Trade Union Bill: Unions divided over multiple trade unions in single workplace

The Trade Union Act (Amendment) Bill is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament for a second reading during this current sitting (July-Aug 2022), but the trade union movement in the country is divided between debating the bill to pass the amendments or postponing it.

The Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) is calling for the bill to be tabled without delay, while the Coalition Against Multiplicity of Unions (Camu) has called for its postponement.

Camu contends that the amendments, which are in line with the International Labour Organisation Convention 87, could result in more than one trade union representing different workers in the same workplace.

However, the multiplicity of trade unions – where there are two or more trade unions that represent different workers in the same workplace – is the most contentious area of change, with many trade unionists strongly opposing its implementation.

International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 87 promotes the freedom of association and protection of the rights to organise.

Here are the arguments from LLRC and Camu:

- Mkini