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Improvement of the shop steward system [2201]
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| Country/ Region |
Regional |
| Countries of regional project |
Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Mali, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Project Period |
2001-2009 |
| Partners and target groups |
International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Union (ICEM),
ICEM member unions in the project countries,
Finnish Chemical Workers' Union,
Finnish Electrical Workers' Union,
Finnish Union of Salaried Employees (TU),
Swedish LO-TCO Secretariat of International Trade Union Development Co-operation,
Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV).
The target groups include 300 shop stewards receiving training, as well as union trainers and women union activists. |
| Background and justification |
In many African countries, there is a weak or nearly nonexistent shop steward system. This is also true for the mining, energy, chemical, and oil industries. Because employers are against unionisation and the shop steward system, many employees do not dare to join, be active in, or found a union out of fear of losing their job. Unions also do not always appreciate collective action and the importance of democratically elected shop stewards. And even when some kind of shop steward structures exist, the lack of female representation is striking. |
| Objectives |
* Improving the effectiveness of the shop steward structures in all the project's unions;
* Improving communication with union activists and members;
* Improving collaboration between shop stewards and union officials in member recruitment;
* Increasing the participation of women in shop steward activities. |
| Project activities |
The evaluation made on the previous phase of the project (in 2001–2004) concluded that the project helped to build the unions' organisational capacity and internal democracy and to develop a knowledge base and leadership capacities. As a result, wide and profound processes of change started in the project unions. The role of training is fundamental to the project, and all related activities, such as meetings where union representatives can exchange experiences, establish democratic models of action and improve bargaining capacities.
The goal for the extended period (2005-2008 ) was to create a solid organisational and informative base for the unions to work independently after the project comes to a close at the end of 2008.
Shop stewards, trade union trainers, other activists and union leaders participate in training and other events that are held in all the project countries. Everything is coordinated by ICEM's three project-coordinators from South Africa, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Female participation is growing, with 40% of those already trained being women. Many of the project countries' unions also focus a lot of attention to youth participation. Regional training is again intensified and plays a big role in supporting member services and recruitment.
The final evaluation of the project will take place in 2009. |
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