Experiencing the pain of capitalism

Workers demonstrations are becoming the order of the day. The outcry is usually the same, regardless of the firm, company or industry.

Magreth Sitta, the Chairperson of the Union of Local Trade Unions known as TUCTA was in Arusha last week and she stepped onto the carpet to explain about what makes the entire process of privatization a pain in the neck.

By Nyamanoko Bwire

ANSWER: This is a federation of Tanzanian trade unions known in full as Trade Union Congress of Tanzania which was founded in 2002.

I am its pioneer Chairperson, with Nestory Ngula - being the General Secretary. TUCTA comprises of 12 trade unions, which came together and formed the federation in order to have a single strong voice in expressing local workers and employees rights.

TUCTA is made up of specialized trade unions like TAMICO (Building and Construction Workers), TUICO (Commerce and Industry), RAAWU (Higher learning), TRAWU (Railway workers), CHODAWU (Hotel and domestic workers), TPAWU (Agricultural workers), TUGHE (Central government), TASU (Tanzania Seamen Union), TALGWU (Local Government), TUJ (Union of Journalists) and COTWU (Communication) and CWT (The Union of Teachers).

A: Mostly globalization at the moment, advanced technology, trade competition, privatization, all of which have been driving forces leading to a number of local workers being laid off.

An investor who comes to take over a local firm with 600 employees, usually cuts down that number to as few as 200, without even following the proper channels. Mind you, local employees have never been involved in any privatization processes, thus losing most of their basic rights.

A: Shouting them out, this has helped a bit even if to just let the employers know that workers have a voice and can easily react to any act of injustice subjected onto them.

The case of TANESCO for instance, was very much assisted by TUCTA’s move to step in and ensure that workers to be laid off are well catered for, in form of terminal benefits.

Due to this, most employees have been volunteering themselves to be laid off, knowing they were going to actually benefit in the move.

The NBC case is also being worked out and so far, the efforts are proving to pay dividends. Now we have just had the A to Z Textile Mills problem in our hands, this and that one of TTCL need to be dealt with immediately.

A: We have just held a three- day session here at Arusha to address the very subject. We need to come up with strong strategies and even by-laws to protect our workers from "Investors" who never put workers rights into consideration and also to deal with outdated labour laws.

Our strategies may not be too good at the moment but we shall iron them out, before presenting them to the Parliament.

A: Various! For instance, there is the Employment Act which is outdated one which can’t cater the needs of workers in this era of globalization.

There are no stand out laws also, which guarantee employees in case of injuries and any other forms of accidents while at work.

Again, like the case of A to Z, the law states that if a casual worker has served for 250 days, then the management of the company/firm, has to immediately employ him/her.

But here, we’ve discovered that, most employers either purportedly terminate the workers employment or reduce the count on the number of days backed with threats and other forms of ill treatments.

A: That’s another reason why we are here. TUCTA joins hands with these victimised and oppressed workers in fighting for their well earned rights to the very end.

The Government can do all it wants with its newly found, privatization dream boat, but TUCTA is here to ensure that, employees aren’t being reduced into slaves in their own country. We also ensure that workers here, remain in full solidarity for we know that, the management may try to buy some of them off. 

Last modified: October 10, 2003.
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