Titel: Working Class Heroes
Organisatie: FNV
Sprekers: Wellington Chibebe (Deputy General Secretary of the ITUC - International Trade
Union Confederation)
FNV Mondiaal screened the documentary ‘Working class Heroes’. The documentary focused
on labor-unions in Colombia and Indonesia. In the first instance this raised the question why
we were focusing on Colombia and Indonesia, while the topic of the day was obviously
Africa. The intention was to reflect, after the documentary, on the African view about the
labor-unions, given by mr. Chibebe.
The documentary made clear that being part of a labor-union can be a great risk, as the
leaders were threatened and employees were fired. The leaders take the risk to pursuit their
ideals. They believe in the right to organization. The misconception of trade union is that
they are considered to be enemies of the state, the production and profit.
Mr. Chibebe told us that leaders of labor-unions in Africa are facing even more risk. He
stated that 90% is unemployed and it is hard to unify workers and put issues as minimal
wages on the agenda. “But we cannot sit back, there is a need to fight to insure that people
are employed.”
The economic crisis is part of the problem of unemployment. The (foreign) companies who
come to Africa still think that they can find slave-labor, which used to be the case. But
Africa is not waiting for slave-employment. There is no place for unjust employment. Social
security, social protection and education are issues that need be to managed.
Just like Indonesia and Colombia, the ‘African’ economy is at some point growing, but Africa
is not benefitting from it. Instead, Africa is being plundered, and countries like China are the
ones who profit from it. Democracy is at the top of the agenda of African labor unions. With
democratic space, labor rights and human rights can be ensured.