Africa

Workers Uniting supports union-building projects with key sister unions in the region, strengthening the African trade union movement.

Union Development in Africa

Africa is the only one of the world’s continents whose population has grown poorer over the last twenty years. Africa’s unions are not only fighting against the exploitation of multinational companies, and working to reduce poverty but also dealing with the scourge of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that has devastated entire communities.

The founders of Workers Uniting have built close working relationships with unions across Africa and developed important union building activities in countries such as Liberia, Nigeria, Swaziland and Zambia. Workers Uniting will seek to build on these initiatives and use the power of Workers Uniting to identify and support union building projects with key sister unions in the region, strengthening the African trade union movement.

1. Zimbabwe: State-Owned Utility Tries to Break Union

   Angeline Chitambo, a long-time progressive member of the ICEM Presidium and now on the Executive of IndustriALL, has been suspended along with 135 ZEWU members.

2. Women of Steel in Liberia

   Emily Jefferson tells of her experiences as part of the USW delegation visiting Firestone workers in Liberia.

3. Steelworkers Support in Liberia Video

   With the help of Steelworkers, the AFL-CIO and others, plantation workers in Liberia have bargained their second contract, forcing Firestone to end the horrific practice of forcing workers to lug 150 pounds of latex on their shoulders.