skills have been sharpened. I have also incorporated the principle of participatory education in my facilitation of events and activities.'
She adds, 'The project has greatly assisted me in many thematic areas of workers rights and I have become more efficient in my work.'
Mary Pais Da Silva (far left) takes part in a break out group during a workshop
Even very experienced trade unionists have found the network beneficial. 'A really tremendous job has been done by this project,' says Simon Myubu.' I feel I have increased my knowledge and confidence and am more able to successfully take matters to the Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration Commission as well as the industrial court. Currently, I conduct workshops in my union at shop floor level and there is a great improvement in the level of understanding of our members.'
He adds, 'My knowledge has improved in terms of negotiation skills on collective bargaining and even on research skills since joining the educator network programme.'
Simon Myubu, second from left and Friday Nhlengethwa, IRALE Project Coordinator (third on the left)
The experience of taking part in the network helped Simon establish his reputation nationally. 'I was helped by these educational platforms to raise the profile of my leadership capabilities. Currently, I am the Deputy President of Swaziland Federation of Trade Union and General Secretary of the Swaziland Manufacturing and Processing Industry Staff Association thanks to the Educator Network Programme.'
Working with setbacks
At the beginning, IRALE had found it difficult recruiting a project coordinator. However once this was resolved the delivery of the project speeded up. However, progress on the shop steward training has been slow due to various internal issues within the trade unions taking part. For example, in one show of trade union democracy in action, the entire leadership of one union was overturned by its membership after poor practice. In another the high rate of victimization of shop stewards in the workplace has left the union without enough leaders in employment.
'For example, in the textile sector the problems of high labour turnover, job insecurity and anti-union bashing tactics by management are rife,' says Friday. 'This can result in a situation where a group of trained shop-stewards may find they don't have a job after they have been on a training course. This is all about trying to rid the workforce of union tendencies.'
Due to the challenges facing the project, the deadline has been extended by 6 weeks until mid-May 2011. However, once the project is over, the TUC's support to the Swazi trade union movement will not end. With the gross suppression of rights causing massive poverty, inequality and the destruction of the economy, the TUC's commitment to the Swazi trade union movement will continue. For example, last year, the TUC made its displeasure towards the Swazi Government's stance on human and trade union rights known through its work at the ILO and it periodically protests outside the Swazi High Commission in London. And the TUC pledges that this kind of solidarity will continue from now into the future.
'While the funding we provided was primarily about supporting training and education at the grass roots, it was also about helping the trade union movement work more closely together,' says Gemma. 'We are really pleased that it looks very likely now that the two federations will merge into one in May 2011. There is no doubt that IRALE, along with others, has contributed to this positive development and will continue to play an important role in building the capacity of trade unions as well as helping them work more closely together. A single federation in Swaziland will be a real achievement.'
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