TAMICO urges stronger worker bargaining
DODOMA: THE Tanzania Mines, Energy and Construction Workers’ Union (TAMICO) has called on its branch leaders to strengthen collective bargaining and defend workers’ rights, saying strong worker organisation is essential to improving working conditions across the country.
The call was made during a two-day capacity-building workshop in Dodoma that brought together branch leaders to strengthen their skills in worker organisation, labour laws, workplace dispute resolution and negotiation of collective bargaining agreements.
Opening the workshop, TAMICO General Secretary, Mr Paternus Rwechungura, urged union leaders to remain firm in protecting workers’ rights, particularly in employment contracts and workplace negotiations.
He said workers must also understand their responsibilities and the laws governing employment if they are to effectively pursue and safeguard their rights.
“Unity among workers is critical to achieving meaningful improvements in working conditions. I therefore call for greater collective action within the union,” Mr Rwechungura said.
He added that every worker has a role to play in strengthening the union and encouraged employees to pursue their rights without fear.
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Tanzania Resident Director, Mr Christian Denzin, said workers’ challenges are increasingly linked to broader changes in the economy and the evolving world of work, making strong worker organisation more important than ever.
He said workers could strengthen their position by organising themselves, developing practical strategies and identifying priorities that reflect their interests in the workplace.
Mr Denzin also stressed the importance of trade unions remaining democratic and independent to effectively represent workers.
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“I urge unions to examine challenges associated with the operations of multinational companies and develop collective approaches to ensuring that labour standards are respected,” he said.
He added that trade unions need a new generation of leaders capable of responding to emerging workplace challenges while safeguarding workers’ interests.
“Trade unions need a new generation of leaders,” Mr Denzin said, while reaffirming FES Tanzania’s commitment to supporting TAMICO and other trade unions in the country in the coming years.
The Dodoma workshop is the second in a series of trade union empowerment initiatives supported by FES Tanzania, following a similar programme held in Mwanza on September 16 and 17.
Organised in collaboration with the TUCTA Labour College, the workshop is equipping participants with practical knowledge of employment standards, labour laws, dispute-resolution mechanisms, disciplinary procedures, workplace negotiations and collective bargaining agreements.
Participants are also discussing workplace productivity and sustainability, climate change and the concept of a Just Transition, as well as youth and gender issues affecting the labour movement.
