By Muhammed S. Bah
Presentation done by Ebrima Garba Cham during a lecture at the Gambia Press Union’s World Press Freedom Day commemoration and Award Giving Night .
Below is the Full Text of the Lectures.
Introduction
Trade unionism was founded in the Gambia by Hon Sir Edward Francis Small the father and founder of Trade unionism, Journalism and Politics in West Africa.
The Gambia workers union was established in 1958 under the leadership of M.E. Jallow who agitated for the Independence of The Gambia in 1961and the Establishment of the JICS.
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) is a trade union of journalist. It was founded in 1978 by a group of private journalist under the leadership of the veteran Gambian journalist and publisher, the late Mr. William Dixon Colley.
The union has grown to numbers, more than 200 registered members many of whom are freelance journalists; others work for both the print and electronic media including some in government service.
The GPU is a legally registered union dedicated not only to press freedom and media development, but also to the development of the country in general.
GPU aims to be a champion of press freedom and the right of journalists to practice their profession in The Gambia.
THE ROLE OF TRADE UNIONS AND ITS IMPORTANCE
Is the regulation of relations between workmen and employers, for the purpose of promoting good Industrial relations between workmen and employers, improving the working conditions of workmen or enhancing their economic and social status, or increasing productivity, competitiveness, enterprise development and build trust amongst both industrial partners.
The regulation of relations between workmen and employers, the representation of workmen in trade dispute. The conducting of, or dealing with trade disputes and matters related thereto. This definition give a Trade Union the power to assume a social role {regulating relations among its members), as well as an economic role (regulating relations between employers and employees) through collective bargaining or represent them in tribunals and that of protector of members rights, grievances processing and the conducting of trade disputes).It is also important to note that a trade union need not include the word “Union” in its name. Some Union, in particular those whose member are professionals, call themselves associations.
WORKS COMMITTEE
Section 129 of the Labour Provider {1) An employer who employs one hundred or more employees at a single establishment for a period of three months shall set up a work committee on the request of a Trade Union which has, in membership, an employee at that establishment, unless a works committee applicable to the employee already exist
{2) A works committee established in accordance with sub section {1) shall not be disbanded if the number of employees at the establishment exceeds Ten, whether or not any employee remains a member of a Trade Union, and operate in respect of all members of all members of management or of all workers as appropriate to all membership of the Trade Union, which request its establishment.
{2) The management shall consult a works committee whether established under this section or voluntarily, on any proposal, which may affect the employment of an employee represented by that committee.
Section 130 (1) an employer may grant a Trade Union sole bargaining rights for a category of employees. If the trade union has, in membership, at least 30% of the employees in that category at his or her establishment or group of establishment.
HOW A COMMITTEE MEMBER CAN HELP THE UNION TO ATTAIN ITS OBJECTIVES
A Trade Union Representative is elected by Trade Union Members to represent some or all of them in the collective bargaining process with their employee; the representative could be a fellow worker of some or all of the members, an employee of the Independent Trade Union itself, or a member of the Trade Union.
A Trade Union Representative’s primary role is the improvement of the Union Members terms and conditions of employment through the mechanism of collective bargaining. Union Committee members also have the power to represent Trade Union to:
- Demand, negotiate, or enter into a collective agreement with the employer in the interest of Union Membership.
- Ensure that the Union Members receive benefits as specified.
- Provide Union Members with information about employment and management of work.
- Provide service of consultation to solve problems of work and management of work.
- Allocate monies or property for the welfare of the Union Members or for the general public as approved at the general meeting.
- Collect membership fees and subscriptions at the rate prescribed in the regulations of the Union.
- Publicize facts about a Labour dispute or
- To provide mutual assistance to union members, to represent workers in collective bargaining
- To promote education and workplace security
- To monitor employer compliance with employment legislations and social security
- To provide various nonprofit services, including humanitarian services to union members
- To represent workers in the exercise of their contractual rights
- Arrange for a rally or peaceful gathering for industrial actions. Although, the constitution of the Republic of the Gambia and the Labour Act 2007 explicitly, guarantee freedom of Association the right to organize and to bargain and to institute industrial actions by giving notice to the Commissioner of Labour and has also regulated terms and conditions of employment. This immunity does not, however, exempt the offence from criminal penalties in the case of harm to the public, life or body, freedom or reputation, and offences against property and related civil liability therefore.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Training for Trade Union Representative to be highly skill, well-motivated to perform and interface effectively and efficiently in representing the interest of the members.
- Conduct: membership drive and membership grievances.
- To map out a constructive engagement strategy in promoting and protecting the interest of Union Members through the collective bargaining table.
- That the Gambia National Trade Union Congress was established in 1996 to serve as the umbrella Trade Union body in building one written Labour movement and we urged the GPU to associate into the GNTUC. Unity we bargain and divided we beg.
