Kabaka rubbishes 'yellow union' existence claims

Written by FINNIGAN WA SIMBEYE 

THE government does not support existence of pro-management trade unions popularly known as yellow unions because they don't advance interests of workers.

The Minister for Labour and Youth Employment, Gaudensia Kabaka, told 'Daily News'  that allegations that she supports a pro-management trade union at Geita Gold Mine were unfounded. Ms Kabaka emphasized that her ministry only registers unions at national level while they roll out branches after being registered.

"In that regard we have registered TAMICO at national level while they open up branches including the one at Geita Gold Mine at grassroots level," Kabaka pointed out.

She said so far, it's only Tanzania Mining and Construction Workers Union which has a branch at GGM which is legally recognized by the ministry, dismissing claims by some TAMICO members that a yellow union supported by the company's management is in the process of being registered.

TAMICO leaders accuse GGM management of backing formation of Tanzania Mining Trade Union (TMTU) which is led by pro-management workers who were formerly members of Workers Representative Committee (WRC) entitled to negotiate with management, prior to TAMICO branch opening.

TAMICO Zonal Secretary, Joseph Mang'enya said recently that they are concerned by sweet or yellow unions allied to the GGM management which are frustrating efforts for official recognition of its branch at the company as exclusive workers' rights bargainer. "We have already written to GGM Managing Director officially to inform him of our concerns which is contrary to our international agreement made last year," Mr Mang'enya noted.

Among other things, TAMICO accused the GGM management of sabotaging the trade union branch at Geita to stop its official recognition as a legitimate bargainer."If we fail to convince GGM management then we will seek Anglogold Ashanti's intervention because they were signatories to last year's agreement," warned Mang'enya.

Last year, the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Union (ICEM) agreed with AGA to reinstate two Tamico trade union leaders, Aloyce Shigela and Thomas Sabai who are Chairman and Secretary of the branch at GGM who had been suspended by management.

Source: Daily News (04/10/2012): http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/10157-kabaka-rubbishes-yellow-union-allegations