The struggle to empower trade union members: insights from Zambia

ABSTRACT

Empowerment is under-researched in labour and trade unions, not least in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on workplace observations and interviews with union members and staff in agriculture, commerce, and industry, this article shares insights from two trade unions in Zambia. Findings show that the extent of empowerment differs between members and that empowerment is constrained by employer influence, privatisation, lack of government labour law enforcement, and union resources. Using an integrated approach, the article discusses differences in perceptions of empowerment, how external intentions clash with local structures, and offers suggestions which may help to improve union empowerment methods and programmes.

L'autonomisation parmi les syndicats d'ouvriers et de salariés, en particulier en Afrique subsaharienne, n'a pas fait l'objet de suffisamment de recherches. Sur la base d'observations sur les lieux de travail et d'entretiens avec des membres de syndicats et des membres du personnel des secteurs de l'agriculture, du commerce et de l'industrie, cet article présente des aperçus tirés de l'étude de deux syndicats en Zambie. Les conclusions indiquent que la mesure de l'autonomisation diffère entre membres et que l'autonomisation est limitée par l'influence des employeurs, la privatisation, l'absence d'application des lois du travail par le gouvernement et les ressources des syndicats. À l'aide d'une approche intégrée, cet article discute des différences de perception de l'autonomisation et du déphasage entre les intentions externes et les structures locales, et propose des suggestions qui pourraient contribuer à améliorer les méthodes et programmes d'autonomisation.

Las investigaciones en torno al empoderamiento de la clase obrera y los sindicatos son escasas, particularmente en el caso del África subsahariana. Teniendo como base varias observaciones y entrevistas realizadas a sindicalistas y empleados de las ramas agrícola, comercial e industrial en sus lugares de trabajo, el presente artículo analiza las percepciones surgidas del ámbito de dos sindicatos de Zambia. Las conclusiones dan cuenta de que la amplitud del empoderamiento difiere entre los miembros de dichos sindicatos; éste es determinado por la influencia del patrón, la privatización, la no aplicación de leyes laborales por parte del gobierno, así como por las finanzas sindicales. A partir del uso de un enfoque integrado, el artículo examina las diferentes maneras en que se percibe el empoderamiento, analizando cómo las intenciones externas entran en conflicto con las estructuras locales. Asimismo, plantea sugerencias que apuntan a mejorar los métodos y los programas de empoderamiento impulsados desde los sindicatos.

KEYWORDS:

• Labour and livelihoods
• Rights
• Globalisation (inc. trade, private sector)
• Civil society – Participation

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the participation of the members and staff of NUCIW and NUPAAW. In addition, we acknowledge the support from staff at 3F, the University of Zambia, and the Swedish Embassy in Lusaka. Åsa Lundquist, Anne Jerneck, Patrick Finlayson, and Franz-Michael Rundquist provided helpful comments on earlier drafts of this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Caitlin Finlayson holds a Master’s in Development Studies and has worked in Australia and the South-East Asian region with government aid agencies and various NGOs. She is currently a PhD Candidate at the Institute for Human Security and Social Change.

Maria Palmvang holds a Master’s in Development Studies and has worked extensively in Central America with NGOs and trade unions, on topics such as human rights and community art as a tool for social change.

Notes

1. Labour legislation in Zambia is quite progressive compared to other countries in the region, at least in terms of the right to a regular wage, a pension, penalty rates, and leave entitlements (Fashoyin 2008).

Additional information

Funding

The field work in Zambia was made possible by grants from Augustinus Fonden and 3F – Fagligt Fælles Forbud.