Maravi

Govt's corrosive hatred for union leaders

Govt's corrosive hatred for union leaders
By Editor
Sunday March 18, 2007 [02:00]

It appears to us that our men and women in government are so weakly constituted that they fear that if they are criticised, they will lose their manliness, their political constituencies and subsequently their political power. It also seems to us that the government always wants to manipulate issues in their favour. They always seek to be praised and not to be made accountable on the things they are doing on behalf of the people that elected them as representatives. Defence minister George Mpombo last Thursday told Parliament that some union leaders or officials are political rubble-rousers who have corrosive hatred for the government.

We all know that trade unions and their leaders are in place to fight for workers’ rights and their improved conditions of service including salaries. In fighting for their members’ rights and conditions of service, we wonder how Mpombo and the rest of his team in government expect these union’s leaders to present themselves before government.

If everything, in terms of negotiations and bargaining is plain-sailing, there will be no need for anyone to use the word “fighting” for workers’ rights. But because it is not easy for workers to get good conditions of service from their employer, the government, their representatives have to fight tooth and nail just to enable their members receive something reasonable from the government.

In so doing sometimes, union leaders might use very harsh language against the government because they are fighting for what belongs to them. This is why many times these workers even resort to strike action just to compel government into submission; they arm-twist the government just so they can get their entitlements otherwise they will live to receive promissory notes from the government year in and year out. They will be asked to tighten their belts all the time because government has insufficient money; much as it wants to give its workers a living wage.

So the militant approach, on the part of labour leaders, in fighting for their members’ rights does not amount to exhibiting corrosive hatred for the government. Some of the men and women in government are coming from the labour movement background and they understand this process better.

But because they are on the other side of the coin, it is convenient for them to accuse their colleagues of being political rubble-rousers when only yesterday, they worked together with them on the same issues and in the interest of their members. This is the hypocrisy we detest.

We saw this with Frederick Chiluba and his colleagues who, after ascending to the highest office in the country from the labour movement background, started undermining the same institutions that built him to the point of being recognised as a man who could take the lead over the affairs of the nation. And indeed, Chiluba succeeded in weakening the labour movement. Today, the labour movement is not at strong as it should be or as it used to be at some point in our country’s history.

And as if this is not bad enough, President Levy Mwanawasa and his ministers want to completely intimidate and cow into silence the few uncompromised voices remaining in the labour movement. This should not be allowed. Being critical of a government or a system does not mean that the critic is anti-government.

And this nonsense of labelling every critical voice as a political rubble-rouser should come to an end. Is it a crime for union leaders to have political inclinations? Isn’t that their right? What is wrong is for a union leader to be politicking when they are supposed to do union work.

But does fighting for workers’ entitlements amount to politicking?
But you see, we have this problem because our leaders consider themselves as sacred as the state and any denigration or condemnation of them is tantamount to a very serious crime. And the person so condemning may be punished by harassment, detention or imprisonment. This they will do because it is the most expedient means of silencing criticism.

Our leaders often avoid criticism because it compels them to be accountable, it exposes their inadequacies and shortcomings. If Joyce Nonde and her few forceful and determined colleagues in the labour movement sang praises for Levy’s government, Mpombo and his friends would be the first ones to describe her with very favourable and dignifying words.

And if Joyce was politicking for the ruling MMD using the union, that kind of ‘political rubble-rousing’ would be very welcome and encouraged by the MMD.
We see this everyday. Those who are perceived to belong to opposition parties are isolated for victimisation while those who are pro the establishment are well protected. These are the double standards our people do not want.

And it should be noted that a man is said to be a political animal naturally and so whether the government likes it or not, the people who comprise the various trade unions will belong to political parties of their choice at any given time. And this should be recognised as their right. But what should be guarded against is the practice of party politics using the various trade unions because the objectives of these unions are clearly defined and non-partisan.

And no well meaning person will blame the government for denouncing union leaders that are practicing party politics using trade unionism as a veil. If government has evidence against union leaders who are busy politicking instead of representing their members, let them expose them for what they are. But this business of witch-hunting will not do. Otherwise, people will conclude that it is instead the government that has corrosive hatred for our trade union leaders.

Labels: EDITORIAL, TRADE UNIONS

posted by MrK @ 4:50 AM