Kampala- On a groundbreaking initiative, Arinaitwe Rwakajara, the Workers Representative in Parliament, spearheaded a workshop that marked a significant turning point in the empowerment and fostering of innovation of Ugandan workers, in the labor union space.
MP Rwakajara during the workshop held in Kampala on Friday expressed concern over the declining membership of Ugandan public service unions. Highlighting the loss of 2,000 members on one occasion and 200 on another, the MP revealed a potential threat looming on the horizon.
Little known to many, the MP revealed that during meetings in Arusha, unions from Kenya and Tanzania, along with their MPs, have been quietly mobilizing funds. The purpose? To descend upon Uganda in either February or March for an ambitious recruitment drive targeting public service unions.
“This is a wake-up call. We are sitting on gold, yet we are not organizing effectively,” said Rwakajara. He emphasized the urgency of shifting focus from facilitating individual unions to pooling resources for a more comprehensive recruitment strategy.
The MP’s plea resonates with the need for proactive measures within the Ugandan workers’ unions. With the impending recruitment mission from neighboring countries, the call to “get out of the box” has never been more critical.
“The challenge now lies in how Ugandan unions respond to this revelation. Will they unite and rise to the occasion, or will the threat of losing members to external recruitment efforts persist?”
Embracing Social Movement Unionism (SMU), the workshop advocated for collaborative alliances between labor unions and community organizations, aiming to advance mutual interests and instigate a transformative mindset shift for collaborative engagement.
Rwakajara emphasized the urgency of collaboration with various stakeholders, harnessing the associational power of labor unions. He highlighted the criticality of youth involvement, identified gaps in labor laws, and urged proactive measures to prevent potential union decline.
Rwakajara’s closing message echoed a call for continuous learning, unity, and proactive engagement within labor unions, stressing the importance of garnering stakeholders’ keen interest in labor movements.
As MP Rwakajara urges Ugandan workers to unite and face the looming threat of external recruitment efforts, the call for a strategic shift towards Social Movement Unionism resonates. The workshop marks a pivotal moment, emphasizing collaboration, youth involvement, and proactive measures to safeguard the interests of Ugandan labor unions. The challenge now lies in how they respond, with the MP’s closing plea echoing the importance of continuous learning, unity, and proactive engagement to navigate the evolving landscape of labor movements.”
